Adding effects to music in Real time.

yes, any DAW will do this, including garage band. now, since you want to use software for the effect, you'll induce some amount of latency (processing time it takes to get the affected signal back out).

but if the effects are delay based anyway, like echo/delay/reverb, it shouldn't really bother you.

 

Define almost.

Its not so much that the effect itself is delayed by the latency of the digital system, but that the original 'dry' voice signal will be delayed as well, by 20 ms to sometimes much longer. Depending on the way your interface and software are set up (and the power of the machine vs. the load you are putting on it) this may become noticeable or annoying.

If you try to mix a 'zero latency' dry output with the effected output, you risk getting comb filter or cancelling effects between the two signals.

 

You can download demos to play with. Most audio apps are in the hundreds of dollars.

Find demos of
Abelton Live
NI Reaktor 5
Logic Express
Digital Performer (? if they have a demo)

and go from there.
Or Garageband.

 

well if you are doing it live then you want low latency. no matter what app you choose youll need to get something a little newer on the processing side. look into a PB G4 at least. but honestly most modern mixing boards offer this effect on them these days. that would be the wiser solution. you cold prob find a cheap vocal fx processor to run your mic into that would be less than the cost of the software.

 

Yes, it will be very slow on a G3. I'd want a G4 at least for stable performance.

Ultimately, Logic Express and a MacBook would be the best solution, and an Alesis MultiMix Firewire (avoid the USB ones). I use this for live effects and it works a treat. Just don't have any of the dry mix output coming from the computer, and don't try and make the latency too low, otherwise you could make the computer unstable and introduce comb filtering...

 

Ableton live is my choice for live real time music effects.

 

Some companies make a simple USB microphone. Otherwise, check out www.m-audio.com for some affordable options.

 

I have a 400mhz g3 pismo, no problems but I rely on DSP from the Line6 Toneport:




All those stomp boxes can be chained and monitored with zero latency, incl. the delay.



All for about $130.