New To Midi

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musicalblue

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I'm sorry if I'm posting this on the wrong board, but as it's midi-related I thought it might be best.

I've been making music for years with basic audio software.
Now I want to get into midi but I really have no clue about it.
My biggest problem at the moment is how to set it up.

I have a Boss Dr. 202 that I've been using for ages simpy by playing the patterns live through the aux and pressing record on the computer.
Now I'd like to be able to edit it all in the computer, but I have no idea how to do that.

I have a Creative Live Drive Platinum and although I usually use Magix Audio 7, but I haven't really gotten to grips with its midi prog, so I thought maybe Cubase VST might be better. (It came with my Live drive)

At the moment, the two midi cables are going out from the 202 into the creative sound card, and VST is all loaded up.
When I play the 202 I hear nothing from the computer. (you're probably saying, "well, of course, duh!")
So, what do I do? Do I need to configure VST? Do I need to buy something to go in between the 202 and the computer? What?

I'd appreciate any help and I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm VERY new to midi.
Thanks.
 
musicalblue said:
I'm sorry if I'm posting this on the wrong board, but as it's midi-related I thought it might be best.

I've been making music for years with basic audio software.
Now I want to get into midi but I really have no clue about it.
My biggest problem at the moment is how to set it up.

I have a Boss Dr. 202 that I've been using for ages simpy by playing the patterns live through the aux and pressing record on the computer.
Now I'd like to be able to edit it all in the computer, but I have no idea how to do that.

I have a Creative Live Drive Platinum and although I usually use Magix Audio 7, but I haven't really gotten to grips with its midi prog, so I thought maybe Cubase VST might be better. (It came with my Live drive)

At the moment, the two midi cables are going out from the 202 into the creative sound card, and VST is all loaded up.
When I play the 202 I hear nothing from the computer. (you're probably saying, "well, of course, duh!")
So, what do I do? Do I need to configure VST? Do I need to buy something to go in between the 202 and the computer? What?

I'd appreciate any help and I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm VERY new to midi.
Thanks.
Click to expand...


Get a book called "What's MIDI". Go in to a book shop and give them this number ISBN 1 872601 13 8.
The books explainations are easy to understand. I think they are on the fifth or sixth adition now. :)
 
The quick overview is: you run Cubase, you create a MIDI track, and set its input to receive from the MIDI interface on the MIDI channel that your Boss is outputting on, and its destination the sound source on the computer (whatever VST softsynth you have installed on your computer, or the on-board synth on the Sound Blaster, or the MIDI Out port routed to an external MIDI synth. When you hit Record, the MIDI messages from the Boss should be recorded in the track, and thereafter can be copied, moved around in time or pitch, and otherwise modified, and on playback can be routed to whatever instruments you have available to you as summarized in the sentence above.
 
musical.
there are a lot of tutorials as well on midi on the pgmusic site.
also try these...tutorials.
http://www.garys.web.st/midibasics.htm
http://www.garys.web.st/basicintro.htm
in addition if you get a chance try and demo band in a box sometime.
it has an editors choice award from electronic musician mag.
and you can go from a blank screen to a song playing back in around a minute.
its based on styles built in or ones you can make yourself.
if you dont believe me just talk to other people using it and read reviews of it on the net.peace.
 
manning1 said:
in addition if you get a chance try and demo band in a box sometime. it has an editors choice award from electronic musician mag.
Click to expand...
I'll tell you what's wrong with Band in a Box. It's an insidious little program that keeps you within the limits of what's 'acceptable' in pop music. I used an MS-DOS midi only version back in the day and found - even then with my limited knowledge of computers and midi - that it crippled my creativity rather than enhanced it in any way. I spent months trying to build templates (that's not the word BIAB uses, but it'll do) and found that the tools they gave you were so inadequate as to be a serious handicap.

In one of your posts you mentioned 'taking care of my elderly family' and we'll all be faced with that sooner or later. I have one myself so I know first hand what a challenge it can be. Please don't take it out on us here at HR.
 
sscientist.
with respect - msdos was ages ago.
every product has moved on since those days.
biab features have changed dramatically since those days.
to the original poster i suggest you talk to current users of the program.
and just try it and see if it helps you in making music.
 
Take no notice, just because some of your gear may not be considered to be decent by certain people. We all had to start somewhere. Get a couple of MIDI cables and link them from the Boss unit to your pc and from your pc to the Boss unit and then RTFM ( read the flipping manual ) if your stuck on any terminology ask here. someone will always help. Have fun :)
 
manning1 said:
sscientist.with respect - msdos was ages ago. .
Click to expand...
Ages ago? You mean something better has come along? I'll bet it's sold by pgmusic, which of course you have no vested interest in according to the screams emanating from your new signature line...
 
musicalblue said:
Well actually, I was wondering if it would just be a case of getting one of these.
Click to expand...
I've got one for my external midi modules and it works just fine.

Now I'd like to be able to edit it all in the computer, but I have no idea how to do that.
Click to expand...
If you mean you want to edit midi notes just plug it into the 'in' of the Edirol interface and put the sequencer (Magix or Cubase) into 'recieve midi clock' mode. Then press play on the Boss machine. You would need a midi editor/librarian to edit the sounds and I've never seen one for the Boss Dr202. But that's not to say there isn't one out there...

Here are links to two good articles on midi basics - part one and part two. They may be a little too basic for you, but we can all use a refresher course now and then...
 
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