MIDI vs MP3

[JazzCat]

I cant figure out how to vote, but if I ever do, it will be for MIDI all the way. The reasons are for having the ability to make changes on the fly.
Cat >^..^<

[midimart]

Silly You Cat.....

Maybe It's because you have already voted - as Homer would say.... DOH!!! ;D

[guitarjeff]

I put new midis I download into Steinberg Nuendo and replace the GM patches with VST Instruments which usually sound better and are much more tweakable than GM.

Then, I add real guitars, (if there is more than the part I will play live), real bass guitar and vocal harmonies.

Then I bounce the mix down to a 24 bit wav file which I will then do some light mastering to (EQ compression etc) and convert to a 320 KB MP3 which I will play on my laptop live with Winamp.

It works great and impresses the audience because it sounds almost like the record!

GJ

[jimthejanny]

i like a bit of both,while midi has a far cleaner sound and is more versitile they have not quite mastered the guitar on it.

[buster]

Its midi every time for me although I do convert them and put them on cd and take a personal player witrh me as means of a back up I also put my mp3s into different folder Ie 1970s, 1980s etc then I can call them up without to much bother.
But I find midi so versatile If played through the right gear as I am sure most of you Know it sounds top notch.

[ezduzit411]

is there any mp3 program out there that deletes the guitar tracks?if so ,i would convert to that format.i've seen many ppl performing w/mp3 backing audio tracks but the lead guitar is still present .picture this:1 guy on stage playing an acoustic guitar against the background of a full audio mp3,and harmony vocals.that's karaoke.as mark knopfler opined"that ain't workin'........with midi you can at least put a little work into it and they're easy to e.q. in a live audio presentation w/giutar and vocals.

[bigdawg]

I always use midi but I like the idea of mp3 because you don't need as much equipment,less to move in and out and thats a nice thought.Less is more?Think I'll stick with the midi.Its more
flexable on the fly.

[ezduzit411]

i agree with you ,bigdawg.i'm willing most toimes to bring bass-bins to the gig cause kiking midi's sounds very close to real.

[ezduzit411]

i vote midi everytime!

[cowboy79]

The subject seems to propose that there is a comparison between midi and MP3.

Sorry I don't se any comparison especially on a gig. I did a gig where the first singer used mp3. It sounded flat and lifeless.

The midi's blew him away. I have a Farfisa midi player, which has an excellent sound card. Fits in a flight case with all the disks. Weighs next to nothing. I recently took it with me to the states and used it over there. Took up less space than my wash kit.

For me midi every time.
Adrian

[gibbo]

Midi for me! It gives me the facility to adjust track configurations when we have different guest musicians, adjust keys for guest vocalists, scroll lyrics and chords if required and, with a good quality sound module (I use the Roland XV5050) I can approximate a kickin' band sound.
Set lists, varying the set, adding requests, changing my mind about what to play next, etc is no problem and I have 600+ songs just a mouse click away.
Plus, I use midi commands to control lighting, effects, and harmoniser.
For my money, midi remains the most versatile and flexible format for live playing.

[bique]

I have been using Midi for 20 years or more, it is the most versatile form of sequenced music, as I work in many duo combinations I can take out, lead parts being guitar,brass.bass or what ever. I have 5 sets of files to suite the musician I am working with at the time. I use a combination of Mini disk and Note Book Computer, I have a Roland SC8850 sound module and the sounds I get are very realistic to real band sounds. Midi is definitely number one.

[growe]

Hi I am a bit late on this thread, but I have to say that Midi is more flexible than mp3, for instance how could you change the key on a mp3 recorded song? Especially if you only needed a semi tone or tone up or down.

I suppose the middle road would be to get the midis as you want them and then record to mp3, but you then have to take another bit of kit around etc.

Regards,
growe.

[rickmabus]

Hi Forum! For me I use midi..I don't think my keyboard will read mp3....I have collected many midi file from different sites and I must say, the midi's that you get from this midi mart are the best sounding midi's I have found..I am so happy we have this great forum as a midi source and also as a help sourse..Midi Mart Rocks!~ Bye To Everyone!...Rick And Kaye

[keeeko]

I don't do gigs, but I do my own Karaoke discs.
I prefer midis at the start so I can change keys, tempo, etc. Once I have got what I want it is converted to wave for the actual syncro of the words, then saved as an MP3.
So I guess I am for both in a way...
Jan

[steveb]

I used to do it that way before I bought a laptop. I found it to be OK until the disc started to jump due to some scratches on the disc.

I haven't had any issues yet with the laptop using midi files

[shyamwestwind]

MIDIS ANYTIME !!!!
Midis can be editted and made to suit the way I want my backing to be, PLUS I can play along and ADD more stuff to the backing .
Shyam

[belle]

MP3 if the key suits my voice and there are no Backing vocals.

Otherwise its midi!

[peteracox]

Hi, i think everybody above is right in there own way, at the end of the day it boils down to what you require from the tracks.
I produce many tracks for many different bands, duo's, solo's etc and they all need something slightly different eg.

One band has MD with the strings and brass etc panned hard left and a click track for the drummer panned hard right, allowing a line out to the mixer for track and one to the drummer.

One tribute act goes out with different line ups depending on the price of the gig so they have it on multi track allowing them to pull the bass out when they have a bass player with them and leave it in when not etc etc.

And then a solo artist who i convert the midi into a studio master and then onto an mp3 player.

[860tombarry]

I record all my sequences to mini disc for live jobs. Been doing this for over five years now and its worked perfectly, and you never get a stuck note in the middle of a song.
Before the mini disc I used a yamaha DX5FD.