Free Sequencer?

[a_d]

I'm new to using sequencers. My music software experience is limited to Finale Notepad and a bit of tinkering with Fruity Loops. I was wondering, is there a legally free version of decent sounding music software out there? Finale only puts out MIDI files (not the best sounding stuff). I know that the Fruity Loops demo doesn't let you save your work.

[Harmony]

There are a lot of great free offerings out there. You can start reading about some popular ones here:

http://www.ocremix.org/forums/showthread.php?t=11586

Reaper will probably be your best bet, and there's another thread about that too:

http://www.ocremix.org/forums/showthread.php?t=13478

[Yoozer]

EnergyXT is really really cheap and not a tracker.

[a_d]

Thanks you two. I'll look into that

[a_d]

For some reason I can't hear any sound on Reaper

[audio fidelity]

lots of things it could be - start with:

-check your sound prefs and make sure you have your audio card dialed in

-check your signal flow - in's and outs - are you using just midi? then do you have a virtual instrument correctly instantiated

-update/reinstall all audio drivers

let us know how it goes

[Nase]

I like MU.LAB.

http://www.mutools.com/

It comes with its own synth + sampler.

The free version has a limit of 6 tracks, but that should be enough to get your feet wet. The full version is 49 euros and gets rid of that limit, otherwise the free version is pretty much fully functional.

It requires ASIO drivers, so you have to download ASIO4All.

[a_d]

Thanks for the suggestions audio fidelity. I'll try those (REAPER and other programs say that they can't even detect a sound card at all!).

Nase, I'll try that program out! thanks

[a_d]

Hey Nase, I've installed MU.LAB and it seems great, but does it support plugin soundfonts (SF2 files)? what kinds of soundfonts can I import?

[a_d]

lots of things it could be - start with:

-check your sound prefs and make sure you have your audio card dialed in

-check your signal flow - in's and outs - are you using just midi? then do you have a virtual instrument correctly instantiated

how do I do these two things?

and which audio driver should i install?

[Yoozer]

Depends on the software. Options, preferences, settings - go hunt in the menu for something like that. You should end up at a spot where you can choose between ASIO, MME, etc. and your soundcard should be in the list. Install ASIO4All too - Google it.

[a_d]

Thanks Yoozer. I actually already have ASIO4ALL. I'm not gonna use REAPER because its demo is 30-day. I'm using MULAB. I just can't get a good sounding rhythm guitar out of the free electric guitar VST's I've found

[Nase]

Thanks Yoozer. I actually already have ASIO4ALL. I'm not gonna use REAPER because its demo is 30-day. I'm using MULAB. I just can't get a good sounding rhythm guitar out of the free electric guitar VST's I've found

Get a soundfont player VSTi like this one:

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=188856

Here's a good electric guitar soundfont:

http://sound.thasauce.net/sf2/ultimate_guitar_kit_2.rar

Nice for solos, but also ok for basic rhythm guitar. Check out the lower velocity levels at lower registers for palm muted strings.

It's recorded via direct in, which means you have to use an amp simulator effect. Sampled guitars that are already amped by default have a much more static sound to them, so this is the way to go really.

Try JMC900 from the bundle you can download here:

http://www.simulanalog.org/

Example of what it can sound like:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?oy2jolwwfuz

Happy chugging

If you're looking for cleaner rhythm sounds, I'm sure the sf can pull that off somewhat convincingly as well, with the right amp settings. Experiment!

[a_d]

Get a soundfont player VSTi like this one:

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=188856

Here's a good electric guitar soundfont:

http://sound.thasauce.net/sf2/ultimate_guitar_kit_2.rar

Nice for solos, but also ok for basic rhythm guitar. Check out the lower velocity levels at lower registers for palm muted strings.

It's recorded via direct in, which means you have to use an amp simulator effect. Sampled guitars that are already amped by default have a much more static sound to them, so this is the way to go really.

Try JMC900 from the bundle you can download here:

http://www.simulanalog.org/

Example of what it can sound like:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?oy2jolwwfuz

Happy chugging

If you're looking for cleaner rhythm sounds, I'm sure the sf can pull that off somewhat convincingly as well, with the right amp settings. Experiment!

Thanks. I actually already have the GSuite (that bundle). What do I do with the Soundfont Player once I've installed it?

Thanks for your help

[Nase]

You already know how to load VSTis don't you?

After that, you load the soundfont and off you go.

[a_d]

actually, what do VSTi files look like? Are they dll extensions? Because I've been using those fine. I installed the Soundfont Player but is it supposed to act like a patch for the sequencing program I'm using or do I run it while running the sequencer? I can't seem to listen to any soundfonts that I load on the soundfont player, or do anything with the soundfont.

[Yoozer]

In Windows, they're plain .dll files, and you copy them to the designated plugin directory. You can usually set in the application itself, and generally, it looks like Program Files/Vstplugins (though there aren't any agreements about this, sadly enough).

Plugins with installer software will offer to copy the files to that; (free) plugins that are just the .dlls themselves and that's it have to be copied there by hand.

. I installed the Soundfont Player but is it supposed to act like a patch for the sequencing program I'm using

No. The generic way of using it is:

- open a new MIDI track

- route the outputs to the Soundfont Player

- route the inputs to your controller

It should not be different from using any other instrument plugin in your sequencer; all you have to do extra is point out to the Soundfont player which soundfont it should use.

[AMT]

Just FYI, even though REAPER is a 30 day trial, it's unexpiring shareware, which means it'll work exactly as before even after those 30 days, it just suggests that you buy it.

[Nase]

Just FYI, even though REAPER is a 30 day trial, it's unexpiring shareware, which means it'll work exactly as before even after those 30 days, it just suggests that you buy it.

REAPER is free to download and evaluate for 30 days. After 30 days,

You Must Purchase a License

Doesn't read like a suggestion. The maker simply chose not to include any copy protection.