Music software with controller

[rubixstarr]

I'm thinking about making my own soundtrack for my animation movies using a controller that plugs right into your computer without buying all the hardware stuff. I was wondering what music synthesizer based software you guys are using? I want to be able to have the capabilities that Logic Platinum 6 (for Mac) has where it can play different instruments, write the notation of music out for you, compose music, create own sound effects n such like that.... any suggestions? thanks for your help!!

[js33]

I personally use Cubase with VST instruments. Check Steinbergs website for more info on CuBase.
Steinberg site (http://www.steinberg.net/en/index.php)

There are many high quality VSTi's available.
Some of my favorite ones are:
B4 - Hammond B3 organ simulator by Native Instruments
Pro52/53 - Sequential Circuits synth emulator also by Native Instruments.
EVP73 - Fender Rhodes emulator by Logic
PPGwave emulator by Steinberg/Wizoo
Also I use GigaStudio by Tascam for Sample playback capability
There are just so many to list.

Do a web search for VST and you will come up with alot.

Check out Steinbergs web site. There are many links to VST there.
Check out Native Instruments. They are one of the finest VST makers out there.

Cheers,
JS

[surferjoe]

I use Sonar by the Cakewalk folk. It has a really quick interface for getting the sounds and midi stuff in and running. It comes with a good drum sequencer and synth and has good support for most things. Sonar uses DXI instruments, like VST adapters but not quite compatible. You can get a VST adapter and still use VST instruments and effects if you like. You can get a dozen effects, tracks and samples playing back smoothly with an AVI of your animation so you can drag and drop samples and nudge them as you play back. I haven't found anything it couldn't do yet.

Synth of the week is Native Instrument's Absynth 2. Holy crap it sounds good. The rgc:audio z3ta is pretty hot, too. I'm kind of partial to Speedsoft's VSampler, too. With a couple of synths and a sample player, you can do pretty well.

What I also tell most people is if your chops aren't all they used to be, look into Acid and loop your way through with samples. You can get great results from Acid once you get the hang ot it.