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Tutorial 4 – Playing and recording software
instruments
Software instruments, also referred to as
soft synths
, are a major part of computer music. Our goal in this
tutorial is to add a software instrument to a project. We'll explore a few different ways they can be used
with SONAR and look at some options to make the most of them.
A brief history
For our purposes, a synth has two basic functions:
• Receive a digital message
• Make a sound based on the information contained in that message
In the early 1980's, all of the major manufacturers of keyboards and drum machines got together to
decide on a way for their products to work well with each other. Since they all operated under some
version of the two functions listed above, it was a simple goal. They needed to standardize what
messages were used to represent particular expressions. For example: if it was a drum machine,
everyone would need to use the C note for the bass drum, the D note for the snare drum and so on. That
way, messages sent from one drum machine can be fed to another made by a different company. It will
play the same beat, but using the drum sounds from the different module. The standard they established
is known as MIDI (usually pronounced [mid-ee]). As soon as computers entered the scene, it was clear
that there should be a way to connect a synth and send MIDI messages to it from a software sequencer.
That's how Cakewalk was born. Our first application was a DOS program that would allow a user to edit
the MIDI data in detail, and play it out to a connected synth. You could also record the events from a
performance into the computer.
Things have evolved a lot since then. As computers have grown more powerful, the capabilities of
Cakewalk software have expanded. Computers are now so fast that software companies are able to
make synths and drum machines that are completely software-based. They are essentially the guts of a
keyboard in a computer program.
See:
“Adding an instrument track to your project”
“Manually entering MIDI notes”
Note:
Feel free to skip to the next section if you want to start using synths right away.
Summary of Contents for sonar x3
Page 1: ...SONAR X3 Reference Guide...
Page 4: ...4 Getting started...
Page 112: ...112 Tutorial 1 Creating playing and saving projects Saving project files...
Page 124: ...124 Tutorial 3 Recording vocals and musical instruments...
Page 132: ...132 Tutorial 4 Playing and recording software instruments...
Page 142: ...142 Tutorial 5 Working with music notation...
Page 150: ...150 Tutorial 6 Editing your music...
Page 160: ...160 Tutorial 7 Mixing and adding effects...
Page 170: ...170 Tutorial 8 Working with video Exporting your video...
Page 570: ...570 Control Bar overview...
Page 696: ...696 AudioSnap Producer and Studio only Algorithms and rendering...
Page 720: ...720 Working with loops and Groove Clips Importing Project5 patterns...
Page 820: ...820 Drum maps and the Drum Grid pane The Drum Grid pane...
Page 848: ...848 Editing audio Audio effects audio plug ins...
Page 878: ...878 Software instruments Stand alone synths...
Page 1042: ...1042 ProChannel Producer and Studio only...
Page 1088: ...1088 Sharing your songs on SoundCloud Troubleshooting...
Page 1140: ...1140 Automation Recording automation data from an external controller...
Page 1178: ...1178 Multi touch...
Page 1228: ...1228 Notation and lyrics Working with lyrics...
Page 1282: ...1282 Synchronizing your gear MIDI Machine Control MMC...
Page 1358: ...1358 External devices Working with StudioWare...
Page 1362: ...1362 Using CAL Sample CAL files...
Page 1386: ...1386 Troubleshooting Known issues...
Page 1394: ...1394 Hardware setup Set up to record digital audio...
Page 1400: ...1400 MIDI files...
Page 1422: ...1422 Initialization files Initialization file format...
Page 1463: ...1463 Misc enhancements New features in SONAR X3...
Page 1470: ...1470 Comparison...
Page 1518: ...1518 Included plug ins Instruments...
Page 1532: ...1532 Cyclone Using Cyclone...
Page 1694: ...1694 Beginner s guide to Cakewalk software Audio hardware sound cards and drivers...
Page 1854: ...1854 Preferences dialog Customization Nudge Figure 518 The Nudge section...
Page 1856: ...1856 Preferences dialog Customization Snap to Grid Figure 519 The Snap to Grid section...
Page 1920: ...1920 Snap Scale Settings dialog...
Page 2042: ...2042 View reference Surround panner...