[carol m]

I recently bought a Tascam interface and it came with Cubase LE 1.0.7.95 and GigaStudio. I installed GigaStudio today (from a CDRom) and couldn't get it to work. But although I struggled all day with it, I'm not sure I want/need anything in the program - but its hard to work out what is actually in the program (nothing is available for me in the program so far - all the options are shown as 'empty')

So I moved on to install Cubase LE, and its gone well. However the Quick Guide is 175 pages and the Manual is 594 pages. I've been slogging through the quickstart until I'm seeing double.

My question is, do I have to run the exe file before I get to use it? It doesn't seem to say if I should or not. I don't want to stuff up after failing already with GigaStudio and a VST Plugin that wouldn't plug in to Audacity.

I have 3 exe files to choose from: Autorun .exe / Setup Cubase LE.exe and Setup Cubase LE J.exe which I think is the Japanese version.

The other thing is that they keep refering to my Audio Hardware but I don't know what that is. Is it the Tascam PCI Interface, or something that's in my hard-drive?

I can't think straight anymore so I'm giving up for the day. Maybe tomorrow it will all be clear, but if anyone has any helpful tips that would be appreciated. Thanks

[OldG]

Carol, If its already installed you won't need the setup.exe's - just start the program from the desktop icon or program list.

Your Audio Hardware is your Tascam interface or your onboard sound - You choose what Cubase uses in preferences/options.

Try downloading Reaper or even TrakAxPC for a much easier learning curve... The Cubase family is way too arkward in its functions for me

[Tekker]

Reaper!
Cubase...


NOTE: I haven't used Cubase (one of the few programs that I haven't used) because they don't have a demo version for it, but I have heard enough about it from many ex-Cubase users (very buggy, terrible built in effects, Steinberg having the worst customer support on the planet, etc...) to be able to put the "thumbs down" next to it.

Plus in my experience with "lite" software, they are generally so limited that it's not worth the time it takes to install it.

-tkr

[carol m]

Thanks friends and helpers. It's confession time (again!)...Yesterday I checked out Autotune - and its not that I need it (of course) ....I was just curious. $400 or thereabouts. Then I googled Pitch Correction and found GSnap. Free and many good reports. I was on a mission! Already imagining how I would dazzle you all with the wonders of my warblings. (At that stage it was still a secret mission!)

I downloaded it and after a couple of hours, I learned that plugins have to plugin to something else . I have been recording in Audacity so I searched again, downloaded the 'Enabler' required, and followed instructions about adding plugins. But.......nothing new appeared in Audacity Effects menu.

After a few more hours of researching, and finding nothing useful anywhere, I read there was a possibility that Audacity doesn't accept GUI based plugins. I don't know if GSnap is a GUI plugin or not.

Then I remembered that my second hand Tascam device came with 2 CD Roms. I had heard (Tekker I think) that Cubase wasn't too good so I started with the other one - GigaStudio. I followed all the instructions, installed it, but couldn't get it to work either.

Then I installed Cubase and even though I followed all the installing nstructions, when I go to open the program, I only get the Transport Dialogue Box, an otherwise empty screeen, and a single line Menu bar along the top, with almost all dropdown options greyed out.

So, I'm stumped. All I really wanted was to find a way of using GSnap and I have failed on all counts. So much for Miss Tekky Two Shoes!!

Any helpful ideas appreciated. OK, you can all have a good laugh, I can see the funny side, but I'm hoping my day of disasters has taught me something - its just that I'm not sure yet what that might be.

[JF-30]

Carol,
Just listen to Tekker! Dump those lame programs and get something useable. Reaper or NTrack will use all those plugins with no problems. Once you get the hang of these programs, you will thank yourself.
Bob

[carol m]

Thanks for the info Bob. I really do listen to Tekker, so I may do that. I still have a lot to learn about Audacity, so I wasnt't looking for an alternative for its own sake, just a way to use GSnap. I thought (see above) there might be an option that I already had. I also kind of wanted to see what those CDRoms had on them. Not much it turns out, at least, not for me this time.

I need to go back to practicing my guitar for a bit and let my brain de-frazzle for a couple of hours.

[Nutty]

Oh my Carol. I can't help you, but I must say you have a whole lot of patience.

I recently bought Firebox (audio interface with mixer) that came with Cubase LE. I didn't install it because I heard it wasn't that great, especially the light version. Also, I had just bought new software and they say stick to one and get to know it. So, that's what I did. After all the rig-a-ma-roll you went through, I'm glad I didn't.

If it's any consolation, I went through a lot of the same things. I got a new computer, the firebox, band in a box and power tracks all at the same time. I ended up having to buy a PCI Firewire card and my guitar teacher had to come over and figure out the rest for me. My husband is a great computer tekkie, just not for music software

I'm sure someone will come to the rescue. Oh Tekker and Tekker alikes?????

Good luck.

Nutty

[carol m]

Yes Nutty, its a bit of a jungle and too many paths on offer. Yesterday was a bummer, partly because I failed on all fronts, but I did learn a lot.

I think it's best to stick to only 6 learning curves at any one time

[carol m]

Cubase is gone, I sent it packing,
Lots of blurb, but action's lacking

[Tekker]

You won't be able to use GSnap very efficiently in Audacity. Audacity only supports destructive effects, so you get one shot at adding the effect. While this is not recommended (at all) it can work alright for chorus and reverb if you're absolutely sure it is what you want (cause you won't be able to change your mind later). But with pitch shifting, you will definitely need to be able to make further adjustments. Because how it sounds at one point in the song can be completely different at another spot. Pitch shifting is best done in real time, so you can make adjustments as needed.

IMO even automatic pitch shifting (which is what GSnap does) isn't very good (I have used GSnap and really didn't like it) but if it must be used, it's far better to use it in real time.


$40 for Reaper and you are on your way.... and you can try the free (unlimited) demo version to see if you like it.

I also have a tutorial for loading VST effects into Reaper:
Reaper Tutorial

-tkr

[Tekker]

Originally Posted by carol m

Cubase is gone, I sent it packing,

Na na na na
Na na na na
Hey hey
Goodbye!



-tkr

[carol m]

Thanks Tekker. Maybe I'll give Reaper a try. Not today though, now I'm into 'Fixing Router Mode' plus maybe getting more Ram (cos the router fixer comes tomorrow, and he could supervise if necessary). And......I nearly forgot, playing some guitar!

[carol m]

Originally Posted by Tekker

Na na na na
Na na na na
Hey hey
Goodbye!



-tkr

Yeah - who needs it

[Tekker]

Originally Posted by carol m

now I'm into 'Fixing Router Mode'

In other words.....



-tkr

[carol m]

Ha ha - You forget Tekker that its not me doing the fixing! I'm more in a 'Paying the Bill' sort of role. But that has to be prepared for too!