Do I need a midi keyboard?

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daled

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This is probably a stupid question but I really dont have a clue where to start when it comes to midi. How am I to go about doing some recording with midi? and do I need to have a keyboard or some other external controler or can I just set it all up manually in the software?
 
You don't need a keyboard, but it helps.

Most midi sequencer programs allow for step entering. You can type in the notes and their duration or draw them in with the mouse. I know Cakewalk, ProTools, and Cubase will let you do midi tracks. Often entering these notes with a keyboard is easier than using the mouse or computer keyboard.

I use my keyboard as my sound source. Its instruments sound way better than my soundcard's instruments, so that is another reason a keyboard is helpful.
 
And many software packages will also allow you to enter music notation (if you know how to read sheet music).

If you look around the bookstore, Computer Music recently gave away for free emagic's Logic Audio Fun (4 audio tracks but unlimited MIDI tracks / PC or Mac) that will use step or notation editing.

Melody Assistant (www.myriad-online.com) will also allow you to enter notation and will play or save MIDI files. Works on Mac or PC and is only $18.

Both are a great way to get started.
 
Im actually thinking of buying a cheap keyboard w/ general midi BUT my question now is: when I connect it to the CPU are the midi sounds generated going to be of the same quality of the
a) keyboard or the b)software?
 
Whichever you want.

My keyboard is connected to my computer and it has its own sounds.
My soundcard also has its own sounds.
I have, therefore, two groups of sounds to choose from. You can choose which ones you want to use.

I like to use my keyboard's patches because they are better quality. But there are a couple of patches on my soundcard that I like. So I can have a few tracks that use my keyboard and a few tracks that use the soundcard. You can mix and match.

The quality of the sounds depends on how cheap the source is.
 
With a SB Live Value ($35) you can use soundfonts. For very little $ you can amass a very impressive soundfont collection. It takes some time and effort, though.
 
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