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Help me out!

I am used to write my tunes in MoonBlaster...

What is the best option:
- using tracker technology
- using synth

Using a tracker - how do I obtain nice samples?
Using a synth - what peripheral do I need?

Quote:

I am used to write my tunes in MoonBlaster... What is the best option: - using tracker technology - using synth Using a tracker - how do I obtain nice samples? Using a synth - what peripheral do I need?

it all depends... both are good and versatile enough to let your mind be the limit, in stead of your gear/software.
how to obtain nice samples -> sample from a decent synth or buy expensive sample-cd's.
what peripheral do I need -> a reasonable computer, a midi interface, preferably a decent soundcard (to record your music) and a synthesizer.

If you're used to tracking already, try Impulse tracker 2
- you don't need a mouse
- fast hotkeys, fast editor
- NNA's (compared to Moonblaster it means that samples continue on the same channel when playing another note, it takes another channel internally, you don't have to bother about that then)

You want to choose between tracker & synth . That comparison is a bit wrong imho. You're comparing a composition-method with a synth. Ofcourse you can buy a synth.. but how do you control it?
Tracker-users are like music-programmers (it's very close to classic notation) while Cubase/Logic/Cakewalk/Sonar etc. (to be called 'midi app') -users are more the players/performers.

The difference is that if I want a number of notes (and I already know which ones) then I simply put them in the right place using a tracker. A midi app means that you have to play the notes first, that't including all your play-errors/mistakes. You can go two ways then: play it again (and I find all this a waste of time), or edit. Once you start editing in a midi app you soon realise why trackers are way faster with editing.. hence editing in a midi-app is -to me- a waste of time as well.

What are the downsides of a tracker:
- classic trackers have a fixed grid
- the grid is ofcourse flawless in terms of human timing-errors
- you need to sample a lot of stuff in advance to have some decent soundpalette
- the soundcard might be a problem/downside in case of IT2 .. I can recommend a classic SB-live! (with genuine SB16 emulation on board, never got it to work right on my Audigy .. that's why the stinker is in my unused B-system for years already )

The downsides of a midi-app:
- slower composing if you're a classic-oriented composer
- worse overview
- mouse-interface .. we'll speak again when you're suffering from serious RSI

The positive sides of a tracker:
- editing/composing/tweaking at lightningspeed (and not a nanosecond less!)
- a 16th grid is sufficient for 99.999% of all music.
- cheap! You don't need expensive synths that are outdated within a year.
- a tracker comes with it's own synthengine, in case of IT2 meaning a polyphony of 256, using 64 inputchannels, no multitimbrality limits

The positive sides of a midi app:
- if you're like a eral pianoplayer then you'll appreciate the 'livelyness' of working without a fixed grid
- they're more modern, more support for plugins etc.
- there's a lot of choice in midi apps .. and companies keep updating their stuff

I keep referring to IT2, but naturally there are more trackers. They're however ..'different' .. usually they are slower in terms of composition-speed, but offer more stuff like MIDI, plugins, DSP etc. For some reason the ppl who code those trackers really want to ignore everything that made IT2 great.
Finally, I'm functional designer of IT3 and IT4 .. (these are worktitles).. you can expect me to handle all the positive and negative points mentioning above Don't ask me for releasedates tho..

Hmpf, if you are used to step-time midi editing in a midi-app that works just as fast as a tracker. From all the synth songs I made I think I played perhaps 2 single riffs(!!) in all that time. Everything else is edited. More control you see

There're always exceptions ofcourse.. just as there are ppl who use the midi-in of IT2 to play the notes ..

One could conclude I am simply a lousy player

Which *imho* is true. I might be to hard on myself but I don't consider myself a good keyboard/piano player. But I am practising

O_o;

(X_X)O---(-_-Q)

Quote:

From all the synth songs I made I think I played perhaps 2 single riffs(!!) in all that time. Everything else is edited.

So, if you would encounter a tracker with the same functionality/features etc. as in your midi app .. would you switch to that tracker then?

No, I think trackers are shit. I made some songs in FT2 back in the SNES era, and used Madtracker a couple of times, but it's a traumatic experience for me now. Sure I used moonblaster but I didn't have much choice did I? And I don't type anyway, I use keyboard shortcuts for commands and the mouse to 'draw' the sequence and/or controllers.

not me... i would die for a decent trackerinterface in cakewalk for example ... it edits so damn fast... *sigh* .. though I'm really fast with cakewalk & note-view + mouse... but tracker style is still my preference... when i use madtracker i produce songs so much faster... but that's 4 to 12 channel projects.... i can imagine that with 128 channel musics you get a better overview with a pianoroll-type interface (or noteview for that matter)

Piano-roll in Reason edits superfast too though (mousedrag/select/copy/paste = thanx) ^_^b

Sofar I've no issues keeping overview with 64-channels.. IT3/4 will have a more organised way of presenting patterns btw.. think datahiding/grouping etc. and texturing/colorising tracks. Also, complex patterns will be possible, 7th notes against 16th notes for example..

Thank you all - especially wolf - for the information; I think I'll be trackering.
Hope you hear (music) from me soon!