microSynth version 1.1.0 (v1.1.0)

[Jin]

I just downladed this program from Apple and I think it's a decent synth software program. But, I am also a newbie? If there are major differences and/or better synth programs out there; than what am I missing out on?

[Scoot]

I downloaded this to take a look at it.

What you have got is a nice interface for quicktime instruments and other banks that could possibly be loaded and the ability to use the mac's keyboard as the input device. The input thing was something I wanted a while back, and I was pointed toward midi keys.

The thing this little app lacks is variety. It is taking sounds that pretty much already exist and allows you to play them and add a little reverb (which is nicely done).

A large commerical app can have a lot of settings, controls and knobs where you can completely change the tone or sound of a preset and basically create your own sounds.


I downloaded microSynth from a really cool link.
Check out some of the other synths out there in the list at

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/mac/SOFTWARE_SYNTHESIZERS/

Check out crystal, bass station and slayer as 3 examples of what can be done.
These are actually available as plugins which work inside of metro.
Microsynth seems to be its own app.

I guess the best way to describe it would be a metro midi track would give you the note, length and when to play it and the virtual instruments give you what they're going to sound like.


scoot.

[Jin]

nice website, I'm downloading crystal right now. I tend to agree that the sounds in Microsynth tend to get repetitive and there doesn't seem to be as much variety as it looks like it should be capable of....

[Jin]

Ok I downloaded the Crystal.plug-in. I placed the extracted file into the plug-ins folder for Metro SE. Now when I launch Metro SE and open my "plug ins" window, the crystal plug in is there as an option. But everytime I try to use it or double click on it I keep getting an error -192 No Resource Found??

Am I doing something wrong or leaving out an important step?

[Scoot]

I know what you've done.
You have downloaded the audio unit (AU) version and placed it in the VST folder (cause I just did the same to test it). VST is another format and is available on the same site....it is a little older but just as good. Metro handles both formats just fine.

The clue to it being an audio unit is the word .component after its name.
I don't know if all audio units have the name, but it sure helps.

You need to take the plugin and stick it in this folder on your hard disk:

Library/Audio/Plug-ins/Components

I have an alias to this folder for quick access.


If you ever do download a VST plugin - you can drop it on the "OS X VST plug-ins" alias in the metro folder and it will go to the proper place (which is a folder at the same level as the components folder in the Library).

If you install a plugin and it appears in the list, and when you go to use it you get a dialog that say something like "<PlugInFrag> <PlugInFrag> <InterfaceLib> <>-2802 Fragment symbol not found in connection" you have downloaded a OS9 plugin and put it in OSX and it will not work.


scoot.

[Jin]

Alright I finally got the AU to work, I downladed the right one the first time. I just put it in the wrong destination. Good looking out. The crystal synth is amazing. Is there no way to make the keys on my keyboard correspond to notes on the synth?

And I'm having no luck being able to record? I've been trying to walk through the online manual, but it assumes that you have an external midi device to work with....

I keep getting the "no record track assigned". I do have a channel in the mixer window for crystal.

What am I overlooking?

[Jin]

nevermind... i got the recording bit down..... Being able to use keystrokes instead of mouse clicks would be a plus. You were right, the Crystal component is amazing, lots of versatility. I'm still overwelmed by the options it comes with.

thanks a bunch.

[Jerm]

Jin,

Have you seen MIDIKeys?

[Scoot]

Midikeys is great for testing sounds you're making in crystal....and stops you having to leave the plugin to hear the results of your changes. You can set it up with modifier keys, so perhaps you have to hold the control and option keys down to work it. This lowers it's interferance with metro's own key combinations.

Launch midikeys before metro. If you don't, you have to go into metro's midi setup and select midikeys as the record device. You may have to do this the first time anyway.


As an input device the mac keyboard also has it's limitations. Nothing would beat a mini synth with a midi out on it......and you can now pick one of these up for around $30-$40US. You would also need a midi interface as well and cabling.


scoot.