JimL

I wish I could say I knew what you guys meant but I'm not into programming. All I know is Sibelius has 'sound sets' for other synths and older (?) Korg synths like Triton. Korg (via tech support over the phone) has no plans to create one, Korg tech said it's up to Sibelius, and from the looks of Sib's site, their done creating patches/updates for 'older' versions.

Oh I can choose the keyboard when it's plugged in, there's drivers & such for the synth but the program doesn't 'see' all the sounds or apparently what sound was used. F'rinstance, i experimented and played a nice string sound, holding the chord for 4 measures and when played back, there's some form of typical piano sound that goes 'plunk' at the beginning of the first measure and nothing for the rest of the measures. Now the notation 'looks' like it 'says' i'm holding the chord, I don't know, I'm musically illiterate but there's the vertical chord notes with arcing lines at the top & bottom that extend across the bars as opposed to just the chord notes that appear when I just 'hit' a chord. The program can't play back or 'know' the correct sound and I monitor the synth output through headphones. You mentioned soundsets, S4 does have other synth SS's but none for the X50. I even called and talked to a Korg tech and he said they have no plans to make a SS, that's Sibelius's job and of course with v5 out I'll be SOL, UTCWAP and not LOL... GMD? Emailing Sibelius, they have no solution other than setup the midi channels...? WTF does that mean? Isn't it automatic? Isn't that what midi is/does? I have to sit and figure out how to assign the 2.3 trillion different sounds from my X50 to the 128 midi things or is it 12? Sounds like I need the services of a (free) programmer... Anyway until I find another X50 user in the same situation (which I won't be cause it's not worth the time) who's got a workaround or fix, well... ;>)

Nope it doesn't work that (exact) way. Sibelius v4 doesn't exactly have midi in/out, it has a mixer with faders and below the faders are where you choose the midi channel. here's a pic, the blue areas with the numbers are the only midi choices other than selecting your playback device in preferences: http://www.mydatabus.com/public/tavernstuff/e/sample.jpg Sibelius does have 'sound sets' where (I guess) 'older' synth communication/language/whatever info is so the program can talk/see a particular synth. The Korg X50 is too new and neither Korg nor Sibelius has a patch. Yes, I can play the synth and notes do appear on the stave I intended them to but on playback, the program will play some parts/staves back and not others or sometimes 2 different sounds from one stave (?) but it won't play back the same sounds i used from the synth. So overall after dealing with it for 2 weeks, I gave up. I'm not a programmer and midi stuff is the last thing I want to learn. It was just an experiment on my part to see if it would work thinking that midi was supposed to be a musical instrument universal language, but it's more like windows plug n' play, neither one works as advertised...;>) i'm still waiting for someone to come up with metric sized guitar cables...;>)

Yeah, I gave up. The software is too old and the synth is too new. Just another reason to not deal with computers and music...;>)

Question: I am setting up/plugging in my Korg X50 to my computer with Sibelius v4 installed. I'm not a keyboard player but I do want to create sheet music of a few of my original tunes. I've managed to get notes to appear on the staves but there's no sound. The computer & Sibelius 'see' the Korg but no sound set in Sibelius' menu show up. Any idea how to get the program to see the X50 sounds and play/record/playback those sounds? i am brand new at this computer/music stuff so please go easy with any terminology above a basic grunt & nod...;>) Thanks, -Jim

