dannthr

You can get pedals that measure gradients of pressure--that's the kind of pedal you'd want if you wanted to control volume with a pedal. (Not advised) Volume, in my opinion, is a clumsy controller best set and rarely meddled with.

Pitch is one of the many MIDI controls available to you--are you using a sequencer? If so, which one? Start there and you can begin to make pitch bends--there will be documentation telling you how with your software.

Similarly, I use SONAR for sequencing and multitrack DAW'ing I started out in 1998 with a program called Noteworthy Composer, where I first started writing music on the computer. Then I went to MIDI Orchestrator Plus and then Cakewalk. Once you learn an interface that does everything you need it to do, you don't want to change. I played with others, but I always came back to Cakewalk. SONAR was the obvious choice, for me.

Did you have to activate the device control panel or was it restarting SONAR or something? Out of curiousity...

You might have to set your sound device to 24bit in its control panel or something--check it out.

Get a job http://www.toontrack.com/

I have seen one exception to the rule and it was because SOL had some kind of error with the customer. Not even from a father to a son (seen it not happen). But if you're feeling frisky you can call their sales department.

Just be careful about whom you're buying from because EWQL licenses can not be transfered, if you care about licensing at all--of course, if you don't... If you want to do commercial work, then you need a proper commercial license.

Definitely, CHG has a LOT to offer. I'm really, really thinking about getting MoR. I have Prominy Clean and Guitar Rig--good combo, but Prominy is so deep that it's almost a chore to work with sometimes. Nothing touches it as far as depth goes, but it's advanced and sometimes I don't want to deal with advanced. Supposedly Prominy is coming out with a Strat to go along with their Les Paul Custom with as much depth and detail as LPC but with a diversity of pickups. Personally, I want an electric BASS guitar library that touches the detail of LPC. I want to whip out some Jaco lines--give me an electric bass library that can play portrait of tracy decently and I'll be happy. Haven't seen anything yet.

If you're looking to spend a pretty penny, then you want Prominy LPC Distorted: http://www.prominy.com/les.htm It requires Kontakt 2 or Giga 3 If you get the clean you'll want an amp simulator (like Amplitude or Guitar Rig) Otherwise, MusicLab just (or is just about to release) Real Strat an electric guitar version of their popular Real Guitar software: http://www.musiclab.com/products/realstrat_info.htm VST and AU I think You might want an amp sim for that too, actually. Chris Heins Guitars is another possibility, though it's not going to have the performance bad assery as Real Strat or the sheer sampling depth of Prominy: http://www.soundsonline.com/Chris-Hein-Guitars-pr-BS-402.html And of course, since we're at Soundsonline anyway, they just released their bad ass Ministry of Rock virtual instrument which just sounds wicked cool: http://www.soundsonline.com/Quantum-Leap-Ministry-Of-Rock-pr-EW-173.html Cheers,

Here's your chance to not only learn, but to learn how to teach yourself. Analyze the smashing pumpkins example and explain to me, in this thread, WHAT is going on. Analyze the parts, the music, the structure, etc, and tell me what all the parts are doing and where they're going. Just start with that.

Two things: First of all, you're getting RAM or DFD drop outs, you know this, it's not hard to get around--just record parts separately. Second of all, you need some orchestral diversity. You don't have excuses now, you have a whole orchestra at your fingertips and you need to start taking advantage of the various textures and flavors available to you. Pass the melody to different instrument sections, different harmonic structures, play around a bit more.

Just make sure the rhythm you want to change to is always there, just not heard until you want it to be. Then it can emerge in any way that pleases you.

Your kit sounds tinny on my phones (Sony MDR7506s) For fun, try recording your kit on a separate audio track and give it a little boost around 600hz down to 80hz, tapering off, bring it a little more forward in the mix, but not too much--treat it lightly, like you're handling a small baby filled with nitro-gl... ...you get the idea. Be gentle with it because it's already decent.

Orchestral music is brimming with passion, sensuality, and wild, unfettered abandon.

I don't think the snare needs a boost at 5khz--it needs more tenor, a needle isn't punchy, a fist is. If you give your snare a bit more tenor then it'll give it a larger space in the spectrum and it'll sound bigger. The majority of consumer-grade computer speakers and headphones have a lot of bass boost built in, in which case you might be over compensating when mixing.

My impression is that they're milking you. They aren't mistaken, the drums ARE weak, but they know you can bring the cheese to the table and so they're pushing you--that's my best guess. Here's what I suggest--make damn sure that you're not mixing this on some headphones or monitors that have an absurd bass response because you might just be mixing the bass/tenor levels too low. You might also want to try taking a little break--start listening to some good music, if need be, pro music that sounds like what you're going for--let the EQ fill you, become one with what you want it to sound like... reapproach your mix. Solid arrangement, man!

Make a point with your music Why don't you try to describe what you're trying to express with this remix? What does the original theme mean to you? What's cool about it, what isn't? Let us see the original theme through YOUR eyes (or ears). Some ideas? The theme is inanely repetative, try spicing it up with some more variation, harmonic and otherwise. Melodic variation. Play with it, etc. Seriously, my questions aren't rhetorical.

Garritan is cool because you can get a special edition of Sibelius that translates to a Garritan Personal Orchestra performance. GPO is also a good starter orch if you don't have the budget for EWQL Their Stradivari is sexy sounding, but I haven't tried either of them out.

Excellent point. My "orchestra" is rendered on a slave computer with 4GB of RAM.

Many, here's a quote from their website about system requirements: and regarding sample size: EDIT: I should mention (in fairness and in honesty) that during the quiet part between 20 seconds and 60 seconds, there's a very subtle choir sample that plays, giving the section a bit more "air" than if it were playing without--and in the very, very opening couple of seconds there is some percussion noises that like the choir noise do not come with this library. Not that that's much--those are subtle additions--I just wanted to make sure you understood what this library could do. The choir noises are from the library's sister library EWQL Symphonic Choirs (which is premixed to accompany Symphonic Orchestra) and the percussion noises are from QL StormDrum. They aren't featured in anyway so sometimes I forget that they're there (it's been a while since I worked on this piece).

You will need: A soundcard ================================ When considering a soundcard, think about what else you'd like to do with it: Would you like to record? Would you like to plug in a guitar? Would you like to have one that has built in sound effects that will process those effects instead of your computer processor? You will need a Sequencer or a Tracker ============================================ If you read music, a sequencer is recommended (by me). There are many to choose from and they have various capabilities. For example, if you get SONAR 6: Producer, you can mix in surround sound. If you get FL Studio, you can... do stuff. They're all going to have their own capabilities. To start with, however, I would recommend something a bit low-end to just try out for yourself. A home studio version of a product would be appropriate. Either way, if you're getting an external synthesizer (or rompler) then your best bet will be getting software that has MIDI capability. The MIDI will assist your computer in communicating with the synth. Which synths are you looking at so far?

Could you try this again with Windows Media Player CLOSED?

Thanks for the input, you guys, I really appreciate it. I have much to consider/think about.

How much are you willing to spend? Because this endeavor could cost between $200 and $20,000 If nothing, I got nothing to offer. I use EWQL Symphonic Orchestra Gold XP which is/was on sale for about $500 (way cheaper than I paid). It's a good starter orchestra for someone who's serious about orchestral music, but doesn't want to worry about things like intense mixing or high quality IRs, etc. Here's an example of a piece I'm working on: http://dannthr.com/samples/sketches/dho2cm_i_nf_3.mp3 Cheers,