|
Post by photos on May 24, 2006 14:20:26 GMT -5
This is my first message here. I am hoping to find the peace and quiet here that SkeeZo can no longer offer to me.
This is a post on MIDI programming for Pete to comment on. I use a musical score program called NoteWorthy Composer to program scores of my music. Everything from drums, to bass, to guitars, and a pseudobouzouki sound that I get by mixing acoustic guitar with banjo. I program my songs note by note.
The program is not as versatile as Cubase but it is a lot easier to use. The problem is that (due to my own laziness partly) the sound is very quantized and lifeless. It's missing the little details that would give it a little bit of life.
How can I make MIDI sound more lifelike Pete?
Photos.
|
|
|
Post by Panagiotis on May 24, 2006 14:44:49 GMT -5
Great question. This is really what I do for a living....breath life into midi! The secret of making midi sound good is not only in the performance but in mastering the use of the midi controllers. Some of the more useful controllers are expression, volume, pitch bend, pan, and effects level. Depending on what instrument you are using, it will respond to different midi controllers. Perhaps I should start a weekly tutorial on using midi.
P
|
|
|
Post by taki on May 24, 2006 15:10:55 GMT -5
Likewise, and of course, depending on the style of music and time signature, there are parameters dealing with the quantization controllers that you can screw around with that will make the bass notes programmed swing a little more, or the snare hits programmed swing a little more, thus giving the onputted notes a more 'real' style of playing.
Of course, not all software has this option.
But, the one's Pete listed are almost in all software nowadays... Likewise, along with the bend parameter, you may use the modulation or vibrato at certain points of the notes. Maybe Pete meant this with the term expression. Just wanted to clarify.
But of course, there is no better way to record/program a more lead style than just playing it yourself, and then using digital editing features to clean up any mistakes or mis-cues.... unless you practice the lead section allot and play it perfect through the passage.
Hope this helps....
Takis
|
|
|
Post by Panagiotis on May 24, 2006 16:42:07 GMT -5
Expression is MIDI controller #11. It is essentially like volume cc#7 except that volume is used for overall level whereas you can "ride" the fader or use a pedal to ride the CC#1 to breathe a little life into the track.....especially for legato instruments. Mod cc#1 is also very useful.
P
|
|
|
Post by polikarpi on May 24, 2006 20:35:15 GMT -5
Yia sas. Glad to see a forum where we can discuss music. I'm sure this is a very basic question...as I am new to midi...but assuming I have a midi arrangement and I am using the keyboard as a tone generator, what is the best way to convert this audio (.wav). I've been doing research and it looks like either I need to buy a nice sound card, or I need to invest in a standalone device that will bypass the computer soundcard. Does that make sense?
My ultimate goad is to be able to practice or play with a decent sounding backing arrangement through audio only.
Thanks. Keep up the great work on the forum.
|
|
|
Post by Panagiotis on May 24, 2006 21:50:18 GMT -5
You are correct. You need some sort of audio device and a program that can play back midi while recording audio. I might suggest Cubase LE with an inexpensive audio interface by M-Audio.
P
|
|
chris
New Member
Posts: 5
|
Post by chris on Jun 6, 2006 6:34:19 GMT -5
Photos, maybe you can post a link so we can hear what you are working on. It might be as simple as editing the velocities.
Chris
|
|
|
Post by photos on Jun 7, 2006 18:43:59 GMT -5
Chris, I am in Canada right now and don't have access to my MIDI files. I'll return to Cyprus in late June and will try then to post something.
Photos.
|
|
|
Post by Panagiotis on Jun 7, 2006 19:12:46 GMT -5
Yes, I think if that we can hear something, then it would easier to give constructive suggestions. I might even be able to apply a little MIDI magic to the file and repost it!
P
|
|
|
Post by Panagiotis on Jun 9, 2006 10:43:07 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by polikarpi on Jun 10, 2006 19:43:58 GMT -5
Great editing on that song. Lots of feel. How many hours does a song like that take for a seasoned professional to produce?
