Songwriting instruments

[leegolding]

Hi friends,

Thanks to Brandon I think I have my studio equipment choices sorted. I can't afford the soundcard I wanted for now (e-mu), and have decided to budget and use a simple Creative Labs Soundblaster Live! soundcard.

This gives me the facility to use soundfonts as you know. I have purchased the songwriter soundfonts from SonicImpants which aren't bad at all, but they sound a little old.

I will be using Cubase SX3 and writing pop type songs.

I would like some recommendations for some up to date soundfonts or VSTi instruments, that I can assign to the various MIDI tracks in cubase.

Cheers :-)

Lee.

[brandondrury]

How is latency with this Soundblaster card? If the latency is bad, playing a midi controller will be a near impossibility.

I would like some recommendations for some up to date soundfonts or VSTi instruments, that I can assign to the various MIDI tracks in cubase.

I guess by "up to date" you mean "not cheesy"?

I've never used a soundfont.

As for VSTi's, I bought Native Instruments Komplete it has WAY too many awesome sounds for everything from Organs to pads to dobro samples to drums. I also have DFH Superior for my real drum sounds.

What exactly are you looking for?

Brandon

[richiebee]

These are all freeware...

- ORGANized trio - drawbar organ
http://www.soundfonts.it/?a=read&b=13

- Mr Ray - electric piano
http://www.soundfonts.it/?a=read&b=18

Crystal - semi modular synth
http://www.greenoak.com/crystal/about.html

I think practically everything else I would do with samples. There are some soundfonts at http://www.soundfonts.it/?a=soundfonts but I would get a good sampler (Kontakt) and invest in sample libraries. WARNING: This isn't a cheap occupation!

[leegolding]

Originally Posted by richiebee

These are all freeware...

- ORGANized trio - drawbar organ
http://www.soundfonts.it/?a=read&b=13

- Mr Ray - electric piano
http://www.soundfonts.it/?a=read&b=18

Crystal - semi modular synth
http://www.greenoak.com/crystal/about.html

I think practically everything else I would do with samples. There are some soundfonts at http://www.soundfonts.it/?a=soundfonts but I would get a good sampler (Kontakt) and invest in sample libraries. WARNING: This isn't a cheap occupation!

Starting to realise. Thanks for the info about soundfonts though :-D

Lee.

[leegolding]

Thinking about things. I will be writing mainly swing, easy listening type songs. My voice is very suited to stuff like Michael Buble and Dean Martin. Maybe even some Elton John type stuff due to his use of piano.

I do like James Blunts album that were mainly accoustic guitar and/or piano based. Damien Rice. Tom McRae. Great lyrics in those and no need for lots and lots of instruments (and having the MIDI know-how to make a sample guitar sound real).

So I guess I need some quality piano, accoustic guitar, light drum instruments that are up-to-date.

Any ideas for maybe single instruments I can buy to keep the cost down, without compromising on quality?

Thanks,

Lee.

[brandondrury]

Any ideas for maybe single instruments I can buy to keep the cost down, without compromising on quality?

Unfortunately, I've been very happy with the sounds that have came with Kontakt 2 and have not bothered exploring other samples. There are many samples out there, many of them quite affordable, but it's hard for me to recommend something I haven't personally used.

Start here: http://www.soundsonline.com/home.php
You'll find some expensive samples, but sometimes you'll find some amazing deals.


Brandon