Music Programming

M.A.M · 01-06-2010, 06:40 AM

Hi guys! I was wondering how to use computer software in order to add or to create special effects
for the music we play in church. So far, I just figured out that there`s a software called Cakewalk, but it also has a lot of different programs to create loops, effects, base rhythm, etc. If you know anything about this or if you use this type of stuff in your local church, I will really appreciate your feedback. My goal is to use these stuff in real time. Is that possible? (I believe it is, I guess....). Another topic would be what hardware do I need to use that; a good laptop would do it? How much will cost to build such a gear? Are midi Keyboards necessary? I could go on, but I think that with all the info you will be able to share, I`ll narrow all the other possibilities. Thank you, thank you! God bless you all!

**Gustin** · 01-07-2010, 04:58 PM

What exactly are you trying to do? It's not very clear.

M.A.M · 01-07-2010, 05:57 PM

Hahaha! Well, basically what we are trying to do at church is to use these stuff to elaborate music, in such a way that will allow us to play with more complex rhythm or synth, things like that... Sometimes I see certain groups with little amount of players (4) but they sound awesome! The I realize that one of the guys (usually the keyboard player) is doing something in a laptop, like putting some musical base to the whole song... Sorry if I didn`t make myself clear... That`s why I need help, to understand what is behind all that sound... Tks

**Sean** · 01-07-2010, 05:59 PM

We use Reason for that sort of thing. I've been programming in Reason for about 4 years, but only using it live settings for the last year or so.

**Gustin** · 01-07-2010, 06:54 PM

Reason or Ableton Live are two good choices for live looping and virtual synths. Both tools will take a fair amount of practice to learn and use well though. Just like learning a new instrument.

M.A.M · 01-08-2010, 06:22 PM

Do you know any groups or artists that use this equipment in a real live situation? Do you use them at church for live playing?

**Gustin** · 01-08-2010, 06:27 PM

David Crowder Band is probably one of the best proponents of it. They used to use Reason and now use Ableton Live for all their sequencing. I think they still use Reason for a lot of their synth stuff too. ON their latest tour, every band member had at least one laptop and a MIDI controller to handle either some sequencing tasks or synth stuff.

There are lots and lots of bands that do this sort of thing and they're probably using one of those two programs for it.

johnray777 · 01-08-2010, 06:38 PM

Just don't back track stuff. Very unprofessional in my opinion.

**Gustin** · 01-08-2010, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnray777

Just don't back track stuff. Very unprofessional in my opinion.

There's a difference between playing backing tracks (because a person can't play an instrument or something) and playing to an electronic drum loop or sequenced synth pads.

johnray777 · 01-08-2010, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gustin

There's a difference between playing backing tracks (because a person can't play an instrument or something) and playing to an electronic drum loop or sequenced synth pads.

Like I'm talking like this. Lets say there is a band who on recorded songs, they have a synth player, and the vocalist of that band recorded all of the synth parts. Since the vocalist can't sing and play their keys, they would back track all of the synth parts. Not like how some bands have very minimal synth parts on an album so they just back track it because they are small and short parts rather than getting a synth player which would cause more problems.

**Sean** · 01-08-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnray777

Like I'm talking like this. Lets say there is a band who on recorded songs, they have a synth player, and the vocalist of that band recorded all of the synth parts. Since the vocalist can't sing and play their keys, they would back track all of the synth parts. Not like how some bands have very minimal synth parts on an album so they just back track it because they are small and short parts rather than getting a synth player which would cause more problems.

I'm not sure how either of those options is unprofessional since professionals do both options all the time.

**Gustin** · 01-08-2010, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnray777

Like I'm talking like this. Lets say there is a band who on recorded songs, they have a synth player, and the vocalist of that band recorded all of the synth parts. Since the vocalist can't sing and play their keys, they would back track all of the synth parts. Not like how some bands have very minimal synth parts on an album so they just back track it because they are small and short parts rather than getting a synth player which would cause more problems.

Music making has changed drastically though. The computer is becoming a new instrument and writing tool allowing for millions of possibilities that bands couldn't do using older methods. I'm confused at how using a tool and using it well makes someone unprofessional.

Can it be abused? Sure. So can too much distortion on a guitar. That doesn't make it wrong to use it if you can do so well.