Setting Up (complete newb questions)

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sirduke

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So, I will come right out and say that I am a complete newb to the recording thing. I used to have an 8 track, but that was way back. I get really confused when trying to integrate the midi stuff with the other stuff. I have a basic understanding of each on of the components, but I have a hard time putting them all together.

In my mind, I picture me listing the gear I have, and someone telling me the best way to optimize it and set it up. Like the best way to chain it all together. So here goes.

M-Audio ProFire 610
Roland TD-9 drumkit
Roland SPS-S (one of the mics will probably be plugged into this for live sampling)
Akai MPC 500
Akai MPK25

Then I have guitars and basses that are just regular quarter inch inputs. I also have a condenser mic and a Shure sm58.

I am using a macbook pro.

I know I am throwing a lot out there. Can someone point me in the right direction?
 
Are you hoping to record using the various components or what specifically is your plan? If you have a macbook pro, you will want to have your DAW software installed on that (protools, logic, garageband, etc...) The TD-9 drumkit has all its own sounds built in to the box, so you should be able to connect a 1/4 inch jack from its headphone output to your ProFire 610 interface (which will be connected to your computer) and record that way. Within your DAW you will need to install and run your virtual instruments (midi) from which can then be controlled by your Akai MPK25 (which I believe is connected via USB). I also believe the Akai MPC 500 also comes with prebuilt sounds, so that also should have a line out that could be connected to your interface....That's how the connections should go. Hope this helps and welcome!
 
I guess my main goal is to just piece together songs. I guess the idea is, I will just lay down each piece, starting with drum and bass, then add in whatever else. I also like the idea of using the samplers to lay down a groove, then play guitars and bass on top of that. The only thing I have is garageband. From what I hear, Ableton Live is the way to go for doing any multi-instrument tracking live. I just don't have the money for it right now.

I guess the purpose of midi with the samplers and the drum kit is where I get confused. I mean, obviously I can plug them into the M-Audio 610, and record whatever I am playing with the computer. But, what is midi doing for me on those devices? I guess I could use them to trigger virtual instruments? That is where I get a little lost. What else does the midi do for me?
 
Another option, as far as a DAW goes, that you may want to look is into Reaper. I personally am not a big fan of it (but I have not spent a great deal of time in it either). But it is a cheap alternative to GarageBand and gives alot of functionallity.

From the sounds of it, you seem a little confused as to what midi actually is. Midi IS NOT sound or audio. That is one thing most people get confused with. Midi is basically a bunch of digetal event messages. You may want to look at this:

MIDI 101 by TweakHeadz Lab

and ESPECIALLY this:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/equipment-forums/midi-mania/

The second link is just the midi thread of this here fine forum.

Anyway, you can use things like your MPK25 as a controller for midi and virtual instruments. Basically what that does is creates the even message when you press a key. The event message triggers a virtual instrument to play which in turn, for the sake of ease, we will vaguely say "creates" the sound or audio you hear. It really is something that you should 1. read up on and 2. play around with.
 
simply put, MIDI is a control signal - often integrated into keyboard to control external samples or synthesizers etc.
It's also used to program synths/samples to play particular notes at a specific time, i.e. you write music for them with MIDI as your pen and paper. For example you could plug a midi keyboard into your m-audio 610 interface with MIDI and use it to control a drum sampler or any other virtual instrument live, or to record the MIDI notes and replay them at some other time.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I get the basic idea of midi I guess. I understand it is no music. From what I understand, it just shows what notes were played, for how long, and with what intenisty/pressure they were played with.

So, I get the idea of a midi keyboard hooked up to my computer. That just plays whatever virtual synth I have it playing through, like gargeband or whatever.

I guess I just need to read up on what the other uses are.

Like....what would be the benefit of sending a midi signal into or out of my electronic drum kit. I guess sending the midi signal going out could be sent to garageband or whtever else, and the groove I played could be recorded, then edited, and played with a virtual drum kit...right? And then a midi signal could be sent into the kit to baically trigger a series of drum hits on the kit.

I guess I just have to play with it.
 
Pretty much, but I can't think of an occasion when you would want to send midi TO the kit. If you're recording it, then just record the midi or the analogue signal. If you're using the kit to trigger other stuff, then that will all be in garageband.
I guess you could trigger the drum synth built into the kit using midi, so you could get it to play a midi pattern you had pre-written in garageband, but you might as well just play the kit yourself
 
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