I have a CS2x... What to do with it? HELP!!!

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dj_andy

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4-5 months ago I bought a yamaha CS2x...
I made nothing with it and I feel really sorry for buying it... Should I? I just found this forum so I think that I get some help...
I would like to write songs as Tiesto's, System F etc...
Do you think that this is possible with my synth? What programs do I need to use?
I read about CuBase. I have this prog but I don't know how to use it. Please help! Give some basic advice!
How is it possible to create kick/bass (beat) with this synth? The only kick I found was at P2 : 111 (Dancetec) wich sucks :( please please help!
It would be appreciated to give me step-to-step advice for a 20-30secs sample you created with this synth... For exampe, how was the demo #4 (Radium) created?

P.S. I found a guy "HypnotiK" who claimed he created his tracks with a synth like mine! He is quality!!! Advice and examples from him would be appreciated!
 
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Hello andy! Welcome to FP!
:hello:


OK let me help you. The CS2X is a nice little keyboard, you can definitly make music with it. I won't tell you how to make a 20-30sec sample, because you dont what to do that.... no.

Get yourself CUBASIS VST(cheap version of Cubase, perfect for when you start) and use it to sequence your CS2X.

What you do in cubase is this: you create tracks with notes on a grid, and then you can playback those tracks alltogether... I believe the CS2X should be 16 parts multitimbral which means that you will be able to have up to 16 tracks with 16 different instruments (sounds) running together.

As for the drums, I dont know if the CS2X has drum kits, I thought it would but if not, you can always get yourself a VST instrument that does good drum sounds (VST instruments are virtual machines that you open inside Cubase and control just like your CS2X).

I hope this helps you a bit andy, please feel free to post any question here and to stick around, there are tons of great people who hang out here all day :) they'll help you too.

Im excited for you, you are going to make music, that's an amazing feeling. Youll need to be patient and to practice a lot, but if you really wnat this youll get there.

:cheers:
 
Confused

Please let's take things from the begining...
First about the cable... I connected the 2 round midi-ends to : Midi OUT and Midi THRU of my synth. Is this correct?
Secondly, I installed CuBase VST/24 correct?
Now, when I play on the keyboard I can only hear some electric-piano (sucks) sounds or some other instruments that can be selected from "Patch" only if I select "A: SBLive! Midi Synth" as an output. Anyway all the sounds that can be selected are completelly different from what I hear to my headphones direct from synth... Any ideas?
P.S. I don't see a midi indicator next to my windows clock like the other time I tried to compose, thought what I play can not be heard when I close the VST...
P.S.2 The other time I tried to use synth/vst I made a funny thing that sounded as... wals? Anyway I erased the samples so I can't let you listened it...
P.S.3 I am listening to a Tiesto mix right now... Will I ever be able to compose something like that..? :( I am totally confused about cubase etc
 
You need to connect the midi out from the computer to the midi in on your CS, and vice versa. in cubase, select the midi out port, not the SB Live! midi synth. The SB Live! midi synth just plays the general midi sounds which come with the card, whereas the midi out (probably says something like SB Live! midi out) will send the signals to the midi in port on your synth (remember, you connected the computer's midi out to the synth's midi in).
Keep in mind, that Tiesto and other big producers have entire studios full of gear at their disposal. You will definitely be able to write music with what you've got, and remember you've got to start somewhere, but the production will not sound as professional without more gear. Be patient, learn about production, and eventually you'll be ready to buy more (trust me, it's an addiction). These things don't happen over night, but all that really matters is that you get enjoyment out of it...
alex
 
AAaaargg... Probably I have wrong cable...
Can anyone please post a pic of how should the cable look like? I have a platinum live Soundblaster card.
How should the connections be?
 
a midi cable has 9 pins. the connector to the SB Live card probably goes into the joystick port. not sure if the SB Live comes with it or not, but you can pick it up at any music store for pretty cheap. It's a joystick at one end, then usually splits into 3 other parts. one is another joystick port (so you can still use a joystick) and the other 2 are your round midi in and out cables. they should say in and out on them.
alex
 
If you wan't some help via email, just email me. I'm a beginner also, but I have learned a lot in the past 9 months...

And I love making music... And I know that I have had the same problems that you have... ! Cuz I feel like looking in the mirror.
so anytime, anyhow. Via email. Just don't come knocking on my door :)

// antti
// antti.kirves@kymp.net
 
andy, I think you DO have the right connectors here...

PC MIDI OUT > CS2X MIDI IN
CS2X MIDI OUT > PC MIDI IN

voila!

