Helpful Replywhich expansion packs?

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
audiomyth
Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 132
  • Joined: 2015/02/21 09:43:48
  • Location: India
  • Status: offline
2015/04/14 04:01:58 (permalink)

which expansion packs?

Hello......
 
This is a slighted modified query from my previous one.
 
Software Expansion pack(s)?: My level is beginners and I am using X1 LE. I want to add expansion pack(s) so that I get all the available soft synth instruments of the cakewalk sound center, full audio and midi library and all the available audio effects of Sonar. But because of what appears jargon to me now, I am finding it difficult to understand what each expansions pack actually offers. Before I move on to a higher DAW of Sonar, I want to get acquainted with the basics first through x1.
 
What expansion packs can serve my purpose, if not fully, at least to a considerable extent?
 
Thanks and regards,
Kane
 
 
#1
List Solutions Only

6 Replies Related Threads
    Sanderxpander
    Max Output Level: -36.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 3873
    • Joined: 2013/09/30 10:08:24
    • Status: offline
    Re: which expansion packs? 2015/04/14 04:32:21 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby audiomyth 2015/04/20 03:11:33
    I agree that what is bundled with which version of Cakewalk can be a bit of a mess. Some plugins are only bundled with ONE iteration of the software for instance (R-Mix with X2 Producer).

    I'm not an expert on the Cakewalk Sound Center but speaking generally, there are a lot more sounds and effects in Sonar than can be found in there. I'm not sure that it would be useful or sensible to go crazy on what expansion packs are available. Many audio effects, instruments and loops only come with higher versions or later versions of the DAW.

    Rather, you should ask yourself which sounds you need or miss. If it's "everything" perhaps you should consider stepping up to the latest Platinum, or buying a separate softsynth like Spectrasonics Omnisphere or a bundle like NI Komplete, both of which cover a lot of bases.

    If you do want to get expansion packs for the sound center, what is the language that is confusing you? Perhaps we can help there.
    #2
    AT
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 10654
    • Joined: 2004/01/09 10:42:46
    • Location: TeXaS
    • Status: offline
    Re: which expansion packs? 2015/04/14 11:21:52 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby audiomyth 2015/04/20 03:13:59
    Cakewalk Sound Center is a sample playback synth with few real-time controls or programming.  What it does is play back sounds - stock it comes with what might be called the favorites from the rest of Cake more programmable synths.  DFS, of course, makes libraries for Cake synths (and others), so you expansion libs are from them as well as Cake. 
     
    As far as which to get - it depends upon what kind of music you do.  If you play guitar I wouldn't suggest getting one of the guitar libs.  If you do rock, the Urban Expansion pack wouldn't be the first thing to buy.  What the expansion packs do is provide a sample collection of sounds in a genre or instrument.  If you don't know what to buy and nobody here answers you about the libs (I don't use it), I'd write Cake and DFS.  The guy behind DFS would be glad to help you spend your money (no, really he's great and he's on this forum from time to time).
     
    But I think you are smart to hold off on jumping into deep water.  Learn the program first.  Go through the sounds in CSC.  TTS is a general midi synth you might find useful.  General Midi is an old SoundBlaster-type standard that lets a single synth engine play back entire songs - drums, bass guitar and orch.  Not very well, but well enough 20 years ago that you could add music to productions and any synth (and most came w/ a GM card) could play it back for games and such.  SFZ player (another free synth from Cake) can play SoundFonts, which was a SoundBlaster upgrade to GM synths.  You should be able to find all those synths online for free.  If you like synths also check out UGO.com from real synths for free (as opposed to acoustic emulations).
     
    So get educated before investing big bucks, unless DFS has a library that is just your style - like the Urban.  CSC is a better sounding synth (it uses the same engine, I believe, as the major Cake Synths, but you personally can't add samples or change the filters etc. so it is more just playback of what is there) than TTS or SFZ. 
     
    Fun hunting!
     
    @

    https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome
    http://www.bnoir-film.com/  
     
    there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
    24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
    #3
    ShellstaX
    Max Output Level: -80 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 502
    • Joined: 2014/03/18 11:01:37
    • Status: offline
    Re: which expansion packs? 2015/04/14 20:39:55 (permalink)
    I do own several Soundpacks (including DSF/Cakewalk/Others for Sound Center, Dimension, Rapture, Z3TA etc)
     
    I agree with the other posters ... that's not a cost effective nor forward looking route and especially as it is you don't really know what it is you're after.
     
    With the money you'll save you could get yourself to at least the current Sonar Artist  (pc spec permitting - else goto step 2) and have more than enough of a wide array of instruments to continue your journey from there.
     
    1. FX - sounds like you don't need the premium FX (CA2A, Concrete Limiter, Expander/Gate etc) just yet. A good array comes with the Sonar suite an moreso with the higher editions. There's also 3rd party free, inexpensive and expensive offerings (when you know what you want).
     
    2. Soundpacks - Sound Center is a great entry level soft synth (but at last count it was only 32bit - not necessarily a show stopper). Sales have historically come around a couple of time a year where each of the packs are say $8 or $75 for all ~20 which is a great deal. If you know what you want then you might be OK with the regular $29.
     
