MIDI songwriting

[Cobalt272]

If I had a sequencer, sound module, midi keyboard and good sound card, would i be able to achieve guitar effects such as hammerons, pullofs, distortion etc that sound real and natural by just using the software/hardware that i mentioned?

For example, listen to any Rage Against The Machine song or Red Hot Chilli's song. Would i be able to achieve all of the guitar effects that they use while also being able to edit them?

Also, i'm planning to get Cubase SE, Echo Gina3G, MIDI controller keyboard, sound module (and high quality active speakers). Any sound module reccomendations would be extremely appreciated. I'm planning to write music along the lines of rock or alternative rock. Listen to the album 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers to get an idea of what kind of thing i want to do. I don't need vast amounts orchestral instruments, but rather more bass, electric and acoustic guitars as well as drums. I would like piano as well, but i can always get a microphone and record from my upright piano so that isn't as important.

Thank you

[Tweed]

To get realistic sounds you have to start off with something realistic. If you're trying to get hammer-on/pull-off, from a guitar sound provided by a sound module, then it's unlikely to sound realistic. You can tweek the sound by using effects etc. In Cubase however, you can add your own samples and if you have a sample of the sound you want then Cubase can play it for you. Cubase also has VST instruments, additional ones can be purchased and the choice is vast. Cubase will also support all sorts of effect plug-ins. In fact, you need not buy a (hardware) sound module at all. You should consider Pro Tools. You need a Pro tools hardware card, which are expensive.

[Johnny Doe]

Do you play guitar cobalt? If so, then Tweed is right, just plug your guitar into your sound module select an audio track in cubase and hit record. This would give you much better creative freedom than trying to midi in gtr sounds. To create a small gtr lick in midi would probably take you ten times as long as to simply play it. You could get the midi gtr to sound like the real thing but it would be such a hassle compared to using real gtr.