Chris, this was absolutely fantastic, thank you.
I’m glad protools is accessible. I remember when it came out years and years
ago, it was digidesign then. I’m also surprised it’s only $700. I know that
sounds nuts but keep in mind, the gear I learned on cost $750,000 (seven
hundred and fifty thousand) for folks with improper numerical decoders. When
you added the mixing console you were way over a million. What did you get for
a million? You got 96 megabytes of memory (unheard of at the time), 32 track
direct to disk recorder, 96 poly voices, 200 track sequencer, worm drive, tape
drive, mac computer and several large flight cases.:) The mixer was an SSL
6000E hand built in the UK if memory serves with pluggable modules and complete
automation including flying faders.
If you actually want to hear audio from the configuration I worked on
listen to any Star Trek next generation episode or X Files episode. Also, the
most closely matched example you can hear is Frank Zappa’s Jazz from Hell.
So the idea I can have all the power you mention for the price of a decent
computer and $700 is shocking to an old guy like me.
What about outboard hardware? Do you use any special digital to audio
convertors? What about a mixing surface?
Thanks for such a detailed response, I think I need to give protools a shot.
> On May 19, 2016, at 9:15 PM, Christopher-Mark Gilland <clgillan...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Scott,
>
> First off, I definitely do use ProTools, yes, and find it extremely
> accessible! This said, I've played with Logic Pro X, and can simply say
> this. People clame that it's totally accessible, and works better than
> ProTools. I'd like to say they're wrong bigtime on this, and oh, believe you
> me! Oh baby! is it tempting for me to do so, but I won't. Mainly because
> that's very subjective. What I think is not very usable may be totally!
> usable to someone else. I can tell you this though. And this I do! refuse
> to argue. Logic is incredibly confusing and very tedious with achieving
> certain tasks. Not to mention it is very unlogical, no pun intended, in how
> you do a lot of things, such as editting, etc.
>
> I know some people who would swear that Amadeus Pro is all you need. I
> definitely disagree with this. Though it may be great for low level
> editting, maybe for some basic podcasting, etc, it never will amount to what
> PT ever could do. I'm sorry, but I'll stick to that until proven otherwise.
> I'm not saying it's not a good app, but you won't get PT quality, just beware.
>
> A lot of people say, Well, I'm not spending 700 bucks for ProTools, plus
> possibly another 49 for the ILok. Firstly, let me say that most copies
> anymore these days come with the ILok included, so there. 49 you are less in
> debt. What I say to these people though who argue it's too expensive is, OK,
> how serious are you about taking your music or audio production in general,
> to the next level?
>
> Well, I wanna do it, but...
>
> OK, then do it, and quit barking about it! No one ever said success was
> free, nor didn't take some work/effort.
>
> Trust me, me saving up to buy ProTools wasn't easy, but oh, God dang it was
> it worth it!
>
> Reaper even can be used over on the mac if you want a cheaper solution. Now,
> that said, it's not going to be as good as using it with Osara over on the
> Windows side in my opinion. You don't have the extra extensions, so... you
> do have access to the console though, so if nothing else, you could use the
> CLI console part of Reaper, sorry, I'm drawing a blank on what exactly they
> call it.
>
> As for synths, the Creative Air stuff that comes bundled with ProTools is
> freaking breath taking! Combine that with the samples you get through
> Alcony, with Logic, etc. and you got yourself a killer! set of sounds. Look
> at the DB33 Hamond B3 modeler that comes stock with ProTools. That dang
> thing even has virtual drawbars within the plugin window, all of which are
> totally accessible with Voiceover.
>
> If you want a really really great piano sample, then there is always Synthogy
> Ivory. I own the entire set of pianos. Every one of them, not a single one
> missing.
>
> After talking to Synthogy, I even got them to create presets for ProTools for
> the Itallian Grands 2 set. If anyone needs them, just let me know, and I'll
> zippem up. The other presets are freely available on
>
> http://www.protoolswithspeech.com <http://www.protoolswithspeech.com/>
>
> Session drummer, and Adictive Drums are somewhat doable, although the samples
> within XPand2 are really darn good!
>
> As for hardware, I'm using a Roland RP401R Rosewood digital piano. This
> thing has all 3 peddles just like normal, plus is USB midi ready. The only,
> and I do literally! mean the only! only! only! thing I don't like about this
> unit is the fact that with it being a digital piano initially, therefore the
> emphesis being on the piano more than it being a keyboard, there is no pitch
> bend wheel. So for things like saxes, flutes, etc. it can be a little hard.
