What is the name of the thing I want?

Ask questions and get answers about how to make music in any particular way. Hardware or songwriting or whatever.
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Kill Me Sarah
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What is the name of the thing I want?

Post by Kill Me Sarah »

Allow me to ask a dumb question... I've been doing more recording lately with my Mac in GarageBand and recording keyboads/synths with an M-Audio controller. If I want to take the show on the road, so to speak, what hardware do I need. In other words, instead of buying a new synth is there something I can just plug my controller into via USB or MIDI with amp outputs that will let me make tinkly sounds with my keyboard? Or even a software solution that I can run on my Mac to output to an amp/PA or some combination thereof? I'm thinking maybe like the keyboard equivalent of a TonePort for guitar. What is it I'm looking for? Also are there any recommendations for budget-conscious items in whatever category I'm talking about?

Thanks peeps!
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Re: What is the name of the thing I want?

Post by ken »

The cheapest thing you can do is just get a stereo 1/8" to dual mono 1/4" cable, stick that in the headphone output of your computer and plug it into the PA. You could buy a USB audio interface if you don't have one already for better sound quality, but just to get started the cable is good enough. Keep in mind that most of your sounds are stereo, but most amps and PAs run in mono. This is pretty common for keyboardists though.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Hosa-Stereo ... 1128935.gc

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Re: What is the name of the thing I want?

Post by foobar93 »

There are plenty of synths and keyboards that have built-in instruments out that you could plug directly into an amp or PA. but if you're willing to use your laptop & GarageBand to generate the sound, you'll have a lot more flexibility and I think you'll get better sound for the $. Of course, that comes at the expense of having to lug around fragile electronics with you, and built-in "stage" pianos and such are a lot more rugged.

I first started playing around with mixing and midi on a very simply M-Audio interface that does (I think) exactly what you're talking about. It looks like they have a lot of new models, some of which are really cheap (like <$100). Let me know if I can help any with getting a good setup.
Kill Me Sarah
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Re: What is the name of the thing I want?

Post by Kill Me Sarah »

Thanks guys. I actually have this http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/K ... n49es.html (or an older version of it) so I have the controller. I guess my question is what software and/or hardware should I run it through to get different sounds/voices live? Is that what a synth module does?
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Re: What is the name of the thing I want?

Post by AJOwens »

I think what you're looking for is the modern equivalent of a Yamaha FB-01 (or an actual FB-01 from eBay, but the voices are 4-operator FM synth, which makes them sort of 80's cheesy, and the user interface is not stage-friendly. There's also a TX81Z with slightly better voicing options, and a TX-802 with even better options -- basically the guts of a DX-7). I have no idea whether anybody still makes a box that takes a MIDI input and produces sounds, and is not simply a laptop with synth software (and an audio interface for ASIO support).

So yes, what is the name of that thing? The FB-01 is called an "FM sound generator" or a "synthesizer module," but a 2014 Google search using those terms probably won't be helpful. By searching "MIDI tone generator hardware" I came up with a Musician's Friend page on "Sound Modules":

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/sound-modules

Given the prices, you're probably further ahead to buy a cheap self-contained keyboard synth. The upside is that if it has MIDI connections, you can probably hook it up as a 60-key MIDI controller at home.

You did say you'd consider using a laptop, so as Ken said, you could just load up some synthesizer software (including VST synths), and then run a cable from your headphone-out or (preferably) line-out jack to the input of a stage amp. You'd want to start with a very low volume at the computer end, because the signal would overdrive most guitar amps (unless the amp has a line-in or "active input" option). Also, the impedance matching might suck, meaning some hiss. If you can plug into a PA board, you could try turning up the volume at the computer and trimming the input at the board to cut down the hiss.
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Re: What is the name of the thing I want?

Post by Billy's Little Trip »

Kill Me Sarah wrote:Thanks guys. I actually have this http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/K ... n49es.html (or an older version of it) so I have the controller. I guess my question is what software and/or hardware should I run it through to get different sounds/voices live? Is that what a synth module does?
If I'm understanding you correctly, DJRD uses PianoTeq, which is software on her mac book. https://www.pianoteq.com/
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Re: What is the name of the thing I want?

Post by ken »

Kill Me Sarah wrote:Thanks guys. I actually have this http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/K ... n49es.html (or an older version of it) so I have the controller. I guess my question is what software and/or hardware should I run it through to get different sounds/voices live? Is that what a synth module does?
If you are happy with Garageband, just use that. If not, there are other softwares you could use.
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Re: What is the name of the thing I want?

Post by jb »

Ken has it right. Just play in garageband if you like the sounds it has. There's absolutely nothing wrong with just picking an instrument in GB and playing it live. You're not committing a crime, and you're not doing something that will break a sound system or make someone laugh at you. If it sounds good, do it.

Getting the sound out of your computer-- there are many options, including Ken's original suggestion of just converting your headphone output into something fit for a PA. You can also get a more specialized gadget to do this for you. Like this one, with very basic features: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett2i2/

I have the big brother of that Scarlett, and I like it a lot.

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Re: What is the name of the thing I want?

Post by RangerDenni »

this thread is steering you right, although browsing the history of midi modules and even looking in a really ridiculous direction (in my opinion) at something like the Receptor (http://www.museresearch.com/receptor2.php) can be hypothetically fun.

Any midi modules you find second-hand or of reasonable price may have dated sounds and cumbersome interfaces and may possibly rely upon midi cables to connect to things, which is annoying in your bag. The only reason to go back to these tools is because you are looking for a particular vintage effect, rather than something convenient. You may as well plug your computer or even better, your iPad or even your phone via usb into your controller, because it's nice to keep things streamlined and garage band comes in many sizes now depending on your needs.

If you like your sounds, and that's what you want live, and you like the action and portability-vs-responsiveness of your controller - there is no reason to fix what isn't broken. I'd invest in a cable like they are saying and in something reliable for set-up and transport of your computer/gear and perhaps whatever else you need to generate your act from setup to speakers. What you may want to ask yourself (like I am doing - because I'd like to take the Glory that is Pianoteq on the road perhaps, and keep it light) is if you want a computer solution that is more rugged/more tiny. It all has to do with how often and how invested you are in your performance schedule. If a part of your set-up of your act is crucial it should probably get the heaviest consideration/investment.
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Kill Me Sarah
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Re: What is the name of the thing I want?

Post by Kill Me Sarah »

Thank you all. Exactly the kind of suggestions I was looking for! I think I'll stick with GB and try to find some more VSTs for it. I'm open to suggestions on that too, but thanks for steering me in the right direction, away from the wild goose chase I'd found myself on :)
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Re: What is the name of the thing I want?

Post by jb »

The SFBB has a "free plugins" thread going: http://songfight.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=164
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