Recording Midi Using Any Keyboard

You can use many different types of devices to input midi to your computer.  You can use your computer keyboard, an electronic keyboard, drums, and other even stringed instruments using a midi "pickup" similar to those found on a a guitar.

If you only have your computer keyboard you can make some midi beats but it's pretty lame unless you are coding the background for PACMAN. 

A $50.00 midi controller (basic keyboard) is the next step up but only plays the sounds available to the soundcard of your computer.  Then you get into midi keyboards that have a better quality "brain" - or selection of sounds available to play.   Higher end keyboards will be able to play pre-recorded patterns and drumbeats using "sequencer" programs and probably would be amplified by your PA, not your $15.00 desktop speakers.

Most computers can accept midi input via the game port on the sound card.  Plug your midi cable into the joystick port on your soundcard.  Open a sequencer program (example:  Cakewalk) and look for the option in the software that allows you to select the "input" device.  Select your keyboard or soundcard and click OK or apply.  If all goes well when you press on a key a sound will be produced through the soundcard.  

For more complex setups a real midi card will cost you about $50.00 and allows you to send AND receive signal through the computer - well worth the investment.

Midi is a bit tricky to set up.  The main things to keep in mind are:

• When setting up your cables THE OUTPUT FROM THE KEYBOARD GOES TO THE INPUT OF THE MIDI CARD.  The signal wants to go THROUGH the computer.
  

• You then have to "assign" the voicing that the computer will play.  Normally in the "properties" of your sequencer software you will find WHICH SOUND MODULE THE KEYBOARD IS POINTING TO.  You may have more than one option if you have a sound module in addition to your computer soundcard.
  

• Make sure your keyboard is set to "midi out"  You should be able to figure out how to set it for from the silkscreening on the keyboard itself. 

They call the software that controls this midi record and output a "sequencer" for a reason.  It seems like you are constantly laying one track upon another to build a final song. 

A good example would be a blues song - You track out the drums, then the bass, then add some horns - then you play blues piano on top of it in real-time while your buddy jams away on the guitar.  Try it - it's pretty cool.  A real band in a box.  Feed your drummer batteries - not beer

Other Tips and Tricks

• Drum patterns are always saved to track 10

• Just because you recorded it in one voicing doesn't mean you can't change the sound.  An example would be you lay down the bass - but don't really like the sound.  Just change the voicing - it will still work - exactly the same notes being played - just a different voicing.

• If your sound is very mechanical see if your sequencer supports QUANTIZING.  Midi is very mathematical - but live  music has FEEL.  By selecting a certain track and adding this effect it adds some random changes in tempo giving it a more human feel.  

• Once you "input" the song by playing it you can easily PRINT OUT A COPY.  Depending on the quality of your midi program you may be able to add chord symbols, lyrics, etc to the finished copy.

• GENERAL MIDI is an attempt at standardizing the output from soundcard to soundcard.  This should be standard on any equipment produced in the last 10 years or so.  General Midi and uses the same "map" of samples so the voicing are standard from device to device.

• Try playing your keyboard through your PA.  This can give you a reasonably decent sound even with a cheap keyboard.

Taking It On The Road
Performing Live Using Midi And Your Computer

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