Help! New at Midi and loops

JRE Productions · 28th October 2005, 04:26 PM

hello,

I have been a studio owner from many years and have only used midi to control fx units and an ocasional triggered drum set.

I am interested in understanding the midi keys, loops and such. So if someone could give me an overview that would be great. Lets start here:

If I want to put together drum tracks, should I write them in midi and send it to my DM5 module, or should I use some sort of drum samples or what? Over the years I have collected a large number of software programs including Akia drum samples, fruity loops ect, but do not know what to do with them.

If I get into midi key board tracks do I need a hardware based Synth module, or can this be done with soft synths? Is there a difference to how they are programed?

I recently downloaded a bunch of complete midi tracks to some old standards of the 40's and 50's. There are complete with Strings, drums, keys and horns. Whats the best way to use these? Hardware or software based tones?

I am pretty confused on the whole process, so any starting help would be great. If it is not a live recording, made with actual musicians in the room, I am clueless.

As for gear, I have a well equiped studio as far as top of the line Mic Pres, Eq's and comps and currently record to a standalone HD recorded. But would like to get more into a PC based setup soon. The only sound module I have is the DM5 drum module that I use with triggers or my Roland Drums. That goes into API pres. Oh yeah, I am a guitar player and vocalist, not keys or drums per say.

HELP!!!

Joe

XHipHop · 29th October 2005, 04:46 AM

I guess, first and foremost, what is your sequencer? Do you have a way to get midi in and out of this sequencer? Do you have a keyboard with midi out that you can cable up to your sequencer?

From there we can get you moving in the right direction.

JRE Productions · 29th October 2005, 07:59 PM

Thanks X.

Well lets see. I have just about every recording software available to me. I use Cakewalk alot for other audio stuff (when using a PC) but also have cubebase and others. I have quite a few Akai disks, fruity loops, and a bunch more sample and loop stuff.

I was about to order an oxegen midi board or something simular, and also have roland v drums connected to a DM5 for beats.

Maybe we can just start with this. I just got a disk with 50 xmas songs in midi. When I play it back using the standard PC card it sounds ok. But I want them to sound a bunch better. Do I buy an external keyboard/sound module or do I open them with Cakewalk and using the samples inlcuded with them? These midi tracks have some orchastration with strings and such that I want to use for a portion of backing tracks. I will probably be adding real bass, guitar, vocals and possibly drums, but need the keys and strings.

If I open them with Cakewalk or vegas or cubebase, I think I can control which tracks I mute or allow to play through. I was hoping to mute the bass and guitar tracks.

If I need to buy other software or hardware thats cool, but I don't know where to start.

Later I will be doing some older standards ala the more recent Rod Stewart albums and want to add some strings and horns to my tracks. If I can figure this out, I will do it with samples and midi and not hire an orchastra...

JD

JRE Productions · 29th October 2005, 10:18 PM

Ok so here's what I've done so far today. Launched Cakewalk and open a midi file. I set the midi maper to a yamaha synth that was on my computer. I was able to play the midi files, mute tracks, and change patches on the midi to change a few of the voices. I sent this out my USB sound card device to my main mixer and out to the monitors.

So here is where I am at: The onboard Yamaha synth is ok for the piano but not so great on drums and bass, and strings. So if I stick with Cakewalk pro 9 for now, should I install some samples? Which format would I need? Would I need to point my midi to these samples, or do I selected them differently?

Would it be better to setup a midi out (Midi PC Flyer card) and send the midi code to an outboard device?

Thanks for any help

JD

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28th October 2005, 04:26 PM	#1
JRE Productions Gear maniac Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 186	Help! New at Midi and loops hello, I have been a studio owner from many years and have only used midi to control fx units and an ocasional triggered drum set. I am interested in understanding the midi keys, loops and such. So if someone could give me an overview that would be great. Lets start here: If I want to put together drum tracks, should I write them in midi and send it to my DM5 module, or should I use some sort of drum samples or what? Over the years I have collected a large number of software programs including Akia drum samples, fruity loops ect, but do not know what to do with them. If I get into midi key board tracks do I need a hardware based Synth module, or can this be done with soft synths? Is there a difference to how they are programed? I recently downloaded a bunch of complete midi tracks to some old standards of the 40's and 50's. There are complete with Strings, drums, keys and horns. Whats the best way to use these? Hardware or software based tones? I am pretty confused on the whole process, so any starting help would be great. If it is not a live recording, made with actual musicians in the room, I am clueless. As for gear, I have a well equiped studio as far as top of the line Mic Pres, Eq's and comps and currently record to a standalone HD recorded. But would like to get more into a PC based setup soon. The only sound module I have is the DM5 drum module that I use with triggers or my Roland Drums. That goes into API pres. Oh yeah, I am a guitar player and vocalist, not keys or drums per say. HELP!!! Joe __________________ JRE Productions Plainfield, IL

29th October 2005, 07:59 PM	#3
JRE Productions Gear maniac Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 186	Thanks X. Well lets see. I have just about every recording software available to me. I use Cakewalk alot for other audio stuff (when using a PC) but also have cubebase and others. I have quite a few Akai disks, fruity loops, and a bunch more sample and loop stuff. I was about to order an oxegen midi board or something simular, and also have roland v drums connected to a DM5 for beats. Maybe we can just start with this. I just got a disk with 50 xmas songs in midi. When I play it back using the standard PC card it sounds ok. But I want them to sound a bunch better. Do I buy an external keyboard/sound module or do I open them with Cakewalk and using the samples inlcuded with them? These midi tracks have some orchastration with strings and such that I want to use for a portion of backing tracks. I will probably be adding real bass, guitar, vocals and possibly drums, but need the keys and strings. If I open them with Cakewalk or vegas or cubebase, I think I can control which tracks I mute or allow to play through. I was hoping to mute the bass and guitar tracks. If I need to buy other software or hardware thats cool, but I don't know where to start. Later I will be doing some older standards ala the more recent Rod Stewart albums and want to add some strings and horns to my tracks. If I can figure this out, I will do it with samples and midi and not hire an orchastra... JD __________________ JRE Productions Plainfield, IL

29th October 2005, 10:18 PM	#4
JRE Productions Gear maniac Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 186	Ok so here's what I've done so far today. Launched Cakewalk and open a midi file. I set the midi maper to a yamaha synth that was on my computer. I was able to play the midi files, mute tracks, and change patches on the midi to change a few of the voices. I sent this out my USB sound card device to my main mixer and out to the monitors. So here is where I am at: The onboard Yamaha synth is ok for the piano but not so great on drums and bass, and strings. So if I stick with Cakewalk pro 9 for now, should I install some samples? Which format would I need? Would I need to point my midi to these samples, or do I selected them differently? Would it be better to setup a midi out (Midi PC Flyer card) and send the midi code to an outboard device? Thanks for any help JD __________________ JRE Productions Plainfield, IL

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29th October 2005, 04:46 AM	#2
XHipHop Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,022	I guess, first and foremost, what is your sequencer? Do you have a way to get midi in and out of this sequencer? Do you have a keyboard with midi out that you can cable up to your sequencer? From there we can get you moving in the right direction.