Recording Midi files to Minidisc

[jacqui01]

I'm sure there has already been a reference to this subject before but I can't find it.
Got a friend I've given some tracks too, who says the tracks I give him, don't sound the same when played back on his PA, as when he gets the tracks from the company that sells them.
I think he asks for the track in a certain key, and they send them to him on minidisc already recorded.
Apparently the clarity is not the same.

1. if you record a midi file to a minidisc recorder, should you just record it directly from playing in the midifile player on your PC, or should you convert it to MP3 first, then record to a mindisc player.
2. If you do record this way, is what you record onto the Minidisc player the same as an MP3 or Wav file

3. Should it make any difference which midifile player you play the midi through, eg Cakewalk, Vanbasco, Jazz ect, if you are only taking out the melody line and changing the key, do they not all play back only the instruments in the midifile, and are the sounds created by the soundcard anyway, regardless of what you play them through.

This is something I've never really understood, and would like to try and find out why the midis I record onto Mini Discs sound different to the same track supplied by the company.

[ziggy]

The sound will depend on the sound card or module that your friend is using. Some people, like Tony (Tone Def), play them through their keyboards, some like myself, use an XG sound card. Glenn, I believe, uses a Roland SD80, sound module, but if your friend is using a bog standard computer soundcard, the files won't sound very good (the censor won't allow to be mre specific, lol). Try listening to a Midimart MP3 & compare it to the same song on your friends equipment.
I record straight from my PC to minidisc (realtime, obviously), which means I can record from a midifile or mp3, & get the level on the tracks the same.
Another way to improve the sound (sorry, I've assumed he/she is playing the files on a PC), would be to use a soft synth, such as Edirol's (Roland) Virtual Sound Canvas (VSC), but I've no experience of using these.
Hope that's a start for you Jacqui, I'm sure there's plenty of people on this forum who can add volumes to my little offering, (no pun intended).

[shezza]

Hi jacqui, Here's my method. 1) Download midi file onto Floppy Disc,
2) Insert Floppy Disc into Yamaha Keyboard,
3) Edit as required Eg.change instruments,tempo,key, etc.
4) Play the edited Midi File onto Master Mini Disc,
5) Copy from the Master Disc down onto a performance Disc.
Both machines are Sony £99
Result.......Many complements on the quality of my backing tracks.
..........Pete.

[levi2]

i record direct to minidisc thru yamaha mu50 using me laptop to play the files
then i just have a set EQ on me mixer when playing mini disc back

[jacqui01]

Thanks for all the info Guys,
I get the impression that recording from the PC is not the best, and that through a keyboard is preferable, is that because the instruments sound different through the keyboard?
ziggy, I record straight from my PC to minidisc (realtime, obviously), which means I can record from a midifile or mp3, & get the level on the tracks the same - do you convert the midi or play it as a mid and record to Minidisc? and what soundcard is on your PC?
would be to use a soft synth, such as Edirol's (Roland) Virtual Sound Canvas (VSC), but I've no experience of using these. - what are these- are they software for a PC or keyboard?
Levi I record direct to minidisc thru yamaha mu50 using me laptop to play the files
then i just have a set EQ on me mixer when playing mini disc back - I take it yamaha mu 50 is a keyboard again, so is the sound being generated by your laptop or the yamaha?

I don't think my soundcard is Bog standard, when I got my PC I asked for the soundcard to be upgraded as I wanted to do music on it.
I have a soundblaster soundcard, Creative Audigy 2ZS software 24Bit, whatever that is?
I also have a disc that came with it, but don't know what it's for, I've never used it, it says on it, Steinberg, Cubasis VST, Wavelab lite, soundfont collection, storm platinum edition & FL studio creative edition.
Jacqui

[midimart]

Jacqui....

I know you download some of my mp3's....

Just take a track this is in mp3 and then download the same track in midi..... Listen for the difference, my sound will always be a little different to the sound that comes from your midi (unless you have an Edirol SD-80).

Now if you turn the midi sound card off and just play it through your computer with a basic sound card.... It will sound as though it is played on a child's casio.....

The difference in sound quality can be enormous, you only get what you pay for I'm afraid...

Then the difference again with live music, wow ---- no comparison.

A good sound card or module or keyboard is the second best thing..... Then the next stage is the final mix.... It now gets complicated (have you got 20 years to spare)......

[jacqui01]

So have I got anything on my PC that is of any use when it comes to recording a track to Minidisc, is my soundcard too basic, the Edirol SD-80 and other such players (are they midi players only) how do you get the midi on to them, do they create the midi sounds or do they still have to be used with your PC soundcard.
Say Glenn if you want to convert one of your midi's to MP3, do you just play it through this player or are there more programs you have to use.
Sorry if I sound stupid,
( I know what your thinking ! ) it's just that I might as well try to get an understanding of this one, and I know Glenn just loves bragging about his bits and pieces
Jacqui

[levi2]

the yamaha mu50 is a tone generator which generates the sounds triggered from a midiplayer on the pc
i use a midi interface connected to pc and linked to the mu50
i use any midiplayer to play a midi file the midplayer will have a setting for my usb midi interface this sends the midi signal to the mu50 the mu50 has a headphone socket and line outs to connect to audio equipment
hope i didnt baffle ya

[ziggy]

Hi, Jacqui.
In answer to your question, I have a Yamaha XG soundcard on my computer, which means I can load up a midi & play it (or record it), no need to conert to mp3.
A soft synth (such as the VSC) is software for PC, which will do the same job as my XG card. As i said I don't have any experience of these, but I think there was a separate thread about them.

[levi2]

yamaha softsynth is a great midi driver if your sound card isnt brill basically you install the yamaha driver software then load up your midi player or sequencer goto device options and select the yamaha driver then load your midifile and play. or if you use a sequencer you can change the instruments around to your own custom if people are not to bothered about sound qual at the venues you play the yamaha softsynth will do but if you really want a pro sound youll proll pay ££££££s for a pro soundcard or you can get external devices ( sound modules/canvas) theres yamaha or edirol/roland
heres a link to a couple of demos ive done recorded using the yamaha softynth

www.4shared.com/file/17415744/af963069/bad_old_days.html

www.4shared.com/file/17415763/3c4c748/dont_fell_like_dancin.html

[midimart]

Jacqui..... Will you leave my bit's 'n' pieces alone

[jacqui01]

Glenn
I wouldn't dream of meddling with your Bits & Pieces.

Still trying to get to grips with all this info Guys, I don't think it's as straight forward a I thought, there is obviously such a lot to getting the sounds right.

Jacqui

[ziggy]

midimart said:

Jacqui..... Will you leave my bit's 'n' pieces alone

Down boy! Take a cold shower. Lol

[Emerald Midi]

jacqui01 said:

Glenn
I wouldn't dream of meddling with your Bits & Pieces.


Jacqui

;D ;D ;D

[midimart]

I know it's not your answer Jacqui but I think this is quite fitting here....

You can have these Bit's 'N' Pieces.....

Click Here...

[Stephanie]

My method is quite similar to what's been mentioned here. I end up revoicing my midis for my Kurzweil which has lousy General Midi support but awesome sounds elsewhere in its innards. I load the midi via CompactFlash card into the Kurzweil, then run digital out to my audio interface box on my Mac. I get perfectly clean Kurzweil-authentic sound. I record to AIFF and burn to an audio CD. We use the CDs for individual practice but only very rarely for performance.

Pretty geeky, huh?