Well, I bought a new toy today - the Motif XS8. This thing is just sick, and the manual will take me a good month or two to get through. Anyone have any experience with this, or any of the Motif series keyboards?

Also, it came with Cubase AI4. Has anyone worked with this program? Am I better off sticking with ProTools/Ableton/Reason?

doood. nice. I mean, Bryan is going to be a far better expert on the subject, but I was in a studio that had one of these in the control room, and while I was waiting for hours on end for things like mics to get set up on the drums, I played on one. It does some really freaking cool stuff. It also feels great (something that matters when you're as bad at the keys as I am. haha). Consider me jealous. If I had a few thousand bucks on me and was forced to buy a keyboard, it'd be this or a Nord. 

 As far as cubase, I've never really heard anything bad, but I've definitely heard MORE about ableton and reason in the positive light. ProTools is kinda split...some people don't really like it, but use it because of compatibility/it's the "industry standard", but I'm almost sure it'll suit you better since the version of Cubase you have is going to be super basic, I assume. 

 Seriously though. Me=Jealous. ;) I need a new toy for real. If I ever get the $$, there's quite a list building up. New computer, iPhone, some kind of new effect pedal, a sweet keyboard, a scooter, a recording interface....so many things.  

---

"Some men can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn."

Honestly, not terribly familiar with that particular keyboard. I've played on some of the other iterations of it, but I'm so buried in virtual world these days that I rarely touch workstations. Would love to hear about your thoughts on it as you dig into it. I bet it's a big monster of a keyboard, though. 4500 pounds or so, right? Next time I see you I may have to have my interface with me to steal some sounds.

 

As far as Cubase, I'm not much help there, either....but I do have some suggestions. Pick a DAW (Pro-Tools, Digital Performer, Cubase, Logic, etc) and stick to it for better or for worse. Learn the ins and the outs of the software because ultimately they more or less do the same things, just in slightly different ways. I know too many people that waste a lot of time going back and forth and learning to operate in lots of different "environments" and it just seems like a waste of energy. Pro-Tools is the industry standard and does a lot of things really well. Then again, all the others have their high points, too. Don't be swayed by the the "grass is always greener" trick.

 

My 2¢.
 

totally agree. I learned on Digital Performer, so that's what I've stuck with. Not only is it more familiar, but I get cheaper upgrades when new versions come out. 

 Of course, I'm very tempted to get Logic now that I get it for a sweet discount. hmmm. decisions decisions. i definitely want a MOTU 828mk3 though. that's be sweet for recording/running in-ears live.  

---

"Some men can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn."