[RTcmix-discuss] [newbie] Questions about rtcmix

[John Gibson]

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for writing about RTcmix.

Some aspects of RTcmix seem right for you...

- it's open source
- it's (primarily) script driven, from Python, Perl, and Minc (our own  
C-like parser)
- there are many existing instruments
- there is a separation between instrument design and note design
   (in other words, you can get to work quickly generating notes without
   worrying about instrument implementation details)
- you can hack your own instruments

Other aspects of RTcmix do not seem right for you...

- it can't use SF2 soundfonts (though you could eventually write
   an instrument (in C++) to do that, which would be quite welcome)
- there are no conventional acoustic instrument simulations.
   (well, there are some physical modelling synthesis instruments,
   but they're not really intended to create realistic acoustic  
instrument
   sounds)
- there is no conventional sampler instrument with support for
   multi-sampled keymaps, appropriate for use with sample libraries
   (but again, you could write an instrument to do this)

So why are these features that you're seeking, which are quite
commonplace in the world of music software, not already implemented
in RTcmix? It's because most people using RTcmix are using
it to do the things that garden-variety MIDI/audio sequencing
programs and virtual instruments are not really meant to do:
primarily algorithmic composition and other approaches that
go along with an experimental attitude toward working with
sound. Whether the results sound like Star Wars is debatable. ;-)

Here are some of my pieces that have been written and mixed
solely with RTcmix.  Others on the list have many more examples
they can share. While I don't think that RTcmix strongly determines
a style of music, at least these may give you some idea of the
possibilities.

http://john-gibson.com/pieces/slumber.htm
http://john-gibson.com/pieces/wakeupcall.htm
http://john-gibson.com/pieces/thrum.htm [mostly RTcmix]
http://john-gibson.com/pieces/slowlife.htm
http://john-gibson.com/pieces/detour.htm
http://john-gibson.com/pieces/daytrip.htm

Best,
John


On Apr 29, 2009, at 9:26 AM, Thomas Baruchel wrote:

> Hi, after almost twenty years without composing anything, I would like
> to compose again some music and I spent some time during the past  
> weeks
> looking at all kinds of software available for Linux. I am quite
> interested by rtcmix, but I would like to know if this choice is the
> right one for me. I know that people reading this list probably are
> rtcmix-fan, but please be as honest as possible in your answers.
>
> Here are some features I am looking for.
>
> a) I know many "big" things running on Linux with nice GUI, but Iam a
> command-line-man, and I will appreciate to work even without any GUI  
> in
> some circumstances on small computers. For that reasons, I am quite
> interested by rtcmix, but I would like if this is the most convenient
> since other tools exist (csound, cmusic, nyquist). Furthermore, some
> litlle other things like Midge may be useful too (see below concerning
> that).
>
> b) I don't know much concerning sound on computer, but I want to  
> learn;
> I am a coder and I like several computing languages (including Scheme
> which is one of my favorites).
>
> c) I want to focus first on composition rather than instruments; for
> that reason, I would appreciate to use at the beginning existing
> instruments without having to care too much on that point; I would
> appreciate a tool with archives and resources for finding instruments
> ready-to-be-used. Later I want to hack them and finally write my own.
> Existing instruments should be usable (not experimental 'star wars'
> sounds). My needs are rather classical for the moment, but more  
> original
> sounds will probably become very quickly welcome. For the moment:  
> piano,
> organ, strings, etc. Can rtcmix use SF2 soundfonts?
>
> d) I spend hours with a pen and a paper on twenty notes: I don't need
> any GUI for typing my mysic; I don't need external MIDI devices for
> sending thousands of events to a sequencer; I just want to use my
> favorite editor (VIM) and tell the exact location where I want my  
> note.
>
> e) For the moment, I use Midge, get a MIDI file and then use  
> fluidsynth
> with soundfonts in order to get a WAV; then I use lame in order to
> convert it to MP3 and send the piece to my friends.
>
> f) I like open-source software.
>
> Please, if you think that rtcmix is not the best, tell me the truth.
> Two main goals: high-quality existing instruments and midge-like
> features for typing the notes.
>
> Best regards, TB.
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