MIDI Or Audio??

[Tekker]

Hi all,

I will be recording a keyboard first time today (I'm doing it for a friend) and I was wondering what the best way to record it would be. Could I just use the speaker outputs and record it as audio instead of MIDI? (I'm going to be recording everything one at a time so I won't need to sync a buch of stuff together or anything). Since I haven't used MIDI before (and I don't want to spend a lot of time trying to figure it out) would I just be better off recording it in the manner mentioned above or would it better to record it via MIDI for some reason that I'm not aware of (and I do have MIDI cables so I could do it if that's what you guys suggest).

Thanx in advance

The cool avatar guy
-tkr

 

[schwa]

Two options...

First is simpler. If your friend is coming and going to play it live, skip the MIDI and just patch the key's outputs into the soundcard.

If you want, you could record the performance as MIDI, which would let you fix any mistakes, experiment with different patches, etc. But if neither of you know much about the ins and outs, its probably not worth the trouble.

By the way, you can record both at the same time, just select MDID track and an Audio track for record at the same time.

 

[Tekker]

Thanx alot schwa,

>By the way, you can record both at the same time, just select
>MDID track and anAudio track for record at the same time.

That's a good idea I'll have to try that.

Thanx again

-tkr

 

[Gidge]

I think recording from both may be limited by your software......what software are you using?...

 

[Ulli]

Hi Tekker, this is how I do this usually: I first record the keyboard stuff as MIDI. This gives you the opportunity to edit/correct and also to play around with different sounds. If anything is well I play the MIDI data and record the output of the keyboard. With the recorded audio it's more suitable for me to process it through some fx (filter, delay and more). You may listen to "Reefer slackness" , the keyboards have been treated excactly that way.

Good luck!
- Ulli -

 

[schwa]

This is true...

In cake or SONAR anyway. In these apps (which are what I use), it is possible to record MIDI data and audio at the same time. I would imagine it would also be true of the other "name brand" sequencers.

 

[Tekker]

Well, we didn't get much done the day before yesterday, she was pretty busy and was a little late and then she had to leave early to pick up her son from school, so we're gonna have a another go at it again today. She left her keyboard here so that I could dink around with it but unfortunately I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I'M DOING!! I tried a few things but I can't seem get it to record. I have CWPA9, and a Turtle Beach Montego soundcard, OS Win 98 (if that matters) and her keyboard is Real Music Pro 1. I don't have the manual for the keyboard and so I don't know how to get the thing to export MIDI. I'm thinking I'm just going to record it as audio (much simpliar, plus she never makes mistakes ). Although I would like to learn MIDI for the experience and later on down the road I'll probably need to know how to do this stuff. But for now I think I'll just stick with what I know (somewhat) so we can get this done. I appreciate all of you who helped out, and I'm sure I'll be back with more questions later.

Thanx


*later*
Also, do you have to install the "soundfonts" (or whatever the're called) onto the computer to get the sounds that are on the keyboard? Otherwise you're limited to just the sounds that are on you soundcard right? If so, how do you do it?

-tkr

 

[schwa]

Soundfonts are a whole new thread...

I'm not sure what's up with that keyboard, so I'm sorry I can't help you there.

A couple of quick Cake pointers though:
Cables - computer's out to keyboard's in,
keyboard's out to computer's in. (this always gives me trouble)
in cake, make sure the MIDI port you're using is active (Tools menu)
In your midi track make sure its set to the right port (there's usually a couple). Setting it to OMNI sometimes helps.

I'm also not sure if the montego card does soundfonts. Does it? But to answer your question, it does give you access to new sounds that are not on the keyboard (whatever keyboard that is).

Of course the 21st century way is with softsynths.

 

[tdukex]

My advice is to record the keyboard strokes as MIDI sequences. Then select the patches you like. Finally, play your MIDI sequences one or two at a time out your sound card's line-out, through your preamp or mixer to boost the signal, and record the audio right back into Cakewalk (into another track in the same file) through your sound card's line-in. Now you have high quality audio you can edit and add effects to. This is what I do and what the pros I know do.

 

[Tekker]

Thanx for all the help guys

I ended up just running out the speaker outs and recorded it as audio as I had mentioned previously (I figured that I'd be spending more time trying to figure out how to work and manipulate all this MIDI stuff than I would be actually recording and getting the CD done), and from what I can tell on my Aiwa CD player speakers (really great monitors BTW ) it sounds pretty good.

I think I'll have to spend some time really learing MIDI before I try to do a serious recording with it, but the only problem is I don't own a decent keyboard with MIDI options to learn on.....oh well, maybe I can borrow one for a while.

Thanx again

-tkr