Is Buzz the best tool for the job?

GameGod · Converted Sinner Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 20

Hi everyone,

I've been playing around with Buzz for about 2 months now, and I think I've finally got a good handle on it.

In a couple of weeks I'm going to do some recording with a friend of mine who is a wicked guitarist, and some other girl whose vocals I'll be recording in the same session.

I plan on using either GoldWave or Audition to do the actual recording of the samples.

My dilemma is whether to use Buzz for the actual composition of the piece or something else (probably Project5.)

The piece is going to be kind of pop-ish, the drums will be added in using whatever program I'm using (either some cut up samples, a nice VST or something, or maybe I'll try nskit), and I'll be adding some nice synths or 303s or something to fill in the background.

Question: Is there a good sampler in Buzz that will deal well with longer samples? (I'll probably have 15 second guitar and vocal clips that I'll be working with)

Project5 is extremely nice for this sort of thing, but the really nice built-in sampler (GroovePlayer) has mad issues with corrupting your project file, which bit me in the ass last recording session.
The alternative to using GroovePlayer in Project5 is to use a good VST sampler that deals well with longer samples - anyone know of a good free one?

Thanks for any tips/advice anyone can give me...

(P.S. Anyone have any composition or mixing tips for making something sound like pop?)

flat · Priest Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 192

http://buzzmusic.wipe-records.org/index.php?id=12&action=details&userid=348

maybe this guy uses the kind of working method that you are looking for?

steveg

Buzz wouldn't be my first choice for that. It can probably be done, and a lot of guys here reach for Buzz for *everything*, but I'd use a more "traditional" recording app for working with live musicians. Then, I might hack it up into loops and mangle in Buzz later.

Personally, I use Sonar for live instruments and vox. There are lots of options. Mackie is giving away Tracktion free now, that looks like a good free option. But always get to know apps you're going to use live or for recording sessions really well. The only thing more frustrating than learning curve blocking your creative process is the learning curve blocking a room full of people. Blushing

Here's the link for Tracktion. The free offer expires at the end of the month.

http://my.mackie.com/tracktionpromo.asp

lindon

Is this a Church or what?

I produce a lot of tracks precisely as you suggest - record into Goldwave (with Buzz playing drums + whatever at the same time) and importing the samples into buzz. I use Matilde Tracker for long samples and don't run into problems.

I don't think Buzz really limits you with this kind of stuff; sticking with Buzz works for me and I get to use all my favourite effects and whatnot.

There's a couple of examples tracks (vox on one guitar on the other) here if you're interested. Somewhat poppy:-

http://buzzmusic.wipe-records.org/index.php?id=12&action=details&userid=471

Lindon

GameGod · Converted Sinner Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 20

k-bird

lykwydchykyn

I do the Buzz/Sonar thing too. Typically I do all the programmed stuff in Buzz, then record it using Jeskola ASIO out over to sonar. Doing it that way I have to clip and realign stuff, so it's kind of a pain, but I could never get Msync to do what I wanted it to, so that's where I'm at now.

I have tried working with vsti's in Sonar but I just get much better results in Buzz. I just find the buzz interface better for complex, detailed programming tasks. All the parameters are right there and ready to be modified, there's no wading through menus trying to remember which controller # modifies what.
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Mirfus · Monk Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 381 Location: Leeds, UK

elekt · Choir Girl Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 86

steveg

To be honest, I've always been a little frustrated that I can't have it all. Crying or Very sad

I either do "electronic" projects in Buzz or non-virtual instruments (guitars, bass, vox, etc.) in Sonar. Occassionally I'll use loops from Buzz in Sonar or vice-versa, but I've never found a satisfying solution. Maybe I haven't taken the time to try hard enough. I'm not going to use guitar samples when I've got my guitar rig sitting behind me ready to record. If I want it to sound like guitar, I'd rather just play it. Someday I hope to collide my digital and analog worlds and come up with something totally new for me. But I haven't figured out a good way to do that. I've gotten a few ideas from this thread. Any other ways that work for you?

(should I have started a new thread?)

GameGod · Converted Sinner Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 20

vaud · Altar Boy Joined: 20 Aug 2004 Posts: 26

I do lots of work with live material in Buzz. I'll set up a drum pattern in Buzz to keep time and then I'll record guitar and vocals (or whatever other instruments I'm working with) in a separate program such as Audition. Fuzzpilz Inp takes care of the rest. Absolutely stellar plugin since it lets you very easily load large wave files (no need to load into wavetable) and it'll synch them to song position.

Mirfus · Monk Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 381 Location: Leeds, UK

GameGod · Converted Sinner Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 20

usr

gamegod: maybe setting the sample rate of the buzz output to the same as the wave?

another thing might be that the inp does not support mono files and you have to manually convert to stereo before putting it into buzz
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Fuzzpilz

It does mono, but currently doesn't resample.

KoDream

vaud · Altar Boy Joined: 20 Aug 2004 Posts: 26

GameGod · Converted Sinner Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 20

vaud · Altar Boy Joined: 20 Aug 2004 Posts: 26

If they're all from a single vocal recording why not just throw the whole wave in as one? Inp lets you play with offsets (in tick, sample, % and other units) and you can also easily set up cues within the track.

But if you want to do some more intensive manipulation of the wave you may be better off with a tracker--although you'd lose the synch ability. You can always use both though: Inp for the longer passages and a tracker for stutter effects/whatever. I bet you knew that, though.

e-client · Deacon Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 106 Location: zürich CH

the way i remixed an orchestral/vocal/ambientish track (kenji kawaii - floating museum) was using zephods wavetable streamer. but dont use it. not released. not supported. not finished. will never be. go for fuzzpilz Imp. i guess iit basically works the same as the streamer (never tried Imp), i think this is be the best way to do what you want to do.

i thougth you might want to know that.

a recommendation: experiment a lot before you go for the 'real' recording, -before- you even have the recordings you need to work with. trial and failure on a fun project is easier to deal with than failure on a serious project. Wink

have fun!
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usr

GameGod · Converted Sinner Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 20

KoDream

If your samples are good enough, you could put them in a bmx, and maybe a more experienced producer would mix the song so that you could see how they do it.

Or even just share the samples.

I think most of the pop is produced by a large corporation with engineers(for recording), mixers, producers, marketers, song writers, and if you have a guitartist, you must have a professional guitar tuner, I want that job.

Hamst3r · Pope Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 1121 Location: Los Angeles

Yeah, they have seperate guys for everything in big productions. the bigger the production the more specialists you get.

The guy who tunes the guitars, the guy who tunes the room, the guy who places the mics perfectly and even the guy who tests the air temperature all show up.
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sup909

has anyone suggested on here using rewire? Im assuming P5 has rewire. He could sequnce his vocals and guitar in p5 rewire it and per on other sounds inside buzz.

also kristal audio engine might be good for you. load your tracks into it, work on your buzz parts bounce them to wav and then sequence everything within kristal

GameGod · Converted Sinner Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 20

P5 can't act as a rewire "host" or whatever it's called... it can only send through rewire, as far as I can tell...

Can buzz act as a rewire host? (I think I've been able to send buzz to P5, but never the other way around...)

Thanks for recommending Kristal, I'll be checking it out shortly (it does multitrack recording too? wicked...)

mute · Angel Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 3361

buzz is the opposite, it can only be a rewire host.. so yah it'll work.
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