MIDI recording is frustrating!

[Elysian]

Hi,

I am trying to record what I play on my keyboard on the computer. I have CTK 810 and I use the "STRING" setting to play and record. But when I play back what I've recorded, the music comes out in piano format rather than in "STRING" setting which I've used on my CTK.

Does any of this make sense?:confused: My point is: even though I am able to record what I play, what I play on my CTK is STRINGS but the playback is NOT in strings, so the whole effort is wasted despite being able to record.

Any idea what I must do? Must I abandon MIDI recording and find some other ways of recording the damn thing?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Elysian

[hatzel]

When you 'record' through MIDI, there isn't actually any real sound involved, just a series of commands saying 'play a note of the frequency for this length of time,' so the sound setting on the keyboard (which is totally unrelated to the MIDI) is not communicated to the computer, leaving the computer to play the 'default' MIDI voice 001, which just so happens to be piano. This can be changed in the program itself, by changing the voice associated with the channel. As I don't know what programme you're using, I can't even begin to tell you how to do that, but suffice to say it's awfully straightforward.

For a better sound it would be advisable to get a DAW and a VST plug-in or two; this should give a better sound than default MIDI voices, which sound like absolute poop. Ardour is a good free VST, and (I'm on my phone, so can't give direct links) you can search for a free string VST on the website VST cafe, because there's a simple sample-based soundset right there (just search 'strings' on that website). You MIGHT need to get your hands on a VST host like Kontakt player, I forget if that particular soundset has a stand-alone download or not...

[Le Rouge]

Midi? What the hell. Are we still in the 90s?

[Lanky Wanker]

Midi? What the hell. Are we still in the 90s?

Garageband? Guitar Pro? Get with the times d00d.

[hatzel]

Midi? What the hell. Are we still in the 90s?

I disagree. Pretty much all contemporary electronic music, for example, is almost entirely MIDI-based. Not to mention its use elsewhere, particularly in processing digital sound recordings.

[Elysian]

When you 'record' through MIDI, there isn't actually any real sound involved, just a series of commands saying 'play a note of the frequency for this length of time,' so the sound setting on the keyboard (which is totally unrelated to the MIDI) is not communicated to the computer, leaving the computer to play the 'default' MIDI voice 001, which just so happens to be piano. This can be changed in the program itself, by changing the voice associated with the channel. As I don't know what programme you're using, I can't even begin to tell you how to do that, but suffice to say it's awfully straightforward.

For a better sound it would be advisable to get a DAW and a VST plug-in or two; this should give a better sound than default MIDI voices, which sound like absolute poop. Ardour is a good free VST, and (I'm on my phone, so can't give direct links) you can search for a free string VST on the website VST cafe, because there's a simple sample-based soundset right there (just search 'strings' on that website). You MIGHT need to get your hands on a VST host like Kontakt player, I forget if that particular soundset has a stand-alone download or not...

Oh thanks a ton! Are these free because I can't even spend a penny on anything at the moment? Also I am assuming vst is software which we download and use any instrument from it?