Recording Midi

[Rocker1031]

Hi, I'm new here and also new at recording. I have Magix Home Studio Deluxe software, line6 guitarport, a Roland Keyboard don't know what model, but it accepts floppy disk midi files. I have some midi files that have been modified for live use, meaning the drums, guitars and bass were taken out since we have a live drummer, bass player and guitarist.

We want to record and I'm trying to figure out what would be the best way to do this. My idea would be to record each instument on the midi file in individual tracks including the click track. Then have our drummer follow the click track and record drums, bass, guitar and vocals.

So how do I get each midi instrument on the midi file in an individual track? I don't even knoiw how to even get the midi data to a track, only way I can think of is to connect the keyboard to the guitarport, and play the midi file on the floppy drive on the keyboard and record one instrument, and repeat this process each time for each instrument and record on seperate tracks.

I know there's a better way, but since I'm new at this I need some help.

Thanks for reading,
Am

 

[Joepie]

That's one way of doing it... not the easiest way though.

Best would be if you had some software that supports both midi and audio. You can load the midi-file into it, and then record the audio (drummer, bass, whatever) along with the playing midi.

If you Magix doesn't support midi (I'm not sure), you can always use the method you described, but you don't need your keyboard. You can play the midi on your computer and record its output at the same time. You'll need some kind of dedicated midi player (there's plenty of free ones on the net) that'll let you solo and mute tracks. Then hit record in magix and press play on the midi player to get the sound in the track. It's a bit of a waste of time though.

Hope this helps.

 

[studiomaster]

Cubase is the master of MIDI sequencing. i suggest u get Cubase LE, at the least. when u have cubase or any other midi sequencer, u can record,arrange,fix,automate midi notes. it would be much more easier to do it this way if i got u correctly.

 

[altitude909]

Magix HS should include the midi studio so all you should need to do is disolve the midi track into parts (should be an option somewhere).

Not sure if you can work with midi and audio at the same time though

 

[Rocker1031]

Thanks for all the replies, I do have Magix midi studio also, however I was told that since MIDI is not actual sound, but instructions, it cannot be recorded (see the Magix solution below), my question now is if I do what they say, will it record in stereo?

"You can't export MIDI as WAV. It's simply impossible. MIDI is *not* sound. What you hear (the actual audio) is the sound that is produced by your soundcard's internal synthesizer as a *result* of the MIDI commands send by the program. If you want this to be included in your mix down, first you will have to record your MIDI as an audio (WAV) track.

To record this, please do the following :

First, open the Windows volume controls (double click on the gold speaker-icon on the Windows toolbar next to the clock). Now you're in the "play" controls of the mixer. Now select "Options", then "Properties" and select "Recording" (by placing a 'dot' next to 'recording'). Make sure that every box below is 'checked'. Now press "OK" and select the "midi" or "synth" by placing a 'check' in the 'select' the box and make sure that the slider has enough volume (about 70%). Your computer is now set up to record from the midi sound generator of your soundcard.

Go back to our music software and record a new audio track from the start to the end while simultaneously playing back your midi tracks.

Now the MIDI has been recorded as an audio track"

 

[altitude909]

lol. Thats actually in the manual? wow, their stock just went down in my book

Cubase, Live! and I'm sure most other sequencers have the ability to record virtual instruments and audio inputs on their own so you may want to consider a different prog. Most decent soundcards will come with something capable.

Look through the help of the midi program and see if there is anything that will break midi into parts

 

[Joepie]

Thanks for all the replies, I do have Magix midi studio also, however I was told that since MIDI is not actual sound, but instructions, it cannot be recorded (see the Magix solution below), my question now is if I do what they say, will it record in stereo?

You're right, MIDI is instructions... it tells the computer or synthesizer which note to play, at what time, how long it should last, at what volume, into which channel, using which instrument and also where to place it in the stereo spectrum (left-right). So if the midi data is in stereo, it will provide a stereo sound.

"You can't export MIDI as WAV. It's simply impossible. MIDI is *not* sound. What you hear (the actual audio) is the sound that is produced by your soundcard's internal synthesizer as a *result* of the MIDI commands send by the program. If you want this to be included in your mix down, first you will have to record your MIDI as an audio (WAV) track.

To record this, please do the following :

First, open the Windows volume controls (double click on the gold speaker-icon on the Windows toolbar next to the clock). Now you're in the "play" controls of the mixer. Now select "Options", then "Properties" and select "Recording" (by placing a 'dot' next to 'recording'). Make sure that every box below is 'checked'. Now press "OK" and select the "midi" or "synth" by placing a 'check' in the 'select' the box and make sure that the slider has enough volume (about 70%). Your computer is now set up to record from the midi sound generator of your soundcard.

Go back to our music software and record a new audio track from the start to the end while simultaneously playing back your midi tracks.

Now the MIDI has been recorded as an audio track"

That's pretty much what I meant in my previous post. It won't sound great, but it'll work as a nice click-track to play along to.