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Hi, First off I am a newbie and I have some questions about the ForteDXi. What I need is a friendly user guide on how use a Dxi with biab(a step by step guide for dummies). I have dl tutorial info from PGmusic but a lot of the information is over my head. For example, I am not sure how to use the "Vst/DX Synths/Plugins(Synths if first slot)" dialog box with BIAB or how revelant it is. Here are some questions I have:

1.What is a plugin and how does one use it? (on a MIDI track, slot 1 is for MIDI synthesizers. On an audio track, slot 1 is for audio FX)This is confusing.



a plugin is a "feature" that isn't built in to the program. Rather it is made to add-on and work in any program that supports plugins. Plugins are usually effects (reverb, chorus, EQ etc) or virtual instruments (synths, sound libraries etc) Think of plugins as modules that can be added to any modular system. For example, In the old days when stereo systems were "modular" (you'd buy a receiver from one company, a turntable from another, a tape deck from another, and an equalizer from yet another company...) all of those separate devices plugged together like legos and worked as a single system.

Nowadays, software is also modular. The main program often has a way to add-in 3rd party content, Since many of these can plug together like guitar stomp-boxes, the name PLUGIN has stuck.

How to use a plugin varies with the program you are using it with

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2.Also, what is the difference between an audio track and midi track.




an audio track is best compared to what you'd get if you recorded directly into a tape recorder. Once you've recorded audio, it is fairly limited in how much you can edit it.


MIDI is a system best compared to sheet music. With MIDI you don't record actual sound, you record the note and its attributes, how long it is held (duration) how hard it was plucked (velocity) and many other attributes much like sheet music graphically shows the attributes of a song's notes. MIDI gets its sound by sending the saved note attributes through a Synthesizer. You can buy hardware synths or software synths that come as plugins (The Forte DXI is a plugin soft synth). The quality of MIDI sound is directly related to the quality of the synth that interprets the MIDI commands.


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3.What is a VST plug-in



others in the forum could do a better job of explainimng this

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I am mostly arranging songs from the 1940's and 50's era, and I try to use real tracks where I can.

Steve



Many people use nothing BUT real tracks, so it is possible to use BIAB without ever having to deal with plugins. Don't let it bog you down. Just keep reading the forum , there are always questions and answers about plugins. If you are like me, some peoples' explanations make more sense to me than others. If you keep reading, you'll find a person whose explanations are presented in a way that works for you.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ey71h8ep047758h/AAC12jNM0Hz9Q8zsh5iDeqNHa?dl=0