I've got a Korg D3200 (32 track, no pairs) which is pretty decent but it has no effects send/return - but I use effects pedals anyway. You can only add one of the internal effects to a channel and I've found it impossible to add 2 to 2 different tracks, theres some way to do it but as i play/record everything myself, i've only tried it once as an experiment with 2 vocal tracks recorded at the same time, so I gave up trying. Other than that, there was a brief learning curve at first and now it's a piece of cake. A CD burner's built in, I can bounce but don't need to w/32 tracks. Ignore the limited drum sounds in it and buy a real drum machine. It has USB out for whatever that's worth. You can assign any track input to many recordable tracks at once, ie: I can plug my mic into a splitter and plug those 2 cables into track 1& 3 then assign the input of track 1 to both tracks 1 & 2, the same for input 3 to 3 & 4 giving me 4 vocal tracks and assign different effects to each track or I can assign the input of track 1 to record on all the other 31 tracks. Plus it never crashes and there's real knobs to turn and all I need to worry about with plugins is the instrument cable...;>) The LCD screen could be bigger as the knob 'matrix' on the unit controls all sorts of neat stuff. This thing is really a computer and it does have a built in mouse/joystick. The sound quality is wonderful. Tons of Korg REMS effects - I only use stereo chorus. I record everything I do direct. -Jim

dvd shrink... nero for ISO's

seniors! SENIORS!!! Damn! I didn't think "I" was that old! Just because i'm on disability and collect social security and sometimes have to walk with a cane and can't do the things i used to do when I was young... Well, I still have all my teeth, and only 'some' of my hair is grey-ish and my bald spot isn't half as big as most peoples. Besides, it's covered quite well by my long hair... and i'm not eligible for AARP yet, triple A yes, but not AARP, which kida stinks as they have some pretty cool stuff... I'm only 46, I won't be a senior until i get as old as Lazz...;>) Now, what the hell were we talking about? oh yes... As far as being a 'beginner', just go ahead and try writing whatever comes to mind (yours or someone elses, trust me, they won't notice...). Get yourself a decent synth and plunk away at it. If I can come up with stuff, so can you! -Jim Now as far as connecting a midi keyboard (my Korg X50) to my computer (via USB) and having Sibelius v4 'see' the damn thing (it does but there's no sound set for it in Sibelius' list), well, it doesn't have a sound set listing in Sibelius' pull down menu. Neither Sibelius nor Korg has a sound set download so I'm stumped. I was hoping the computer/program would see the keyboard so's I could play the thing 'into' the staves to create the sheet music and also 'see' what the notes would look like (and help me get a better idea of how to fathom the note type & placement). Anyone here do this kinda thing? I've set the keyboard (in it's controls) to be a master thingy that the program would use to playback(?) the sounds, not just a controller, and that's about the sum of my computer/music creation knowledge. -Jim

So much great info, so little years left...

Here's a comparative graphic I drew with the graphic I found on the net. I can only assume that the bass side lines of a staff (the lower one of a piano pair) are labeled differently and not the typical FACE order? Either that or the guy that made the 'red' graphic screwed up? I 'combined' the bass & treble 'sides' onto one staff when i noticed the bass side notes didn't 'work' or align with the keyboard notes... confused... Weight & density, understood. Yes, that's what i'm thinking about as far as coming up with a decent qty of instrument voices (for the school orchestra). Now that i've got some idea of instrumentation & placement, I can try and break down the preset string sounds on my keyboard rather than just use the preset sound (this may take me awhile to figure out...;>) I was watching Star Trek Nemesis the other day and was (trying) to concentrate on the music (all that beautiful open space between the notes!) but I couldn't tell if what sounded like a single low noted horn (Bassoon? Big sax? Casio synth? A well trained water buffalo inna tie?) was just one or more, listening how it filled the room (just the right amount of reverb). Stuff like that... aw, my heads starting to hurt from all this music thinking stuff!

Thanks John, some interesting stuff there but no, I'm just looking for a small graphic of each chord written on a staff so I can insert them into my little song chord diagram sheet. Lazz, I've got it into my head to try and 'jot down' as much of my new stuff that I put keys on, Willis's song being the first example. not because I want to learn to read sheet music but to try and make things a bit easier for whomever may be transcribing my stuff, a lesson i learned the first time. Jim Snarski took my recordings and trans'd the vocals and came over my place many times and we sat while he played the bits on his flute to make sure he had things correctly. I never understood the need for a 'lead' sheet as i never expected the singers to try & sing exactly the way I did (and they didn't... if they could sing at all of which only 2 really could...;>) Mike B. took the lead sheets and the recordings and added all the other (school) orchestral instruments and wrote those parts (with my advice/opinions here & there). But for Willis's song, i've got certain melodic lines played on the recording and I want to keep them so I figured i'd 'assist' whoever by jotting down the notes but don't want to just write out "A, C, Eflat, etc..." I can at least jot dots down on the staff and measure (i can count to 4 as well as anyone else...;>) So hopefully that will help whoever later on down the road. "Density/weighing" Well, if an instrument is too heavy, the musician should find a lighter instrument to play... i think that sums up my music theory...;>) Here's the song chart thingy I made for Willis' song: http://www.mydatabus.com/public/tavernstuf...isSongchart.pdf I'm in the process of revamping it to show my full keyboard (still not as long as a regular piano). Mine's got 5 groups of both the 2 and 3 black key groupings but no indication of where middle C is (that's the point of reference where the treble/bass is split for staff notes correct?). I found a keyboard graphic (shorter than mine) that has the bass & treble notes/staff overlaid on it but I don't know 'where' to line it up compared to my keyboard. I've attached it here (I hope). Anyways, back to the instrument stuff, when I add keyboard orchestra parts to my tunes, i'm now writing the info down (name, bank, preset, track, sound, what part the sound is used for, etc.) this time around just because some of the tunes (like Willis) are more complex (unlike the first Tavern tunes which were just 'supposed' to be a single acoustic guitar) and I want to offer a bit more info than just a recording (litterate musicians,... why can't you guys just figure it out from the recording or make stuff up as you go along during rehersals? ;>) I hope that made sense. -Jim Edited: I scanned a chord staff graphic to show what I'm looking for in either png or wmg format. Edited again: I was just looking at that 'red' keyboard graphic and I realized the notes are wrong! I also found a graphic showing where the middle C is on my keyboard, i'll be posting a new graphic tomorrow for your opinions, going to bed now, G'nite ya'll...

Awesome John! Thanks a million! Now, any idea where I can get some (all actually) wmf/png chord diagrams/artwork on staves to put into my home made chord diagram sheets? Another question, anyone here VERY familiar with Finale Notepad? I ask because I just D/L'd it but I need to be able to insert lyrics first, then add notes in afterwards. remember, I don't read nor write notation so it's the only way I can 'try' to create basic sheet music in anticipation of the production. Sadly ('cause i'm a cheap B*****rd), the free version only allows 8 staves/staffs so I can't add in more for additional instruments. I've redrawn the thing (stave layout) in Coreldraw 9 (of which I am a guru!) and will be using that to create by 'basic' info sheet for the tavern songs from now on. I just figured that it would look more 'authentic' with all the extra doo-dads (clefs & whatnot) from the program. But at least i'm not forced to have 2 staves for synth & piano because I only need one. -Jim

Do any of you know of any free sheet music software that will allow me to type in the lyrics first and add the notes afterwrad so I can attempt to figure out & print the 'basic' sheet music? I tried finale last year but it wanted notes first. -Jim

