Hey guys, I have just enough knowledge of MIDI to be dangerous to society. But I have a few questions I need cleared up.
First, here is a sum up of what I know.
I know a MIDI file is not sound, but instructions of what to play.
I know that most all sound cards have a MIDI (or WDM??) driver that handles the MIDI playback. These sound cards, I guess, have built-in samples of the instruments?
My question is, if I play a MIDI file that is simply piano, but the piano samples on my sound card, or wherever, are no good, can I download quality samples and make THAT my MIDI driver? So that I don't have to buy a super-fancy sound card just to get better MIDI playback?
Or can I upgrade the samples my PC uses already with new ones? Even if it's just one instrument, like getting new piano samples or something. What are my options?
Lastly, can you post some links to what is the best, or most popular web sites or software I can download to have quality MIDI music. I don't care about price, I just want to see what's available, whether hardware or software or audio equipment.
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This question coincides with my recording thread, in that, say I do eventually want to mix live recording with MIDI. Well it will obviously sound like crap to record a voice or instrument, along with the cheesy midi sounds from my PC.
Can I do this stuff? Or do I have to buy like an audio MIDI sequencer device to map my MIDI music OUT to the device and then back IN to the PC to have the good sounds? I'm a little confused.
And then my last question is, really, the last, say I wanted a MIDI keyboard. Should I just buy a controller which has a keyboard and no sounds? I guess this IS called a "MIDI controller". Or should I be looking for a full-on keyboard which has all the samples built in, like a Yamaha S90 or something. I assume if I buy just like a 61 MIDI controller, I would still have to have something, software or hardware, to give good samples right? And obviously a MIDI controller with no samples would be a ton cheaper then buying a full-fledged performance keyboard/synth.
Thanks a ton!!
First, here is a sum up of what I know.
I know a MIDI file is not sound, but instructions of what to play.
I know that most all sound cards have a MIDI (or WDM??) driver that handles the MIDI playback. These sound cards, I guess, have built-in samples of the instruments?
My question is, if I play a MIDI file that is simply piano, but the piano samples on my sound card, or wherever, are no good, can I download quality samples and make THAT my MIDI driver? So that I don't have to buy a super-fancy sound card just to get better MIDI playback?
Or can I upgrade the samples my PC uses already with new ones? Even if it's just one instrument, like getting new piano samples or something. What are my options?
Lastly, can you post some links to what is the best, or most popular web sites or software I can download to have quality MIDI music. I don't care about price, I just want to see what's available, whether hardware or software or audio equipment.
-----
This question coincides with my recording thread, in that, say I do eventually want to mix live recording with MIDI. Well it will obviously sound like crap to record a voice or instrument, along with the cheesy midi sounds from my PC.
Can I do this stuff? Or do I have to buy like an audio MIDI sequencer device to map my MIDI music OUT to the device and then back IN to the PC to have the good sounds? I'm a little confused.
And then my last question is, really, the last, say I wanted a MIDI keyboard. Should I just buy a controller which has a keyboard and no sounds? I guess this IS called a "MIDI controller". Or should I be looking for a full-on keyboard which has all the samples built in, like a Yamaha S90 or something. I assume if I buy just like a 61 MIDI controller, I would still have to have something, software or hardware, to give good samples right? And obviously a MIDI controller with no samples would be a ton cheaper then buying a full-fledged performance keyboard/synth.
Thanks a ton!!