bit of midi explanation please

  • Thread starter Thread starter eviljoker7075
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eviljoker7075

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Hey guys, I'm very new to all this, so far all I've done is record my guitar playing, layered of course, but it is ver empty.

I read that you can use a midi keyboard to play drums and bass etc, but I am unsure as to how to do this. I don't have a special sound card, just the normal line in, mic, speaker output one, what I'd like to know is, do I have to buy a new soundcard and do I need to buy any special software to make the keyboard sound like other instruments... or is that all included when i buy the keyboard?

Thanks for your help and patients!
 
eviljoker7075 said:
Hey guys, I'm very new to all this, so far all I've done is record my guitar playing, layered of course, but it is ver empty.

I read that you can use a midi keyboard to play drums and bass etc, but I am unsure as to how to do this. I don't have a special sound card, just the normal line in, mic, speaker output one, what I'd like to know is, do I have to buy a new soundcard and do I need to buy any special software to make the keyboard sound like other instruments... or is that all included when i buy the keyboard?

Thanks for your help and patients!
Click to expand...


You will need some kind of MIDI interface card unless your soundcard has an old school joystick input, which can be essentially converted into a MIDI input. You will need software for sure - there are free softsynths out there on sites like kvr.com and there are many that are available for purchase, such as from native instruments. I'm pretty new to MIDI too, but hopefully this helps.

JD
 
guttapercha said:
You will need some kind of MIDI interface card unless your soundcard has an old school joystick input, which can be essentially converted into a MIDI input. You will need software for sure - there are free softsynths out there on sites like kvr.com and there are many that are available for purchase, such as from native instruments. I'm pretty new to MIDI too, but hopefully this helps.

JD
Click to expand...

Well yes it certainly points me in the right direction! Thanks. I don't suppose its possible to get one of those midi interfaces that connects through one of my USB ports is it?
 
Yes, The marjority are USB - MIDI. Take a look at the M Audio Range of USB MIDI interfaces. Should get you set up in no time :)
 
Tifstorey said:
Yes, The marjority are USB - MIDI. Take a look at the M Audio Range of USB MIDI interfaces. Should get you set up in no time :)
Click to expand...

Sorry, have you got any links?
 
do I need to buy any special software to make the keyboard sound like other instruments... or is that all included when i buy the keyboard?
Click to expand...


The answer you got to this part of your question, "you will need software for sure," is not quite true. It entirely depends on the keyboard you get. Many keyboards are full-fledged musical instruments with audio outputs as well as MIDI ports, with a full array of excellent set of sounds on board. Others are strictly MIDI controllers with no sounds at all, they merely emit MIDI messages to trigger other MIDI devices with.

So if you have one of the former types of keyboards, you don't need any softsynths.

What you will need is some recording software that records both MIDI and audio, which these days pretty much all packages do. Something like Cubase or Cakewalk SONAR... there are several others, at various price points (Cakewalk and Cubase both have several levels of versions, from "lite" to "professional") and most come with at least a couple of halfway-decent softsynths already as well.
 
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