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Hi Tributeman Mac's made some really good points. MIDI can sound bad for two reasons. 1: the MIDI data just doesn't cut it, sloppy, too rigid, un-natural, no expression where there should be, etc. 2: the synth that the MIDI is controlling has lousy sound samples. Have a listen to some of these samples, all produced from MIDI data, and a decent synth. Regards Trevor
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Trevor like Ive said I really need to be educated on this what you linked was absolutely amazing the strat WOW! Ive gone on to Nortons site and they dont sound nothing like that yet people have said good things about that site.. so again why is what Im hearing different to the link you sent? me could it be my soundcard if so I will definately change it to get those great sounds.
AMD Athlon 7550 dual core
processor 2.51 ghz
1 87 gb ram
windows 7 Ultimate
yamaha rev 500 effects
tacam DP-24 DAW
Samson Resolv NF monitors
Yamaha PSR-620 Keyboard
Fender semi accoustic guitar
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Those MIDI files were made using the Ketron MIDI synth for the sounds.
Which is the point.
The Ketron SD2 hardware MIDI module sounds very good indeed.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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All my styles were also made by a musician (me) playing in real time into a MIDI sequencer. I use keyboards, wind controller and drum controllers. After recording many minutes of each instrument into a sequencer, snippets of those live recordings were imported into BiaB. MIDI, like anything else musician requires a learning curve. But because it's easy to play without a learning curve by step-entering, a lot of people do it that way. The result is what gives MIDI a bad name. It's like the drums. It's easy to hit the drums but it takes a lot of practice to be a drummer. Well, it's even easier to get a note out of a synth using MIDI, so a lot more people attempt it. To get good MIDI you need two things: - A good musician to play the MIDI controller - in real time
- A good sounding software or hardware synthesizer
And the good musician is the most important of the two. Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Copy and Paste what Bob just said above.
Very clear, concise and to the point explanation of what I've been tring to say in too many words.
What Notes just typed be a Truphemism, ya'll.
There aren't any shortcuts to Strong Performance.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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A good musician to play the MIDI controller - in real time
A good sounding software or hardware synthesizer
And the good musician is the most important of the two.
as Im not a good musician this might make me stay recording RTs BUT!
Maybe I should get clued up on the above Bob..Ive got a small recording studio for my songwriting using the Tascam 24 track for additional tracks mastering and mixdown..Obviously anything that will improve my demos I want to know about but as Ive just been using real tracks I havent had no problems regarding that side of it.The keyboard I use is one Ive had for quite a long time the yamaha PSR 620 mostly for strings but dont really use it that much nowadays.Any advice would be appreciated Thanks Frankie
Last edited by tributeman; 03/10/14 10:40 AM.
AMD Athlon 7550 dual core
processor 2.51 ghz
1 87 gb ram
windows 7 Ultimate
yamaha rev 500 effects
tacam DP-24 DAW
Samson Resolv NF monitors
Yamaha PSR-620 Keyboard
Fender semi accoustic guitar
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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There is only one road I know of to becoming a good musician: education and practice.
Unfortunately it isn't instant gratification. You have to learn skills and then use those skills to get to the next level. One step at a time, each new adventure results in new knowledge and a new satisfaction. It's a journey, not a destination, I could live to 200 and still have new things to learn.
On the other hand: Perhaps it's fortunate that it isn't instant gratification - if it was easy, anyone could do it and I wouldn't be able to make a living doing music and nothing but music.
A good music theory book, a lot of practice, and if possible a good teacher are all worth their weight in gold.
You would probably be surprised at how much you could learn in an hour per day. IMHO Turning off the TV for an hour and moving along the path to musical ability is much more rewarding than watching another sitcom or reality show.
Sorry if I sound like I'm on the soap box, I'm trying to be encouraging but sometimes the most gentle words just don't come.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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That's a good soapbox to stand on, Notes.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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thanks Bob I apreciate the advice as I will be 70 this year Im not sure if I need to start taking up musicianship especially as it appears there are musicians on BIAB doing that for me.. Ive written some good songs that people like John David bass guitarist with Dave Edmunds and a writer of over 200 cover songs are quite impressed with (the RTs not just my songs)What I really wanted to know is can I improve my demos again using MIDI and without having to learn to play above what I do now.I play reasonable rhythm guitar and play chords on my keyboard.I was a lazy musician as I earned my living as a singer and I cant see me changing anytime soon.But if its the only way to go to improve my demos using midi then its certainly given me food for thought Thanks Frankie
AMD Athlon 7550 dual core
processor 2.51 ghz
1 87 gb ram
windows 7 Ultimate
yamaha rev 500 effects
tacam DP-24 DAW
Samson Resolv NF monitors
Yamaha PSR-620 Keyboard
Fender semi accoustic guitar
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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If you are more comfortable on guitar than keyboard, consider one of the MIDI output guitars or adding a MIDI output pickup with converter to an existing guitar.
