I have a very good question

[henry_mullis]

Hey,
I am an extreme newcomer to the world of midi. I live in Georgia and I visited this guy's studio in Atlanta and he was using midi to do like strings and keyboardson top of regular recorded music. I thought it was very cool and I would like to have those capabilities. The problem is I don't even know where to start. I don't know what equipment i need or anything. So I was wondering if someone would help me. Even if you can just give me a basic explanation of what and how he was doing this. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Henry

[James Argo]

Well, I assume that's called "Layering". Record audio, then add MIDI at the final for giving a touch. Usualy, most of us did it. We just need PC with average level soundcard (can play GM) basicaly. And programs like Cakewalk, Cubase, etc... Can you explain more about "where in the state level" are you ? Are you familiar with MIDI ? How much do you know about it ? What you've got already ? and so on... Then we can start discuss.

[knightfly]

Here are some links to enough information so that you can get a better idea of what's involved in order to do what you want to do. Keep in mind that the more realistic you expect the sound to be, the more it will cost. There are more ways to do what you talk about than there are musicians doing it, so no one answer can possibly cover them. There are sound "cards" available that cost anywhere from under $10 to over $10,000, there are "real" synthesizers and software ones, same for samplers, "romplers" (sample players) There is software available from $free to $1000 and beyond, and the same is true of any component you want to name. Check out some of these links, read a lot, and once you have more of the basics down you/we can help figure out what/how much/how expensive you want to get into.

http://www.midi.com/questions/default.asp

http://www.midifarm.com/info/

http://www.recordingwebsite.com/articles/

(scroll down to MIDI section on the last one)

and, last but definitely NOT least...

http://www.studiocovers.com/articles.htm

You will learn more at these links than you would on the BBS asking questions and getting various answers for several months. Also, when you do ask more specific questions you won't have to ask for every other word of the answer to be explained... Steve

[WHR]

If you want a good place to start for both equipment ideas, software, and salespeople who are extremely helpful, try www.edirol.com.

[TexRoadkill]

That was an okay question but it lacked detail and originality. I'd give it a 4 out of 10.

[subtractor]

3/10 too vague...

There's an endless supply of printed material on every aspect of midi and recording that if read, would allow for enough knowledge to form at least a semblance of a "good question".

Go read up and when you get confused come back and try again.

I'm sure you'll do better next time.

[knightfly]

Man, I am SOOOOOO much nicer than BOTH you guise... :=)

[TexRoadkill]

Originally posted by knightfly
Man, I am SOOOOOO much nicer than BOTH you guise... :=)

If you'd been living in 115 degree heat for the last 3 months you would be pretty cranky also.

[subtractor]

Yeah! It's fuckin HOT herre!