Thank you guys, you've both given me something to think about. John, I'm looking forward to any diagram help you can muster! Finn, awesome site! Now I just gotta find those instruments on my Korg X50 synth and 'see' what they sound like compared to the audio on the site and compare them again to the overall full 'string' sounds. I'm not a keyboard player (about 2-3 weeks so far really, with everything I've been trying to do with my latest tune) so trying to play the piano (timing, key velocity/pressure, picking the right sounds, playing competently/consistently, etc.) has been an extreme chore. I am a guitar player... and bassist & former drummer until my back went bad. Now I'm just a songwriter trying to climb out of my 'box'. Well, here's the finished music (music only, still working on the lyrics) to another Tavern (part 2 of the trilogy) tune. Two tracks of 'strings' (all recorded instrument/tracks are in stereo), drum machine pattern, piano, flute, string 'melody' lead & some type of horn & tamborine. 15 tracks total. It kinda fall apart at the end but such things would be worked out during production rehersals and whenever the sheet music (run away! run away!) gets created. Yes, the first few bars of each verse does sound a bit like Lukes theme from star wars, I didn't realize that until my 2nd attempt at a recording. I did change the melody a bit to more reflect the actual vocal lines. What can ya do? But I've had to point that fact out to others who say they couldn't tell. I hope this means my abilities on keys & songwriting has gotten better if i can rewrite (stumble upon) such things. The funny things is that I spent at least a week flubbing with the keyboard putting my fingers all over the place until things started to make decent sounds (did i mention I don't play keys?) and I was extremely happy that I came up with something very complex sounding (and not on the guitar!). But now, after i've written down the chords to see what they are on guitar and have played each 'melody' part probably hundreds of times until i got them recorded reasonably well, it all seems nothing more than simple little riffs pieced together to create a greater more intricate sounding whole. As much of a pain it's been to get the damn thing recorded (I DID say i'm not a keyboard player, didn't I?), the lyrics have REALLY been a pain. One verse & the chorus are done, but i'll be damned if i can get past that and finish it. -Jim http://www.mydatabus.com/public/tavernstuf...Final_Music.mp3 (11 megs)

Anyone here (assuming you not only write lyrics but also play all the instruments on your recordings too) write 'orchestrated' pieces? If so, how do you choose which instruments and where do you place them in the stereo field? I'm currently working on a soft/smooth jazz piece and using my synth to add horns, wood, strings, etc. But I want to do more than just use a strings preset for the main orchestral chords. I want to better understand what a orchestra consists of, the various sounds the instruments make and where they are placed (diagrams & instrument lists anyone?). Thanks for reading, -Jim

Dump the PC and get a dedicated 32 track all in one unit... Korg D3200 basic 32 track unit (no paired tracks & no cable/module/software headaches) and just start recording your tunes without having to figure out manuals and software programming... PC's are not the end all/be all of recording tunes.

No, no Behringer forums (Makes you wonder why? Plus they never seems to show up in the guitar player's buying guide!). Having said that, I've got a B X-Vamp pedal and it's got some really cool sounds (and in stereo too!) for less than $100.0 (but it's got a plastic case...;>( I also have a Spider 3 combo amp and a Digitech RP150 pedal and overall, the 'different' sounds are the same. All good, but you'll never find a tube amp in there... If you compare the B's pedal catalog to Boss, you'll be surprised at the similarity. Both have a vast (& similar) selection.

No, not worth the money playability-wise just because of the latency with the supplied pickup. The sounds were utterly wonderful (bend a flute or violin/clarinet/human voice note) and i understood that certain sounds (like a flute) should be played as if your trying to play a flute and not a guitar (bending, sliding to accurately reproduce the sound) but having the ability to bend or slide, hammers & whatnot is really cool. The problem is that you had to set the sensitivity of the pickup so high that any touch of the strings set off the sounds and some sounds just couldn't handle being sent to the unit so fast via the strings. Palm muting would set it off, sympathetic vibes too. Some sounds were spot on and tracked nicely but overall i'd stay away from it unless you had a midi guitar and the ability to try the unit out first because you know your going to lose money trying to trade it back in if you don't like it. it blew me away when I first had it, then I started to really use it with recordings, mainly to play bass on my 6 string electric and the more I kept getting dissatisfied with the tracking and ultimately decided it was more a hassle & waste of time trying to fuss with the pickup. Buying another guitar just to use it wasn't feasible nor was spending about $200.00 each for 6 new Graphtech saddles that I wasn't sure would fit my guitar (not including the install & device module needed to make them work). So it was just easier for me to trade for a real bass guitar. I guess I'll just have to bone up on my sad keyboard skills. here's another tune idea where I used it for the bass (use headphones, i mix down w/headphones...). If you think the bass is 'late', your correct even tho' my hitting of the string/note is spot on and you can hear it's simple single notes. I did a little 'slide' at the beginning with the bass which sounds like the bad start of a tape reel deck when play was hit. Btw, your hearing some of the best intricate piano playing i can muster...;>) All the other sounds are my Korg synth: http://www.mydatabus.com/public/tavernstuff/monster.mp3

