Alrighty guys so I need some help figuring out what computer rig I
should buy, and maybe some thoughts on Mac vs windows. I have been out
of the audio world for a bit so am stuck in the past as far as
accessible audio DAW's go. But here is what I am trying to do...
I play keyboard for my church and we have a nice yamaha board with
midi. The sounds on the keyboard are ok, but I would love to use
softsynths in the mix. I know the Native instruments contact 12
software is accessible in combination with the midi controlers and
your screen reader of choice, either on mac or windows. The first
question I have is this...
Can I purchase the 32 key midi controler from Native instruments and
then use the yamaha board to play the sounds? I see no reason why you
couldn't do this so I believe the answer to that question is yes.
I could use the Native Instruments midi controler to control contact
and other softsynths and have it's feedback and use the big yamaha
board just to play the sounds so it acts like an 88 key midi controler
instead of a 32 key.
Next question I have is what do you think I should buy as far as Mac
vs Windows? I used to own a Mac about ten years ago so I am not used
to using it like I was. Although if I go the windows rout I would need
to learn how to use Samplitude so either way I am learning something
new. Just not sure if I wanna try and relearn the mac and learn the
software on top of that. I do use an IPhone but the mac is not 100
percent the same of course. All that interacting with windows and
such.
If I purchase a mac what applications are accessible for audio editing
and working with softsynths? If I purchase a Mac, I know everything
should work out of the box though and that's one good thing.
If I purchase a laptop however, I know you need to be careful with
buying off the shelf windows computers as things may not always work
properly. I do prefer staying with windows though as I am used to that
system. The only bad thing about that however is their are no really
good accessible video editors like on the mac. But that's not audio
related...
I still have a desktop that was made for audio work. It is about ten
years old at this point and is running both windows 7 and windows 10.
It has an I7 processor and 12 gigs of ram. This would probably work
well for running Native instruments but having a laptop would be
easier to carry.
I still can of course run Sonar under windows 7 but as that software
is no longer kept up to date, I can't depend on it forever. It however
might get me by to get me started and when I get the setup going I can
then learn new software.
What do you guys think about running laptops vs desktops for audio
work now days? I know ten years ago desktops were still slightly more
powerful but I would say today that laptops are right up their. The
only advantage I can see with having a desktop tower would be storage
and that you can upgrade it if need be.
I see that many major companies like EastWest and others have begun to
intagrate their softsynths with the Native instruments midi
controlers, giveing the controler access to their synth parameters.
This is of course great knews for us. I wonder if omnisphere can be
controled by the controler and all patches read allowed etc?
Anyway, sorry for the long email it's been a bit since I have looked
in to purchasing anything audio related. Perhaps I might take my
desktop tower and put it on stage beside the keyboard to see what I
can do and how complicated of a setup this will be. What are your
thoughts? It would be kind of funny to look on stage and see a guy
with a giant desktop tower beside him with no screen, and this guy
pressing buttons on a random computer keyboard hooked in to the back
of the tower and headphones running to his ears... yes my friends this
is alien communication at its best. Anyway, thanks for any help.