btimm says:
I have a midi keyboard. I was wondering about software used to actually make sound, like a piano basically. Free or paid, what do you all use?
wow what a BIG question. ;) ... UI have a student in 30min and i type like a blind monkey on Thorazine soooo
I'll TRY (you know me lol) to be QUICK(yeah, right)
I Used to work for a Company that did soundtracks etc for TV and have sold a few of the Synths i used then BUT
Midi-IN = a great way to Hit Soft Synths..
All Pro (good Pro) DAWs (Cubase, Forge, Acid, ProTools, Logic) HAVE many Soft-Synths IN them or purchasable via download.
BUT for a 'Keyboard FARM" I would not Nickle and dime myself to death, i would (have) grab a copy of Reason. It has the most Soft Synths, and , essentially is (why it started) a Uber-Tweakable suite of Soft-Synths ... and the Price , as i remember, is quite reasonable(no pun intended)
You can further Expand Reason Via Reason "Refills" ..Killer sounds from old Keyboards etc...
The more Loop Based Acid-Pro also will host many S-Synths
etc
etc
Sibelius is my favorite but its pricey.
Does You Synth have its own sounds(if so you can layer the out on the Synth over a soft synth or four
Acid/Forge/Reason/...
ARE ALL able to be 'Slaved' To(IN) Cubase.(something to think about)
So In the long run there are many many out there BUT
It is AL:WAYS wise to look towards your FUTURE STUDIO...The one ya dream about and save $$ for ;)
IF ya hook up with trashy S-Synths (usually free) ya get what ya pay for...
Better to snag a quality Plug/Soft Synth now and be able to use it when you upgrade your studio than to waste money on a Plug/S-Synth that will be a 'non-starter" w/ you NEW DREAM STUDIO!
So yes
you can snag Free-Mid/Priced-Low-Priced-High-Priced
There are zillions of options. just keep your eye(ear) out for the future.
Hope That Helped
RAWK!
Cs