Protools with external synths and samplers Options

[David Levine]

I'm using protools le on my mac. I want to start using synths and samplers, and my question is, should I just get some hardware (say, the Yamaha RS7000 & a keyboard), and run it into my Digi 001 box, or should I keep the whole thing virtual and get a computer-based synth and sampler? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Are there any computer synths/samplers that are directly compatible with protools?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Unity DS-1 from Bitheadz works pretty well with the Digi001. You can download a demo from their website. Be sure to give yourself a block of time to get it working.

[gio]

try the koblo studio 9000 as well

[Synthetic]

My opinion is go with as much hardware as you can. Virtual synths and etc. are nice but they eat up cpu cycles that I like to leave open for plugs. Plus i like am playing live sets like to rely on my computer as little as possible for creating the sound. That is my 2 cents.

[gio]

i use and luv both outboard and inboard synths/samplers

my final 2 cents: switch to VST technology, there's a lot of good free VSTi's out there!
and the PT MIDI editing et al. is crap, simply crap.

[Synthetic]

gio, i am curious as 'what' makes PT editing crap? I am not disagreeing with you but I just want to know what it lacks. I have been using PT for a couple of years and use midi a lot but never had any problems editing midi in PT but I have heard many people claim that it isn't that great. I just want to know what makes Logic for instance better for midi editing and such than PT?

[gio]

my daily work is based on both PT and cubase, so im probably addicted to the midi editing of cubase that, tryin to do the same things on PT is a pain.
PT is missing of lotsa function cubase, logic or DP have. just try one of those sequencer apps and u'll see it by urself
and sometimes i feel better in the cubase audio section than in PT.
but that's just probably me, the way i work... and the fact that i started workin with cubase back in the atari days...

In my case I did my first midi stuff with Pro Tools LE and now work mostly with Digital Performer. I don't think there's anything that *I* do that I can't do on both.

[Synthetic]

Baghun... do you have a Digi001? I was wondering if you were able to use the monitor ouputs on the Digi001 with DP? Most other music apps I have tried don't like the digidesign audio driver but if DP works with it... i may have to try that one because I have seen some nice reviews on it