O.K. Johnson

Tried to open Cakewalk for the first time in three weeks to continue on a project.  Would not open. Failed to registered DLL/OcX:RevSvr failed with exit.  Removed the entire programs via control panel, restarted and then tried to re-install and got the same issue.  All Microshaft current updates. Running windows Pro 10 10.0.19043 and Build 19043.   any ideas?

2 hours ago, paulo said:

Well I guess if you really hate them that much, then who am I to argue?

 

 

Love Christmas Music.  Can do lots with it.  Dynamics in particular.

2 minutes ago, paulo said:

Can't believe that you dropped the C bomb in July........

 

Go and hang your head in shame.😎

Well, the plan was to record a bunch a Christmas songs and give them as gifts on CD to family.  Wanted plenty of lead time.

On 4/6/2019 at 11:35 AM, Notes_Norton said:

First of all, there is more than one right way to make music, and my way might not be best for anyone else. But I'm curious.

Does anyone else prefer hardware MIDI modules to software synths?

It seems like it's getting more and more difficult to find good hardware synth modules. Yet there are plenty of soft-synths available.

The way I see it is this:

1.  Hardware MIDI synths last forever. I have a Yamaha TX81z, a Korg DS-8 and a Roland MT-32 that were manufactured when PCs still used DOS-5 or maybe Windows 3.1, Atari/ST computers had built in MIDI ports, and Mac computers used Motorola CPUs. Some of the sounds on these modules are stale, but others are stellar and have no contemporary equal. Plus how many software synths from that era still work today? Zero. How many software synths have been orphaned when computer OS systems evolved? Plenty
2. Hardware synths store all their sounds in ROM. Software synths must 'do the math' creating every note, every nuance, and every articulation while the sequence is playing. This taxes the computer's CPU which is also running the DAW and perhaps other background jobs
3. Since all the sounds in hardware synths are stored in ROM, the latency is negligible and they all run about 5ms plus or minus 1ms. I've seen some software synths that have a latency of almost a half second.
4. Since there is no tax on the CPU and since all the hardware synths have the same latency I can mix sounds from my rack of 10 or more synths. I can pick the best snare drum for the song from one module, the best kick drum from another, the best bass from another the best guitar from another the best trumpet from another the best sax section from another and do on. They will all be in sync.
5. With practically zero latency I can add track after track in real time while the old ones are playing and have the new track in sync.
6. With zero load on the CPU for sounds, the hardware synths can be better sounding or better responding. I have yet to see any software synth that can do what the physical modeling Yamaha VL70m can do -- and it's been discontinued for years. The nuances it can reproduce are light years ahead of any sample or sample-modeling synth.

Through the years I have added new synth modules while my ancient stone-age sound modules still contribute to my mixes.

To be fair, there are also advantages to software synths.

With all the talk about software plug-ins, sometimes I feel like a dinosaur. Are there any other dinosaurs out there?

Notes

Yup.  Just came back to recording after retiring. Won't go through all the issues of the older PC recording unit running EMU 1820m under XP (love that audio interface and intend to keep it while upgrading everything else....I think. All working under Windows 8.1 pro 64 bit but can't recrod higher that 48k. Unit has capability of going to 192k. SOme difference between XP and Windows 7 and above.  I have tone modules and keyboards. They are reliable and all have on-board processing for effects. Mine are the Korg Trinity Pro keyboard, Trinity Rack, Korg O3r/W, EMU Proteus PK6 keyboard loaded, Proteus 2000 loaded, Ultra Proteus, EMU Emulator 6400 , E-Synth, Voce tone wheel organ simulator, Midiverb 4, TWO Qyadraverb 2.  

Will be building a  new computer in late September or early October. Looking at the Intel i910900 processor or possibly the yet to be released Ryzen 4000 series for desktop, depending on single and dual core latencies. ... and price.  I would prefer to run Windows 8.1 pro 64 as I know it works with my EMU 1820m. I may have to go to an earlier version of Windows 10 (1709) build) that supposedly also works. I do not want to have to buy a replacement card. This bugger has the same A/D D/A converters Pro Tools used. I have a PCIe to PCI adapter that I am told works well. Might need to modify the case slightly. 

So.... that what is there and likely upcoming.  In the interim, I am recording a simple Christmas Song (Silent Night) to familiarize myself with the DAW. So far so good. Everything talks nicely.