So, don't know if this would be the right forum for it, so i'd ask any of the mods to move it at will
but check this out

http://www.reaper.fm/

freeware, made by the dude who made Winamp, with TONS of good stuff, like softsynth support.
AND it's a small ass little program

enjoy

wow! thanks!

I love VST plugins and programs that host them, but I already have a ton of audio editing and mixing programs.
You can never have enough soft synths, though.

You can never have enough soft synths, though.

Especially good ones

It seems nowadays ALL softsynths have the wildest unusable odd things like "Venus-based-birds-chirping-backwards-in-a-vacuum" or "North-polean-polar-bears-in-heat-roaring-in-a-delay-chamber", but no good simple basic lead/string sounds which are the things you actually do use in songs

[Blazingmonga]

So, don't know if this would be the right forum for it, so i'd ask any of the mods to move it at will
but check this out

http://www.reaper.fm/

freeware, made by the dude who made Winamp, with TONS of good stuff, like softsynth support.
AND it's a small ass little program

enjoy

What is this like to use? I have been using Cool Edit Pro for everything and I find that easy to use. How does this compare? I am interested in something that I can use VST plugins with, as CEP doesnt support these. However, if the learning curve is mega huge, then it might be more stress than it is worth for me heh.

i just use fruityloops studio but i'm still having a wee bit o trouble learning it all... i may give this a shot

So, don't know if this would be the right forum for it, so i'd ask any of the mods to move it at will
but check this out

http://www.reaper.fm/

freeware, made by the dude who made Winamp, with TONS of good stuff, like softsynth support.
AND it's a small ass little program

enjoy

What is this like to use? I have been using Cool Edit Pro for everything and I find that easy to use. How does this compare? I am interested in something that I can use VST plugins with, as CEP doesnt support these. However, if the learning curve is mega huge, then it might be more stress than it is worth for me heh.

honestly, i have no idea
just read about it and decided to post it right away, so people who don't have the money to buy audio editing software and/or don't want to mess around with pirate software can get started on something

I use Sonar and CoolEdit, cause it's the two softwares i know how to work with, and i think for mixing and adding effects, CEP is just awesome and does the job perfectly
i render everything on Sonar, and then export it to mix on CEP

Fruity Loops is pretty good cuz it has everything. It's better when you use additional plugins with it.
But since FL is quite heavy on cpu, I use VSThost.

Yeah.. I wish I had Atmosphere .
If you know about soft synths, you know that it's the best you can ever get. 4,6 gigabytes of preset sounds.

ive been using this program! its great! i dont have to buy all the $50 add ons too!

REAPER!

Fruity Loops is pretty good cuz it has everything. It's better when you use additional plugins with it.
But since FL is quite heavy on cpu, I use VSThost.

Yeah.. I wish I had Atmosphere .
If you know about soft synths, you know that it's the best you can ever get. 4,6 gigabytes of preset sounds.

one word: COLOSSUS.
35gb library, samples for all the general midi
i've heard some stuff and it's really impressive

basically anything quantum leap/east west release is impressive
and i wish i had money to buy it all

[Blazingmonga]

So, can anyone tell a fool like me how I could use Reaper to actually make some noise?

Do I need a midi keyboard to use the VST instruments?

What is the meaning of all this?

Yeah I've heard of Colossus, too.
But I never knew it would actually have a library that HUGE. And it's friggin expensive, too.
Until I get stuff like that, I'll still be using Synth1 and similar free instruments .

A midi keyboard (any keyboard with midi out will do) is a huge bonus when using VST plugins and synths alike.
But you can also play them using your keyboard or your mouse. Sometimes I'm just too lazy to actually turn on my midi keyboard.

Until I get stuff like that, I'll still be using Synth1 and similar free instruments .

uhh yeah, that's what i should be doing too

@monga: the VSTS are used through any kind of midi interface, meaning you can either play it "live" on your controller and record the audio result or you can write down your sequenced midi track and then use it to activate the VST. I use the second method, but you kinda lose a bit when you don't have the patience to make all the expression controls, so it sounds "too programmed" sometimes.

[Blazingmonga]

Thanks for the info dudes.

I figured this was the case. The learning curve is quite steep with these sort of things, and it was all hurting my brain a bit.

Its taken me a couple of years nearly now to get Cool Edit Pro worked out...this might be pushing my feeble mind a bit.

Still...the range of VST instruments out there is quite tempting. I could make some very strange noises.

[Blazingmonga]

Hey, I finally got my head round most of this. Sounds awesome! I found a few random VST synths for free, and they all rock.

Do you reckon it is worth buying an old keyboard with a midi in/out from eBay, so I can play with VST more easily? There are loads of cheap ones out there.

Also...I downloaded the most recent version...and it was shareware! I thought this was freeware. Poop. I may buy it though, it is only like $20.

Oh, another question: Is there a good online resource or website of any kind to find good freeware VST plugins? I have found a few, but not a really good central place. Or can anyone recommend any fun free ones?

I think I can use this to export some whacky ambience to CEP before then totally buggering it up.