Some Questions

[netro1123]

Ok, I've been using LMMS for a little while, and it's a lot of fun. But I have a few questions about some things.

First of all, I would really love to learn how to create music with much less of a techno type feel and more symphony type feel. I would like to learn how to use brass, strings, woodwinds...and altough I have found some good VSTs to work with, I'm still unsure how to fit these together to make the right sound and stuff that I want. Any suggestions/tutorials I can use?

Second, I am wondering about MIDI keyboards. I've read that these are vital to the creation of computer made music, but I'm totally unsure what they actually do and how they would benefit me. An explanation would be very helpful.

[diiz]

I'm thinking you'll probably want to look into soundfonts. They're optimal for intensely polyphonic works, with VSTi's you may run out of processing power faster, depending on your hardware of course. And since you want to do orchestratic symphonious music, there's probably not going to be any need for filter sweeps or such. (Although you can still totally do those with soundfonts!)

LMMS currently only supports soundfonts in the sf2 format, which are a bit harder to find, but there are some sites that have lots of soundfonts in sfArk format, which you can decompress to sf2 with the SfArk software. There's also some software available for converting sfz to sf2.

[netro1123]

I'm thinking you'll probably want to look into soundfonts. They're optimal for intensely polyphonic works, with VSTi's you may run out of processing power faster, depending on your hardware of course. And since you want to do orchestratic symphonious music, there's probably not going to be any need for filter sweeps or such. (Although you can still totally do those with soundfonts!)

LMMS currently only supports soundfonts in the sf2 format, which are a bit harder to find, but there are some sites that have lots of soundfonts in sfArk format, which you can decompress to sf2 with the SfArk software. There's also some software available for converting sfz to sf2.

Thanks, I haven't tried soundfonts yet. Ill check it out!

[popeye1234]

Get a keyboard (49 keys or above), you shouldn't attempt to compose involving music (with just a mouse and a DAW) if you have no feel for it and cannot play an instrument.

High quality music produced and performed with entirely with expensive VST instruments:
https://soundcloud.com/search?q=8dio
https://soundcloud.com/embertone


You should start with Sonatina:
http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/

This sounds fantastic for the price (free) but in reality it is extremely limited and very crude compared to cost no object VSTs on a high end machine (no complaints though):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxxRLUxGUWg

Good Orchestral VSTs are vastly superior and can get very expensive indeed.
http://www.vsl.co.at/en/65/71/2523/2171.vsl

Good free stuff:
Strings1 VST (mixed bag):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7hAoZYce9E

Piano1 VST (Genuinely excellent):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ0UjmmuwLQ

Artifake labs Symphonia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWycASF3O_Y

Sonatina:
http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/

[netro1123]

Get a keyboard (49 keys or above), you shouldn't attempt to compose involving music (with just a mouse and a DAW) if you have no feel for it and cannot play an instrument.

High quality music produced and performed with entirely with expensive VST instruments:
https://soundcloud.com/search?q=8dio
https://soundcloud.com/embertone


You should start with Sonatina:
http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/

This sounds fantastic for the price (free) but in reality it is extremely limited and very crude compared to cost no object VSTs on a high end machine (no complaints though):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxxRLUxGUWg

Good Orchestral VSTs are vastly superior and can get very expensive indeed.
http://www.vsl.co.at/en/65/71/2523/2171.vsl

Good free stuff:
Strings1 VST (mixed bag):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7hAoZYce9E

Piano1 VST (Genuinely excellent):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ0UjmmuwLQ

Artifake labs Symphonia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWycASF3O_Y

Sonatina:
http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/

Thanks for the links. Ill expirement with things. I just tried Sonatina and all the instruments are kinda quiet. I can't even hear the brass. Any suggestions?

On keyboards, I would just like to note that while I can play several other instruments, I have very little expierience with the piano. Would this be a problem? I can see how a keyboard might benefit me. Any suggested keyboards to buy?

[popeye1234]

You have a technical hitch, playback for those samples should be at perfectly acceptable level.
Try using RGC Audio SFZ player.

Learn to use a USB midi keyboard. Just at a very basic level should help, just keying into the DAW produce lacklustre results if you do not even get the relationship of the notes in a more meaningful way. Orchestral music requires changes in dynamics shifting from soft & gentle to powerful and loud, swift micro changes in tempo; not just painting notes on the screen on a wing and a prayer.
Get one with at least 49 keys, any less is extremely limiting. You will not have to be a virtuoso, though of course that would help!
Read some consumer reviews of entry level 49 key (and above) keyboards. If you want to do orchestral music (or Piano or Synth) get a sustain pedal. They are cheap to buy and very useful.

