What to expect with Dimension Prou upgrade?

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Dan Brill
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2010/04/19 14:57:36 (permalink)

What to expect with Dimension Prou upgrade?

Hi,
Really new to Cakewalk.  Got Dimension LE when I purchased a Roland UA-25ex.  Seems reasonably good at electronic sounds like pads, atmospheres, sine waves, etc. , but for my style of music I'd like some more realistic sounding patches -- piano, sax, guitars, drum kits (that sound more like skins and wood), etc.

If I upgraded to Dimension Pro would I get more acoustic sounding patches?  Is there a place I could hear samples?  Or is there a place where I can just download patches and pay on a per-each basis.  I suppose I could spend a lot of time on the net looking for free files, but truth be told, I only have a limited amount of time to devote to music, and I'd rather spend more time making it and less time messing with the computer.  (That's what I have a day job for.)  So I'm happy to pay for the upgrade if that's the way to go.

Any insights are welcome!  Thanks!
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    uche_eke
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    Re:What to expect with Dimension Prou upgrade? 2010/04/19 15:20:02 (permalink)
    Hi Dan,

    It might be worth simply upgrading to the producer version of Cakewalk Sonar where you get the Session Drummer 3, Dimension Pro ad the sublime TruePiano thrown in plus a whole host of tweaking plugins to get a more acoustic sound. Dimension pro also has real drum kits and a very good choice of acoustic pianos. It can also be expanded with the new Digital Sound Factory Expansion Packs in this regard. 

    Guitars and Saxes are always going to be problematic unless you use samples and rex files, some of which are truly fantastic. Alternatively get a guitar/sax playing friend to play! 

    I have a breath controlled Yamaha sound module which quite accurately models embrochure, tonguing etc for synth sax and flute, but it will always be second best to the real thing, so I tend to create instruments that avoid sounding like the real things so they can't be compared directly to avoid embarrassment!! With some creative editing techniques even a rough guitar player like me can produce somewhat decent attempts at real guitar tracks using the real thing. The limitations of simulated guitar are illustrated well by the latest sound bank for rapture/rapture LE:

    http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/ElectronicGuitars/videos.asp


    I think they've done a great job, but no substitute for the real thing. 

    Hope this helps
    Uche :) 

    Uche :)

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    AT
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    Re:What to expect with Dimension Prou upgrade? 2010/04/19 16:53:27 (permalink)
    Yea, Sonar upgrade is probably the best route.

    As to what you get - programability.  And a slew of patches/sounds, expansion packs, Garritan Pocket orch etc.  You'll have to research the list - the differences and complete program listing is somewhere on the site.  Then there are the 3rd party libraries - SFZ didn't break out like it should have (tho Alchemy and other synths use it) but on the Dimpro page (I think) or Purchase there are some libraries.  The companies have some demo stuff you can listen to.

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    Dan Brill
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    Re:What to expect with Dimension Prou upgrade? 2010/04/19 18:08:26 (permalink)
    Thanks.  Good advice.  Since the Producer version comes with Dim. Pro, which will cost me $100 bucks anyway, this really does seem to be the way to go.

    >> With some creative editing techniques even a rough guitar player like me can produce somewhat decent attempts at real guitar tracks using the real thing.

    LOL!  Exactly where this keyboard player and bassist finds himself.  I play guitar well enough for a campfire or where industrial strength editing is available.

    Thanks again!
    Dan
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