Midi Sound files

[belljustin87]

Hey. I'm kinda new to midi but so far I've been using a keystaion 81es alongside Logic/Garageband. Obviously I have a macbook, but if I were to move my keyboard around with me I'd rather bring something more compact, practical, (and less expensive) then my macbook, for playing my sound through. I guess my question is: "is there a compact external device that can house my software instruments that i can play with a midi device? (besides a computer)"

(Oh, and what are the files that tell my midi device what to sound like?)

Thanks

 

[guitarplayr82]

is there a compact external device that can house my software instruments that i can play with a midi device? (besides a computer)

Yes, there are many standalone/rack mounted solutions such as a hardware sequencer. Read this page: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug01/articles/livemidi1.asp

(Oh, and what are the files that tell my midi device what to sound like?)

The files that tell what the receiving device should sound like are called MIDI information or MIDI commands.

 

[altitude909]

Software instruments that are on your laptop? No.

Something like a muse receptor (and similar devices) which is simply a cleverly packaged computer will though (at twice the cost) and even that is not compatible with all plugs.

There are plenty of hardware midi sequencers out there but those will simply play back notes, the sounds will be from whatever they are playing the notes into (i.e. keyboard, sound module, etc)