> Also for guitar samples, most of the time, I'd just play them outright with a
> real guitar, but if I had to do it via midi, it obviously won't work if I
> have to bend a string.
>
> Try playing the lead part of Wonderful Tonight by Erick Clapton with no pitch
> bend dial. Yeah, tell me how that works for ya. LOL! It kind a don't.
>
> I thought about getting a Yamaha Motif. I know tons of people in the blind
> community who use 'em, some even in combination with the mac, and love it. I
> can't really comment there. I don't have upwards of 4 grand to spend on one.
> Now, if any of you all just wanna Fedex me one freely? Then be my guest!
> LOL! Just kidding wit ya!
>
> I think at the end of the day, it really just depends on what you want to do
> music wise, or audio production wise. For some, ProTools inevitably would be
> way overkill. For others like you and I, it may be absolutely perfect.
>
> Heck. I hear even Audasity is somewhat usable on the mac, but, bweh...
> don't! even begin! to get me started with that! We'll just leave it to say
> that both on Windows, and! on the mac, Audasity and I are worst enemies. LOL!
>
> Anyway, I hope this somewhat helps.
> ---
> Christopher Gilland
> JAWS Certified, 2016.
> Training Instructor.
>
> clgillan...@gmail.com <mailto:clgillan...@gmail.com>
> Phone: (704) 256-8010.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Scott Granados <mailto:sc...@qualityip.net>
>> To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com <mailto:macvisionaries@googlegroups.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 8:13 PM
>> Subject: music gear and accessibility was Re: Question about DJay for OSX
>>
>> So hopefully this is on topic enough that Mark will permit the topic.
>>
>> I’m very interested in the music side of the discussions here. Chris, I
>> know you’re an accomplished protools user and it sounds like a fair bit of
>> other applications. It seems like others also are very involved. What’s
>> the current state of accessibility in the music space? I know protools is
>> quite accessible what about other applications? Is turbo synth still a
>> thing? How about on the hardware side? Are any of the samplers or
>> dedicated keyboards / music work stations including accessibility features?
>> To give folks an idea of where I’m coming from my last exposure was my own
>> collection of Roland Samplers, Akai Samplers and Other vintage synths like a
>> DX7 and some old moog gear. I had to memorize all the button presses and
>> menus / sub menus by key press.
>> The last major hardware I worked on was a Synclavier post pro SD with the 96
>> voice poly option, the synclavier full keyboard and a Mac 2FX I believe it
>> was that ran the outboard software. All sorts of other dated options like a
>> worm drive and tape backup. I also worked with several versions of the
>> Fairlight CMI and MFX. The Fairlight was great because while it was hugely
>> graphical all the operations were done with numbered pages and very defined
>> keystrokes on a dedicated terminal. So you’d get immediate audio feedback
>> with keystrokes. All these methods were clumsy at best with the exception
>> of the CMI. The Synclavier for example had 101 buttons on the front panel
>> along with a full CRT, 88 velocity keys and real B52 bomber switches.
>> (actual aircraft hardware) So the gear was complex and required a lot of
>> memorization to use, especially difficult when high.:)
>>
>> So if I wanted to build a studio today around the Mac what would you
>> include? Would you bother including outboard hardware any more or can it
>> all be done in software? If others don’t mind could we start a thread on
>> the state of music gear especially Apple focused and make specific
>> suggestions?
>>
>> I’m very interested, hope others are.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Scott
>>
>>> On May 18, 2016, at 5:53 PM, Jonathan Candler <kjsc.ra...@gmail.com
>>> <mailto:kjsc.ra...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I believe it's CMD + shift + M. I don't remember off the top of my head
>>> sense I use my board for everything from Djay.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 5/18/2016 2:47 PM, Christopher-Mark Gilland wrote:
>>>> Does anyone by chance know the keystroke in DJay for the mac to toggle
>>>> on/off my microphone? I see the checkbox, but surely there has to be an
>>>> easier way than vo+right arrowing all the way down there and hitting
>>>> VO+Space. Yes, I know that I could set up a hotspot, and I may wind up
>>>> just doing that, but I could swear I remember their being a shortcut key
>>>> to do this. Do we have any DJay users on here who may know?
>>>>
>>>> Chris.
>>>> --
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