Wonderful sounds, bad latency with the provided G3 divided pickup, especially when playing bass. Pickup install was a pain and I had to go out & buy more double sided tape. You'd be better off with a dedicated guitar like a Godin than the supplied pickup or pay mucho bucks for Graphtech saddles. Here's a quick demo I made the day I brought it home using my Ibanez Artcore semi-hollow body electric guitar. There's no 'guitar' sounds. I used a drum pattern from my recording deck. Everything else is the Roland. I also tried connecting the GR20 to my Korg keyboard synth (an X50) but even with a 6' cable, the latency was absurd. I've since traded the GR20 for a real bass. Tracking was bad for the most part, other notes being set off, not being able to play faster than 8th notes, etc... but I attribute that to the terrible pickup. Other than that, if you have a dedicated midi guitar, this thing should rock your world. http://www.mydatabus.com/public/tavernstuff/jimsGR20demo.wma

1) When you sit down with your chosen instrument with the intention of composing or experimenting, what normally happens? Do you start by playing particular/familiar chords, melodies? How do you try to access your creative instinct? "Well, I don't use computers so this is an easy question, I pick up my guitar and start noodling around with either a riff or chord or I go to my keyboard and start noodling on that (I'm a terrible key player-it's a black & white blocks to me) and so,mething always comes up and I immediately record the part no matter how long or short it may be. other times i may hear a few notes on tv from something but 'differently' than how it's delivered and i'll run to my guitar and record those notes and then come back to it weeks later and either keep it (develope) or trash it." 2) What kind of idea usually begins the development of a new song? Melody, chords, lyrics? "Thank god I'm musically illiterate so I don't worry about such things, I just make it all up as I go along. It also helps that I can play guitar, bass & drums (and as mentioned above, enough keys to know that I know I can't play keys...). It all comes naturally after all these years but I wish I knew more jazz!!!" 3) What guides you in structuring and developing your song past these early stages? "The song. I never force anything or try to sound like something else. It's already inside and I try to chip away the 'lack of sound' until I reveal (to the best of my abilities w/the few instruments I play) enough of the song to be happy with it. Sometimes I add more instruments (via my poor key/synth ability) because i hear 'more' than I can 'play' which may sound good at first, then later on sound crappy so I remove the parts. I've got one tune idea with 6 distorted guitars which, due to my crummy mixing skills, doesn't allow me to add the orchestral parts that still float in my head. Maybe I should swap out some of those DG'd parts for other instrumentation, but I just can't play keys good enough." 4) If songwriting collaborator(s) are involved in the development of such a project, please describe how you co-operate in developing the song? "I can't find anyone close enough to do face to face collabing and i don't use computers (btw, a super intense "aw geez!" to all who use comps to cut & paste out songs w/out actually playing an instrument... I know your out there...), so I do everything myself. And before you ask, no I don't want to form a classic rock band and be your bass player... i'm too damn old & tired..." ;>) 5) How do you remember/record your progress in the development of the song up until the point where you actually make a proper recording of it? "My memory sucks so I hit the record button on my dedicated 32 track Korg deck." 6) Please comment on the effect that composing in this way has on the song, in comparison to composing in front of a sequencer. I don’t mean with regard to the FX and mixing power available on a DAW, but rather the actual compositional processes. "Sequencer? I don't need no steenky sequencer! What the hell is a sequencer? Sounds like algebra to me... Why doesn't anyone talk about the ping-pong method of recording with 2 mono cassette decks anymore? You needed talent for that back then! Kids nowadays, they think they got recording problems... hah! They've no idea... -Jim