the most BASIC basics...

[samiam]

OK, I've read the MIDI tutorial and decided I'm not even advanced enough for that. Am I even correct in thinking that I can use a MIDI keyboard to add bass, drums, etc. to the homemade demos I produce with n-track? What do I need to buy, just a MIDI keyboard, or is there software, special connectors, etc.? My computer has a built-in AC'97 sound card -- will that work? Under the Control Panel settings, it lists my MIDI devices as Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth and MPU-401. I have no idea what they do. I will readily admit that I am about as new as a newbie can get when it comes to MIDI. I wouldn't even know where to plug the keyboard in. Can anyone offer some very basic help, or point me to an idiot-proof website that does?

Be gentle. It took a lot of guts for me to lay my stupidity out there for all to see... :O)

 

[nemal]

WARNING!

Once you start down the midi path your life as you know it could be over. Mine sure has changed.

Yes, your thinking is correct. You can add bass, drums...what ever you want.

That being said...

MPU...sounds familar. I think that's what I started with. You should be able to access the midi connection though the sound cards game port. You can go to any electronics store and get a midi to gameport adapter. Then you will need a midi cable to hook up to your midi keyboard.

Wavetable SW Syth means you actually have a software synth somewhere in your computer. I'm not familiar with N-Track, so I don't know how you would access the sounds within the synth. In fact, does N-track support midi? If so, you should be able to "draw" a couple of notes (which are actually EVENTS, not sounds) in a midi track and try have the output of that track go to the software synth. I could tell you how to do it in Sonar, but not in N-track.

So, before you go out and buy anything, try to get the soft synth working. There is an n-track forum here, ask someone there how to setup a midi track and play a soft synth. Hopefully you'll get a good answer.

After that, go and get yourself a midi keyboard and midi cables.

Good luck,

Nemal