Alesis Vortex and Mixcraft

[gigmaster]

Has anyone tried using the Alesis Vortex Keytar with Mixcraft for live performances? I am thinking of getting one while they are on sale at Sweetwater Music.

[Acoustica Greg]

Hi,

I don't think we've had any feedback on that one. Theoretically, it should work like any other MIDI controller device. Mixcraft could pick up its MIDI output.

Greg

[bob53050]

Has anyone tried the Alesis Vortex?

I am thinking about it but I am concerned about the surface control it seems we would need for the ribbon and other controls as that might be something in Mixcraft 7 but not now.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Bob

[Acoustica Greg]

Hi,

Mixcraft has MIDI control surface mapping, so it should theoretically work.

Greg

[gigmaster]

Well, I did it. I got the Vortex. I've had it for about a month now, and used it in several gigs, with Mixcraft.

This thing is AWESOME! And the sounds from Mixcraft, especially from the Lounge Lizard Piano, are unbelievable. I brought down the house last week by using the bagpipes from Mixcraft to do "Amazing Grace" on the Vortex.

There were no problems with latency, or with any of the surface controls.

It works great with Garageband for iPad as well.....

[bob53050]

Thanks gigmaster for sharing your first hand experiences

[fredfish]

Hey that looks great - Gigmaster, have you got any recordings you have done using the Vortex?

Cheers

John

[gigmaster]

As soon as I figure out how to post one, I have several recordings.

I used it to play the bass on my recording of "If I Fell In Love With You", and " Amy", at http://www.bandmix.com/joel-clyde/, Just scroll down to the music tracks and you will see them. It is also on my Sound Cloud page at https://soundcloud.com/joel-brothers.

Hey that looks great - Gigmaster, have you got any recordings you have done using the Vortex?

Cheers

John

[gigmaster]

BTW, all the recordings were done with Mixcraft, and Garageband for iPad.

As soon as I figure out how to post one, I have several recordings.

I used it to play the bass on my recording of "If I Fell In Love With You", and " Amy", at http://www.bandmix.com/joel-clyde/, Just scroll down to the music tracks and you will see them. It is also on my Sound Cloud page at https://soundcloud.com/joel-brothers.

Hey that looks great - Gigmaster, have you got any recordings you have done using the Vortex?

Cheers

John

[fredfish]

Gigmaster - the bass sounds great.

I looked at your video - I notice that you are using a mic stand clip for your ipad. Are you using your ipad for set lists or for backing tracks etc? I also have an ipad (with garage band) and use an Alesis IO dock to connect MIDI and audio devices. But I also use the OnSong app to playback chord charts etc. Just curious as to how other people use theirs?

BTW - please don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think that the auto harmonizer that you are using on "If I fell in love with you" quite works. It makes you sound off key, which listening to your other stuff is not you but the harmonizer (I am assuming the TC Helicon). It works really well on "Amy" but not on "If I fell in love with you". Just my humble opinion.

Great music on your Bandmix page.

Cheers

John

[gigmaster]

My guitar was probably not exactly in tune. The Helicon gets it's harmony notes from the guitar (or keyboard, or whatever you have plugged in to it). If the guitar is not in perfect tune, the harmony won't be either. The Helicon has a tuner, but I was just playing around to see how it would work, so I didn't use it. It was a spur of the moment thing. I plan on re-recording both tracks.

I don't use the mic stand clip anymore. I don't trust it. I now use the Alesis iDock on a portable laptop stand. I use the iPad for both backing tracks, and for OnSong, and BandTrax. Right now, I am using Garageband for iPad for the Vortex voices.

I don't use set lists, because I get so many requests that by 10 minutes into any show, my set list would be hamburger. I just feel the crowd out to select songs as I go.

Gigmaster - the bass sounds great.

I looked at your video - I notice that you are using a mic stand clip for your ipad. Are you using your ipad for set lists or for backing tracks etc? I also have an ipad (with garage band) and use an Alesis IO dock to connect MIDI and audio devices. But I also use the OnSong app to playback chord charts etc. Just curious as to how other people use theirs?

BTW - please don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think that the auto harmonizer that you are using on "If I fell in love with you" quite works. It makes you sound off key, which listening to your other stuff is not you but the harmonizer (I am assuming the TC Helicon). It works really well on "Amy" but not on "If I fell in love with you". Just my humble opinion.

Great music on your Bandmix page.

Cheers

John

[bob53050]

Thanks for sharing

[fredfish]

My guitar was probably not exactly in tune. The Helicon gets it's harmony notes from the guitar (or keyboard, or whatever you have plugged in to it). If the guitar is not in perfect tune, the harmony won't be either. The Helicon has a tuner, but I was just playing around to see how it would work, so I didn't use it. It was a spur of the moment thing. I plan on re-recording both tracks.

I don't use the mic stand clip anymore. I don't trust it. I now use the Alesis iDock on a portable laptop stand. I use the iPad for both backing tracks, and for OnSong, and BandTrax. Right now, I am using Garageband for iPad for the Vortex voices.

I don't use set lists, because I get so many requests that by 10 minutes into any show, my set list would be hamburger. I just feel the crowd out to select songs as I go.

Hi Joel

Thanks for taking the observations in the right spirit. I get what you are saying about the TC Helicon (I investigated one of these myself) - it makes sense about the tuning of the guitar.

I hope your "incident" with the iPad clip wasn't too expensive!!

As I said I also have the Alesis IO Dock (with an iPad one) and find it very good, not that I use it in a live environment - I have trouble with the power socket, and occasionally loose power.

BTW some of my stuff can be found at www.showcaseyourmusic.com/johnpicton please feel free to critique in return!

Keep up the gigging!!

Cheers

John

[gigmaster]

If you can't take criticism, you need to stay out of the music business.....

The Helicon works great (as long as you tune your guitar....). I had the iPAd come loose from the clip once when I was pulling up a song, and it dented the casing where the power cord goes in. I had to bend it back out with a screwdriver so the charging cord could fit back in. That was the last time I used the clip.

For the loose power connection, you can crimp the male connector (very gently), just a tiny bit, and it should fit tighter. If it is the socket that is the problem, you can place a small copper wire in the socket to tighten things up a bit, then cut it off flush with the end of the socket. There is a small pin in the center of the socket. Sometimes, this gets bent and does not make good contact with the male connector. You can take a small screwdriver and bend it back to the center (unplugged, of course), and that will usually fix the problem. If the problem is the male connector, and not the socket, just get another power source. Take your Alesis with you and test fit the new one right there in the store, before you buy it.

I'll check out your stuff here shortly.

Hi Joel

Thanks for taking the observations in the right spirit. I get what you are saying about the TC Helicon (I investigated one of these myself) - it makes sense about the tuning of the guitar.

I hope your "incident" with the iPad clip wasn't too expensive!!

As I said I also have the Alesis IO Dock (with an iPad one) and find it very good, not that I use it in a live environment - I have trouble with the power socket, and occasionally loose power.

BTW some of my stuff can be found at http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/johnpicton please feel free to critique in return!

Keep up the gigging!!

Cheers

John[/quote]