Mixing midi and real instruments

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Olijanovi

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Hey everybody,

I am mostly a music performer who just recently got hired to write AND record music for a musical. Let's say that my main concern is recording (far beyond writing). I have a strict budget, it does mean that I have to use midi instruments.

Do you go differently about mixing midi with real instruments? I tend to put them really far in the mix and use the 'real' instruments much closer. (guitar)

I am also considering mixing at a pro studio but I know that it will cost me a lot...
 
MIDI is just a protocol. The quality of the sound depends upon what its controlling. That informs any decision I make about where to put something in the mix, not whether it's a MIDI track or not.

Not that I use it much - if it has keys, I just play them in live and don't worry too much about MIDI.
 
Just treat the midi sounds like a real instrument, if you want it loud turn it up, if you want it soft make it soft. I was in a band for year that had midi triggered instruments and samples on stage live, we just mixed them in how we wanted the total mix to sound.

alan.
 
I work frequently with a writer/composer who does MIDI versions of his scripts as a precursor to trying to sell them. If you're not too happy working directly in MIDI, you can use our trick and resolve them to individual audio tracks for the final mix (where I often add some live instruments too).

Obviously this isn't strictly necessary but, since I'm basically an audio bod, it works for me.
 
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I don't use MIDI regularly, but I've played with it on a few songs. I did what Bobbsy just recommended and it made it way easier for me. I rendered the MIDI tracks to actual audio wavs and used those as my tracks. It didn't sound any different - it just looked better than a bunch of dots and dashes. Then you just mix those tracks like you would any other. If you use good MIDI samples, it's no problem.
 
i find if i'm working with midi instruments that have a particularly stiff, or dry sound, i'll tuck them back every so slightly with judicious amounts of slapback, to simulate room acoustics.
reverb just seems to muddy them up, but a really nice fast delay, panned in stereo to the opposite side of the source, works well.
roll off some high end, not to muddy, but make the top end 'soft', and it blends much better.
when possible, mix miced up tracks on top of the synth sound, and blend
 
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