READ AXS's message, he is right.. you need to select SB LIVE MIDI OUT (or however your MIDI OUT port is called) instead of SB Live Synth (which makes this weak piano sound you hear..

You also need to connect the AUDIO OUTs of your CS2X to your PC LINE IN connector... so you can hear the sound of the CS2X in your computer's speakers... and you can then CAPTURE / RECORD the cs2x's sound as audio tracks, etc..
 
axs said:
a midi cable has 9 pins. the connector to the SB Live card probably goes into the joystick port. not sure if the SB Live comes with it or not, but you can pick it up at any music store for pretty cheap. It's a joystick at one end, then usually splits into 3 other parts. one is another joystick port (so you can still use a joystick) and the other 2 are your round midi in and out cables. they should say in and out on them.
alex
Click to expand...

Yes this is exactly my cable...
Now about the round midis.
I have the one wich says OUT connected to the THRU of my synth, and the on that says IN connected to OUT of the synth. Is this OK?
When i connect CableIN->Synth OUT
CableOUT->Synth IN I get no sound from VST although the green and red indicators of in and out show that there is sound... When I record, there is a red bar but no sound comes out when I play it...
 
dj_andy said:
...I get no sound from ..
Click to expand...


That's NORMAL! MIDI is NOT audio. MIDI is just the communication to control the synth.

OK the audio should come out of... the CS2X! NOT your computer/VST... the CS2X


... read my message carefully too.
good luck! once you are setup youll be all ready to make music!
 
And how am I supposed to hear the song after I play it from the synth..? And what about exporting the song to .wav ? (Seems like there are lots of things I have to learn... Anyway no that I found you I won't quit :)
 
> And how am I supposed to hear the song after I play it from the synth..?

I dont understand what you mean here


> And what about exporting the song to .wav ?

First you will compose your song in MIDI by writing the notes on the screen (or by recording MIDI data while pressing your keyboard). THEN you will be able to record each track on the screen as an audio track (midi is different from audio as you will learn).

THEN once you have all your tracks recorded as audio tracks, you will be able to MUTE (ie turn off) all MIDI channels... because you wont need them anymore at this point (but dont delete them! in case you want to re-capture parts after modifying them).

THEN you can do a MIXDOWN... cubase will create a single WAV file which will contain all your audio tracks mixed together with all your settings.


> (Seems like there are lots of things I have to learn...

YES! And be prepared to spend hours and hours training yourself ot learn all this stuff... it is very useful to be persistant and patient. I hope you have patience! :)


> Anyway no that I found you I won't quit :)

And that's great. We love to have you around here. More people = more fun

Take care
:cheers:
 
Hey dude, i know how you feel, as i have the exact same synth and have had the exact same problems.

Firstly, the cs2x isn't that great a synth, if you can, get rid of it and get something v/a like an1x, waldorf, nord, whatever you can afford. For creating progressive/melodic uplifting trance there alot better. Unless moneys not really an issue then i'd say keep it for it's organic sounds (piano ect, and also use it as a controller, wich is the one thing it really excells at).

The cs2x is a bit of a ***** in that it is 16 part multitimbral, but all of it's good sounds are in the performances, and you can only run one of those at a time (plus they take up four midi channels) so basiclly what you have to do is sequence one performance part, then record the audio to add to the mix as an audio track. This is a really annoying way to make a track, but it's what you've got to do...

good luck with whatever you try and do... let me know how it works out and anything you discover about the synth along the way, i'd be interested to swap and cs2x tips and tricks with a fellow owner.
 
the cs2x isn't that great a synth
Click to expand...
I agree that the CS aren't that great from a sound modelling/editing perspective (actually, I'm not familiar at all with the CS6X so I could be wrong about that one), but they're not meant to be a workstations (which is why you can only play one of the "good" sounds at a time). However, the CS series are great control boards for when you get more gear. Hang on to it and learn it inside and out. When (trust me - not if) you buy more gear and need to control it all through midi, you'll be glad you've got the CS!
 
First of all thanks for all your help.
I just got back my pc from service. I will experiment with all what you told me and will let you know!
 
Well...
So if I am right, the MIDI is only to communicate, and can't produce sound through speakers, so it is also needed to connect the synth with speakers with the common left/right cable.

Got the following problem with VST.
I record something at line 1, but when I change performance to my synth and go to record on line 2, the performance recorded at line 1 also changes :(
How can I avoid this?
I need to record a melody in a performance and then add new layers from other performances...

(Hope you understand cause my english are not that good and I am amateur to terminology :)
 
Andy, read all the pages of this discussion.. there IS some help for you actually :)
 
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