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I don’t understand how midi sounds work.
I have biab installed on windows bootcamp on a Mac mini late 2012
I am using biab midi styles to make original backing tracks which I then want to bring into Logic Pro to add vocals and mix.
When the midi tracks come into logic will they sound good enough or am I right in thinking that I will need to use an external midi sound module with biab to get great sounds and then export them into logic as wav files.
The world of software instruments, general midi and synths confuses me in my sixtieth year!
Last edited by pitza; 06/11/21 10:27 AM.
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Hi Pitza, MIDI is a world of its own. One can be pleased with the sounds they have but sometimes not impressed at all. There are many, many instrument libraries out there that range in price from free to thousands of dollars. You most likely already have some on your Mac. The really good thing about MIDI is everything is adjustable from note pitch , note length, note volume to the nuances a note might have. There are many really good resources on the WEB as regards MIDI. In IMHO it pays to go out and learn as much as you can if you want to get the best out of it. Amazon has many books on the subject. Groove 3 and several other tutorial sites (including PG Music) have a lot of good details. As regards instruments I would suggest getting something like the free Kontakt Komplete Start. See https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/samplers/kontakt-6-player/free-download/This will give you a good start.(I would guess it won’t take long and you’ll want to upgrade). Learn not only the instruments and notes and key switches but also how to use the CCs (Constant Controllers) to get notes to play how you like. CCs might set things such as expression, vibrato, reverb, pitch bend and many other aspects of a note (learn about it). I reckon that should keep you occupied for the weekend at least. Enjoy, Tony
Last edited by Teunis; 06/11/21 11:05 AM.
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Hi Pitza, Tony gave you some good advice. The one thing that I will add is when you bring your MIDI tracks into Logic Pro there will be no sound. You will have to assign a sound to each MIDI track. I don't have Logic Pro but I just googled it and it comes with a number of sounds for MIDI. I will guaranty you they will sound better than BiaB's included GM sounds. Also there are a ton of great sounding free VSTis available so you don't have to spend any money up front to get started in MIDI.
Note that MIDI is what I use 99.99% of the time.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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All good advice above. I don’t understand how midi sounds work. Keep in mind that MIDI is not audio. MIDI consists of digital data messages that are sent to a sound module that interprets these messages and then provides the sound. The quality of the sound module (which can be hardware e.g. Roland SC-88 etc, or software e.g. Roland Sound Canvas VSTi) largely determines the quality of the resultant audio.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
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Read Peter Gannon's 'no brainer' post. you can get the TTS1 soft synth for fee with a cakewalk download. ( you don't need to sue cakewalk - you can use the TTS1 in BIAB). I think the sounds are pretty good - maybe not as good as same specialist dedicated sample sets - but as the sounds are Roland sounds usually ok in a mix.
maybe you can use the TTS1 in Logic pro - i don't know. But if you can't, export the BIAB midi tracks as audio and then you can mix all audio tracks - including your new vocals.
if you are happy with the BIAB mix, maybe you could export the whole backing from BIAB to one audio file.
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Hi VT, IMHO if you want to know how MIDI sounds work one of the best ways to learn is to get something like the full version of Kontakt, record a bunch of notes out of a noise source (instrument, vibration, crash of a glass or whatever). Then with the sampled noises (sounds) pull them into Kontakt and tune them, apply them to a scale and a velocity setting. You then have a basic instrument.
Then with a bit (or maybe a lot) of scripting you can design yourself a really nice functioning instrument. You can do similar using SFZ and scripting the tuning. Kontakt just makes it easier with more sense. (By the way there are other sample players out there. Kontakt is well supported with a lot of people offering advice on what to do).
Sampled notes are just one option. There are many, many synths out there that allow one to create or generate notes. These notes can be used to create music.
The MIDI part basically just says how long, how hard and when a note is played. Other instructions (usually CCs) basically tell the playing device things such as panning, volume, how the release of the note happens, filter settings and various other nuances the playing device (instrument) needs to know.
There are often many options. That is the beauty of using a tool such as Kontakt (the full version) one can see this all happening. It is also possible to see this with many synths. The concepts are really not that hard. The finer points are the issues of understanding the instrument and player you are trying to simulate.
Just some thoughts. For me personally I get as much out of making the sounds as a do the end result (but that’s just me).
Tony
Edit: cleaned up my typos.
Also check out YouTube look for David Hilowitz who demonstrates the way it is done.
Last edited by Teunis; 06/11/21 10:50 PM.
HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home,
Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612
BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
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Hi VT, IMHO if you want to know how MIDI sounds work one of the best ways to learn is to get something like the full version of Kontakt, record a bunch of notes out of a noise source (instrument, vibration, crash of a glass or whatever). Then with the sampled noises (sounds) pull them into Kontakt and tune them, apply them to a scale and a velocity setting. You then have a basic instrument. Great info Tony, but I'm guessing a little too detailed for what the O/P is looking for (at the moment anyway  )
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
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Bob, if I understand correctly Pitza is using a Mac. I don’t know that TTS1 will work on a Mac. Pitza has Logic Pro, I think that has some pretty good instruments. (But I don’t have Logic Pro)
Just a thought
Tony
HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home,
Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612
BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
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Bob, if I understand correctly Pitza is using a Mac. I don’t know that TTS1 will work on a Mac. Pitza has Logic Pro, I think that has some pretty good instruments. (But I don’t have Logic Pro)
Just a thought
Tony Yes, I've got Logic, and it has got all kinds of good midi instruments. No reason at all for the OP to buy any other synths. Bruce
Macbook Pro 2018
2.6 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM
OS Monterey
BIAB for Mac 2022
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i have a retail version of the TTS1 sold under the name of Edirol Hypercanvas. That definitely will run on a Mac according to the box. But maybe the freebie doesn't.
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Hi Pitza, Welcome to the forum and to Band-in-a-Box! MIDI is over thirty years old and has become an integral tool for making music. +++ HERE +++ is a link to a seven part video series that explains MIDI well. MIDI.ORG has some +++ tutorials +++ you may find enlightening.
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The current Cakewalk TTS-1 as I understand it is Windows only rather than Mac. That said, Logic has loads of great instruments in it, you'd just have to select one on the MIDI track you import to get sound. Take a look at Apple's support page here: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/logicpro/lgsi6c2728cc/mac
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Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
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Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
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