    For now though ... the E-MU Proteus Pack Proteus 2000 Download - Expansion For Dimension from the The Cakewalk Store is $19.95 and includes:
    - 1000 instruments
    - Dimension LE soft synth
      - with it's additional 500 instruments
    Oh Yes, I have it - and I'm not disappointed.
    (I would provide a direct link but the way the store works now it tags an ID link - I don't know if that's specific to me).
    NOTE: This pack is effectively the same emulation of the hardware emulated by the, now free, Proteus VX - but the easy integration with Sonar is the key and why I recommend the paid offering - it's well worth it. (They do coexist if you want to get the free one too - it's samples are contained in a different format - but the VST doesn't play well with Sonar from my experience).
     
    Option 2 - Check the specials at Digital Sound Factory - V01 Grand Piano looks like a great deal at $19.95 (incl DimLE) and appears to be more than just pianos, if not quite the breadth of Proteus 2000 ... but seemingly better quality(?).
     
    Option 3 - If that/those aren't enough then mix and match with the 1500 Instruments Mega Pack for $14.95 (perhaps excluding Dim LE). For that I'd get the Dimension pack in preference to the SoundFonts. The Dimension pack includes the .sfz(s) and can be used in your SFZ Player (e.g, Sforzando) too.
    post edited by ShellstaX - 2015/04/14 21:09:08
    #4
    BassDaddy
    Max Output Level: -33 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 4232
    • Joined: 2012/12/31 13:55:58
    • Location: I'm an American. From America!
    • Status: offline
    Re: which expansion packs? 2015/04/15 12:01:31 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby audiomyth 2015/04/20 03:21:03
    Though I understand your thinking, staying with X1 because its easier or more basic may not be true. I stared out with Home Studio 7 and loved it. I tried X1 Producer on the 30 day trial and found it much easier to use in nearly every way. I also have not found the LE products to be easier to learn either. There is so much more info and tutorials available for the current SONARs. Just staying current with the majority of the Forum members has value also.  I would not spend any money to buy things and stay in SONAR LE. Try SONAR Artist for a few months and see what you think. There are books and eBooks, loads of YouTube tutorials, lots of Cake TV and videos. Plus Groove3 has very good videos. Spend your money on Platinum or Pro or Artist and you will get plenty of new sounds to play with in the process. Don't forget the astonishingly helpful people in this Forum. I know you will get more and faster help if you are somewhat current than you may get with LE.

    It's Bass, not Bass.
    i7 2700K, 16GB DDR3, 2 SSD sample drives and OS drive, HDD SATAIII for projects, 2 24" monitors
    Focusrite Saffire Pro 24, Focusrite VRM Box, LAVA Lamp, SONAR Platinum 64 bit, Mackie MCU and 1 MCU XT, Akai Advance 49, Windows 10,
    Komplete 9 Ultimate, Cakewalk, Toontrack, IK, AAS, XLN, UVI, Air Music Tech, Waves Factory, Sample Tek and Sonivox VSTi's. Overloud, T-Racks, Audio Damage, D16, Nomad Factory, Waves Gold FX 
    #5
    audiomyth
    Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 132
    • Joined: 2015/02/21 09:43:48
    • Location: India
    • Status: offline
    Re: which expansion packs? 2015/04/20 03:49:00 (permalink)
    Thanks Sanderxpander, AT, ShellstaX and BassDaddy.
     
    Now I am in a much better position to evaluate my upgrade/expansion options.
     
     
    post edited by audiomyth - 2015/04/20 04:07:04
    #6
    audiomyth
    Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 132
    • Joined: 2015/02/21 09:43:48
    • Location: India
    • Status: offline
    Re: which expansion packs? 2015/04/20 05:11:19 (permalink)
    After a little bit of exploring, I came across patches and 'instruments in MIDI settings in Edit/Preferences'. I am trying to make use of these features/settings but have not succeeded till now, if I am really not missing out something basic.
     
    Firstly, I saw a lot many patches in the patch browser and by their names these patches seems to be virtual instruments. I tried to make this patch thing work but could not succeed. I inserted a soft synth track and then in the midi track I selected a patch from the patch browser. And after that when I selected the midi track and hit the keys of the midi keyboard controller, the gain metre of the midi track would show a jump but no sound is generated.

    One anomaly I saw that in the patch browser - the bank column for each patch shows '-none-'. Could this be the reason why the patches in the midi track would not work? Or are there any changes required in the MIDI settings in Preferences?
     
    Secondly,  in Edit-Pref-Midi-Instruments, I selected my midi controller (suffixed Keyboard Out) in OUTPUT/CHANNEL and randomly selected GENERAL PATCHES 128 in INSTRUMENTS. And clicking DEFINE opened up another family tree of what appears to be instruments.
     
    I think I am missing something about the patches, MIDI tracks and MIDI settings.

     



    post edited by audiomyth - 2015/04/20 05:29:23
    #7
    Jump to:
    © 2025 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1