Then the guitar can be used to record MIDI tracks.
Three note chords, set to the Strings patch, for example, can make it rather easy for you to come up with your own String tracks. Or Piano. Vibes. etc.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Mac great advice any suggestions on a good midi output pickup for my guitar which is a semi accoustic Fender Cheers Frankie
AMD Athlon 7550 dual core
processor 2.51 ghz
1 87 gb ram
windows 7 Ultimate
yamaha rev 500 effects
tacam DP-24 DAW
Samson Resolv NF monitors
Yamaha PSR-620 Keyboard
Fender semi accoustic guitar
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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The bad part about MIDI guitar is there is a slight delay while the pickups analyze the frequency of the vibrating strings. The newer pickups are much better than they used to be, and I'd advise you to check out the pickups you decide to buy and include the latency in your decision. On the other hand, if the guitar is a few milliseconds behind you can always advance the MIDI track a few clock tics after you record it. In the very early days I bought a pitch to MIDI controller to record my sax into MIDI, and it had quite a bit of latency, but moving the MIDI data fixed it. Now I use a Wind MIDI controller that has for all practical purposes no latency. And although you are 70, it's not too late to start learning. Most experts say that the way to prevent senility is to learn something new, like a new language. And learning musicianship is like learning a new language. At 70 I wouldn't expect you to become a Jeff Beck but it could be interesting and could even improve your song writing. I picked up guitar in my mid 60s and am having a great time with it. My guitar playing friends can't believe how quickly I got pretty decent at it. But it is my 7th instrument so I carried a lot of baggage with me. On the other hand, I'm trying to learn to converse in the Spanish language, and at times it seems pretty hopeless to me. I can get 'baby talk' sentences. But often if I ask a question, I can't understand the answer. But I plan to live to 100 so I have lots of time to improve. Actually, I plan to live forever - so far - so good  Whichever way you go, I hope it works for you. Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 589
Journeyman
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Journeyman
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thanks for your advice I guess you didnt pick up my "lazy"tag..the demos Im doing now with just real tracks are in my opinion very suitable for getting to a publisher or producer..cant believe the demos I sent them in the early days yet still managed to get a publishing deal with Rondor Music.Im not saying Im giving up on midi but my question was.. is it just renewing software keyboard etc looks as if its a bit more than that.But again thanks for the advice.frankie
AMD Athlon 7550 dual core
processor 2.51 ghz
1 87 gb ram
windows 7 Ultimate
yamaha rev 500 effects
tacam DP-24 DAW
Samson Resolv NF monitors
Yamaha PSR-620 Keyboard
Fender semi accoustic guitar
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
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We're all lazy about one thing or another - or at least most of us. I'm never lazy about music - because I love it, on the other hand there are a lot of other chores around here and it's easy to say, "You know, I need to learn a new song for the duo" or "That new Band-in-a-Box style needs tweaking and I think I know just what it needs," Good luck to you Frankie. I think the RTs can be an advantage for a songwriting demo as some publishers listen with different ears from the general public. Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 897
Expert
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Expert
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Posts: 897 |
Mac and other comments...
Very cogent comments. I can sure tell the difference between some copied midi tracks that are commercially availble.
The sampled sounds and songs that manufacturers put in their keyboards are really great, even without being midied. When I play my old Motif ES , the data produced, eithr audio or midi recorded or transmitted by midi are superb. Same for the other sounds produced by my keyboards, even the old, old M1+...
Don't know if any of you are using Windows 8, or 8.1....and using some of the free software programs that are available from X-Box...there must be over 75 of them that you can install for nothing...or for a few dollars...
The sounds you get for 3 hours of, say, Smooth Jazz selection, are fantastic when played through some good speakers. Whether are not they were recorded with straight audio, or with midi controlled instruments, is hard to tell. But the Presnce of today's various approaches to recording, can grab your attention in just milliseconds!!!!!!!!!
Yamaha...Motif ES-8, Motif Rack, CS6X
Korg...Karma,Triton Classic, PA-80, M-1+
AkaiSampler-S5000, Roland.. X5080 Rack/G-1000 Arranger
Various Guitars/Basses Amps Pedals Rec.Equip.
Plus, BIAB 2015 and Sonar Platinum 2015 Upgrade from Cakewalk's Sonar X-3
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
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