I just bought a Presonus Firebox and Audio Technica A2020 Condensor Mic to record some audio and midi arrangements. I heard these are a good for beginners/price/and sound quality. Any opinions? Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by Panagiotis on Jun 12, 2006 12:40:24 GMT -5
I haven't read much on these products but you can always check the pro audio forums. Basically, I always do a lot of research before I buy something and I always have very specific requirements of my gear. But mostly, it will be your ears and experience that help you to get the best sound out of whatever gear you own. It took me about six hours or so to create that file. The most difficult part probably was performing the piano part like Garauldi would!
Pete
|
|
|
Post by polikarpi on Jun 12, 2006 15:33:05 GMT -5
Thanks for the followup. I appreciate it. That's pretty incredible for only 6 hours of editing. I hope I can give some of my arrangements the same kind of natural feel. I'm sure it will take a lot of time and money before I'm satisfied with the end result.
As for the products, they came highly recommended to me by another musician. I did a ton of research, read a ton of reviews. I think it's a good starting point, without spending too much cash right away. Thanks again!
|
|
|
Post by Panagiotis on Jun 12, 2006 17:57:44 GMT -5
Since you've already spent the money, then it's only a matter of time and talent until you achieve your goals. Maybe you can post something you've been working on.
P
|
|
|
Post by dagreek on Jul 16, 2006 7:29:16 GMT -5
Hi Everyone, This is Alex aka DaGreek of Skeezo, Playbouzouki, Bouzouki Kafenio Forums disrepute LOL I havent read this forum in a while, but you have some great threads going covering stuff that really interests me. I Hope you guys are still reading here! (looks quite this month) I have been programming using Midi for about 6 years now, purely by computer mouse. Trying to get realistic sounding music was my first challenge. I cant play any instruments (learning the Tzoura for about 8 months now), and till recently didnt really know much about music theory. I was winging it... I see now that a lot of my stuff was very 'pentatonic' in nature.. and yes it was simplistic, which is not always bad, when you see it in terms of doing a lot with a little, if that makes sense to you. Telos pandon, As I have been making Hip Hop and Rnb type material (yes think what you will of me), realism wasnt always required, but it has to have enregy, drive, etc and sound like the stuff thats comercailly released. To achieve this I learned to program my patterns keepign in mind the mindstate a musician might have when playing. So think about which notes will be accented (volume) and delayed or early (timing). Thats a good starting point... Also, since the sounds comign out of the modules (VSTi instruments in my case) will generally be bland or too electronic (if digital) or lifeless and without expression (multisampled instruments), unless you are a super duper player (I am not). I had to combine sounds in innovative ways to get evloving character reminiscent of (but not neccesarily emulating) a real acoutsic instruments. A lot of production work invovled in that, compressing, EQing, panning desicions etc. as well as using the right sounds. Haveing high quality sounds is important.. There are many: www.kvraudio.com/index.php?s=instruments SO layering sounds and taking care when programming can give good results when done meticulously. I can take hours to program a few bars of drum patterns to prefection, and that with 'rough' sound layering, the mixing of which can take another day. Here are two drum patterns made entirely with my mouse, Cubase SX, Battery Drum Sampler, and a lot of drum sounds. www.cave31.com/audio/00-Put-It-On-You-Drums-DaGreek.mp3www.cave31.com/audio/00-Ik-Hou-Drums-DaGreek.mp3Beyond that, a good overall mix helps. For my type of music, the music must be repetive to an extent, and people are used to hearing rigidly quantised music too. Also, the final addition of a 'real acoutisc' instrument - the human voice will add a needed human element that makes the rest sound more natural when all heard toether.. Heres a sample of a track I made last year, where I tried to get an 'exoctic sound'. I know now that I made it in B Ussak. www.cave31.com/audio/00-A-Boeng-DaGreek.mp3I havent made anything since I started learning the Tzoura, I want to play in my next tracks, so must improve drastically :-) Eh Afta, you can check my site if you aould like to hear more of my tracks etc.. www.cave31.comI have alot if questions regarding programing in midi, especialy regarding programing legato and slurred phrases and implementation of quarter tones... Those will pop up in some thread here sooner or later ;D... Gia Hara, Alex
|
|