Gettin Started with MIDI stuff

[Mojo Risin]

got myself a USB midi adaptor which is doing the biz for connecting my synth to the pc
software wise what you Freaks using?
I have ANVIL studio which is ok but not fantastic
its crashed a few times (hanging notes) and does not appear to be able to select different banks.

Also wondered where you get your midi down loads from as the ones i have found on the web so far sound like songs performed down at THE PHOENIX CLUB!

[Sneeka]

got myself a USB midi adaptor which is doing the biz for connecting my synth to the pc
software wise what you Freaks using?
I have ANVIL studio which is ok but not fantastic
its crashed a few times (hanging notes) and does not appear to be able to select different banks.
Well, there's the three big boys - Cubase, Logic (only worth it if you've got a Mac) and Sonar - but they're full multitrack audio and MIDI sequencing packages. If you just want something mainly for MIDI sequencing, it might be worth just getting one of the cut-down versions (Cubasis, or Cakewalk Home Studio).

Oh, and to answer your question, I use Sonar most of the time :)

Also wondered where you get your midi down loads from as the ones i have found on the web so far sound like songs performed down at THE PHOENIX CLUB!
Midi files? Well, yeah, I suppose it's probably more to do with the fact that the GM (General MIDI) sounds just sound so dated now. They might've sounded okay back in the late 80s (or whenever GM came about), but not now :gag:

[Mojo Risin]

cheers sneeka good advice fella

i seem to remember you were quite a big contributor to the tune that was put together by other musicians on this forum.

once im sorted i'll try and start an mp3 collection of my stuff

sonar you say hmm price checking I will be, thanks :)

[douglasb]

I picked up one of those Evolution midi keyboards from a charity shop yesterday for £25. Still boxed and with the software. No Midi cable tho' - think I'm looking for a midi out > 15 pin joystick connection? Anyone got one lying around?

Always wanted to try this gubbins out. Will it do bass / drums / piano / maybe some strings? Wish I was 18 with more time on my hands!

D.

[Sneeka]

I picked up one of those Evolution midi keyboards from a charity shop yesterday for £25. Still boxed and with the software. No Midi cable tho' - think I'm looking for a midi out > 15 pin joystick connection? Anyone got one lying around?
Don't have one lying around, but Maplins do them..

http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=040914124352304&moduleno=13511

Always wanted to try this gubbins out. Will it do bass / drums / piano / maybe some strings?
I pretty sure all the Evolution keyboards are just controller keyboards - which means that they don't have any onboard sounds. So you'll need some sounds. If you don't fancy buying a sound/synth module, your soundcard should have the GM soundset and might have some others too, so you could use those if you just want to play about.

[Tony Keats]

Also wondered where you get your midi down loads from as the ones i have found on the web so far sound like songs performed down at THE PHOENIX CLUB!

Midi files of famous tunes you mean? if so, you could try Midi Explorer:- http://www.musicrobot.com. As sneeka said, it's the default sounds that cause the 'phoenix' effect!. Using the same file to trigger sounds in a decent soft-synth, however, is a different story entirely.

I've actually done quick remixes of the Knight-rider and Airwolf themes, simply by downloading the polyphonic ringtones. Then, I just used several different VSTI instruments to replay different bits. The original midi files did sound like lounge-bar renditions, but my versions (in my own mind at least!) sound okay...

I wouldn't know which sequencer/arranger to suggest, because I've only ever used (don't laugh!) Magix music-studio. I've had a quick look at some of the more expensive ones, but none of them seem to have the simpistic 'building-blocks' multi-tracking which I like (so I can't be bothered with them).

I don't necessarily recommend Magix though, as I've had some problems with midi sequencing- because the exported file always seems to sound different. So, I'm forced to just play it in Magix and record the output with Total-recorder. If someone just wanted to arrange wav samples though, it's one of the best programmes around, simply because it's so easy to use...

[douglasb]

I got a cable and got it working- well chuffed. The enclosed software has about 2 useable sounds tho'.

As I said, all I want to be able to do is probably create some drum tracks, maybe add a bit of piano/keys and overdub guitar and vocals. In terms of budget the Magix stuff is probably my only option. Will that do what I want? (I don't necessarily want to use loops - I'd prefer to get drum sounds that I can work up myself but if needs must...) And I can use the midi keyboard to trigger stuff?

I don't really understand the diffs between Magix Music Studio 2004 Deluxe
and Magix Music Maker 2004 Deluxe. Which is my best bet?

D.

[Sneeka]

As I said, all I want to be able to do is probably create some drum tracks, maybe add a bit of piano/keys and overdub guitar and vocals. In terms of budget the Magix stuff is probably my only option. Will that do what I want? (I don't necessarily want to use loops - I'd prefer to get drum sounds that I can work up myself but if needs must...) And I can use the midi keyboard to trigger stuff?

I don't really understand the diffs between Magix Music Studio 2004 Deluxe
and Magix Music Maker 2004 Deluxe. Which is my best bet?
Looks like Music Maker 2004 Deluxe might your best bet, seeing as it has a virtual piano as well as drum machines. Never used it myself, but it certainly looks good for 50 quid :thumbs: