Newbie MIDI Musing

  • Thread starter Thread starter nedjinski
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nedjinski

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Hi -

I was recently given a Roland Juno keyboard. The keyboard works okay and generates it's own sounds that I can use to record - which are cool.

I want to hook up the Juno to my computer to run other (software) instruments. I was also given a MIDI to USB plug device. How do I set this up in the computer? and what kinds of software do I need to generate other sounds that the Juno can't make, like orchestras or voices, etc.
 
nedjinski said:
oh sorry - it's a Juno 106 circa mid-80's I think.
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Dude, and you were *given* it!?
When I went looking for analogue synths about 8 years ago, the Juno was still fetching around Aus$400-$600! I guess the softsynth revolution has caused the bottom to fall out of the hardware market.

Re: USB-MIDI cable - the USB plug goes into the USB port on your PC, the other end (round MIDI plugs) go into the MIDI ports on the Juno. It will carry the MIDI information between the synth and the PC.
When you press a key on the Juno, the MIDI component of the software will record that keystroke. You can then either send the MIDI information back to the Juno to play whatever sound you have loaded or route it to one of your softsynths.

Software to generate other sounds could be soft synths or software samplers.
What software are you going to be using for sequencing/audio recording?

Dags
 
recording wise I am using Tracktion 2 - because it came with my mixer / firewire interface - an Onyx 12ch.

so far I have no soft synths or software samplers - that I know how to use anyway - mebe some have come with the Tracktion programme?
 
nedjinski said:
recording wise I am using Tracktion 2 - because it came with my mixer / firewire interface - an Onyx 12ch.

so far I have no soft synths or software samplers - that I know how to use anyway - mebe some have come with the Tracktion programme?
Click to expand...

Traktion can use VST plugins, so that's a good start anyway. There's a shedload of freebies out on the net (effects as well as instruments) to play around with - check out Computer Music website - but most of the really awesome instruments cost money.

If you're on a PC, to start out you could use the General MIDI instruments on your soundcard to help lay down the bed of MIDI sounds. I don't think quicktime instruments are available as MIDI instruments within software on a Mac if you're a Mac user.

Good luck!
Dags
 
thanks Dags!

how about Reason or Arturias Storm or such software? worth the money and time learning spent?
 
nedjinski said:
thanks Dags!

how about Reason or Arturias Storm or such software? worth the money and time learning spent?
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I have heard that Reason is truly the shizzle as far as integrated bass sequencing, drum sequencing, loop/sample playback and synthesis - especially for dance music.
Uncertain if Rewire is available in Traktion though. Rewire is a nifty bit o' code that routes the audio from Reason into your main software so that it appears as a stereo input in your arranger window.

I haven't bought it only because it would be yet another piece of software to have to learn, and I'm just getting my head around Apple's Logic7 :)

Dags
 
The 106 is a classic. Hold on to it. I do second the traktion suggestion
 
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