[netro1123]

You have a technical hitch, playback for those samples should be at perfectly acceptable level.
Try using RGC Audio SFZ player.

Learn to use a USB midi keyboard. Just at a very basic level should help, just keying into the DAW produce lacklustre results if you do not even get the relationship of the notes in a more meaningful way. Orchestral music requires changes in dynamics shifting from soft & gentle to powerful and loud, swift micro changes in tempo; not just painting notes on the screen on a wing and a prayer.
Get one with at least 49 keys, any less is extremely limiting. You will not have to be a virtuoso, though of course that would help!
Read some consumer reviews of entry level 49 key (and above) keyboards. If you want to do orchestral music (or Piano or Synth) get a sustain pedal. They are cheap to buy and very useful.

Thanks, I got Sonatina to work.

I'll look into keyboards. Thanks for your help!

[netro1123]

I have a 49 key portable keyboard, although It's not midi or anything, just a regular keyboard. Would it be good to learn on that?

[diiz]

You have a technical hitch, playback for those samples should be at perfectly acceptable level.
Try using RGC Audio SFZ player.

Learn to use a USB midi keyboard. Just at a very basic level should help, just keying into the DAW produce lacklustre results if you do not even get the relationship of the notes in a more meaningful way. Orchestral music requires changes in dynamics shifting from soft & gentle to powerful and loud, swift micro changes in tempo; not just painting notes on the screen on a wing and a prayer.
Get one with at least 49 keys, any less is extremely limiting. You will not have to be a virtuoso, though of course that would help!
Read some consumer reviews of entry level 49 key (and above) keyboards. If you want to do orchestral music (or Piano or Synth) get a sustain pedal. They are cheap to buy and very useful.

Well, some of the greatest classical pieces have been composed with nothing but a quill pen and paper... and in some cases, by deaf guys

I don't know if it's strictly a requirement to use a MIDI keyboard for any kind of music. It can make things easier and faster, but on the other hand, there's no benefit in it if you don't have any skill in playing the keyboard... and arguably, when you're forced to enter notes one-by-one in a sequencer, you'll be forced to pay more attention to each note/chord, and you'll be able to get every note where you want, with the velocity you want.

I have a 49 key portable keyboard, although It's not midi or anything, just a regular keyboard. Would it be good to learn on that?

If it's not MIDI or anything, then you can't connect it to your computer and can't use it to record notes to LMMS. But of course you can use it to practice and figure out what are good-sounding melodies - you can do that on any instrument.

[netro1123]

You have a technical hitch, playback for those samples should be at perfectly acceptable level.
Try using RGC Audio SFZ player.

Learn to use a USB midi keyboard. Just at a very basic level should help, just keying into the DAW produce lacklustre results if you do not even get the relationship of the notes in a more meaningful way. Orchestral music requires changes in dynamics shifting from soft & gentle to powerful and loud, swift micro changes in tempo; not just painting notes on the screen on a wing and a prayer.
Get one with at least 49 keys, any less is extremely limiting. You will not have to be a virtuoso, though of course that would help!
Read some consumer reviews of entry level 49 key (and above) keyboards. If you want to do orchestral music (or Piano or Synth) get a sustain pedal. They are cheap to buy and very useful.

Well, some of the greatest classical pieces have been composed with nothing but a quill pen and paper... and in some cases, by deaf guys

I don't know if it's strictly a requirement to use a MIDI keyboard for any kind of music. It can make things easier and faster, but on the other hand, there's no benefit in it if you don't have any skill in playing the keyboard... and arguably, when you're forced to enter notes one-by-one in a sequencer, you'll be forced to pay more attention to each note/chord, and you'll be able to get every note where you want, with the velocity you want.

I have a 49 key portable keyboard, although It's not midi or anything, just a regular keyboard. Would it be good to learn on that?

If it's not MIDI or anything, then you can't connect it to your computer and can't use it to record notes to LMMS. But of course you can use it to practice and figure out what are good-sounding melodies - you can do that on any instrument.

I'll consider things. I see where it might be helpful, but I'm still not entirely sure how much I would really need it.