Okay, I've sampled some good programs but none of them give me what I want. Well, only partially what I want. Have you ever used E-Jay? Well there are many programs like this one (or E-Jay is like many others) that allow you to drop various sounds into a time line. This is how you make songs with them (as if you couldn't have figured that out). What I want to know is what program do I need and how do I make those sounds. Will the Line-In work for MIDI? I have a keyboard that has MIDI IN/OUT on it so I figured I could hook up my keyboard to the computer and record little skits or beats with it. If I can't do this, what is a really good program that I can use that will actually make sounds. I'm not talking about one of those that just mixes sounds or edits them either! I want to actually create them if I can do so using external devices that I have. I've read some other topics that give links to programs that would look like they could help me, but they didn't. So I ask you, what software do I need to create sounds? What I'm talking about is something that starts you off with a basic tone or something similar, or maybe gives you an array of different instruments that you can play at different tone/keys/notes what ever. Then you make a simple little tracks with those. That's what I'm looking for. I think I got the program that could put those tracks those together to make a song(I don't mean E-Jay either)-Acid. I need to actually create the sounds though. If I can record from my keyboard great, but that's still limiting me. I need a program that can create them from scratch even. So, can any of you help me out?

1. MIDI is just a controller signal, it contains no sound at all. This means that your Line In will do you no good in combination with MIDI (if your keyboard has a line out, you can connect that to the line in, and get sound instead).

2. It sounds like you need some sort of sound generator. Virtual Instruments could be up your street, or sample sets (for orchestral sounds et al). A "Software studio" such as Propellerheads Reason is an option, but many sequencers have Virtual Instrument support too. (ACID Music Studio doesn't, though) There are plenty of pretty good free virtual synths on the web, and some free sequencers that support them (check the list posted here in this forum too).

Your keyboard can be hooked up to your PC (if you have a MIDI in), and you can use it to play the Virtual Instrument running on your PC.

If you want to get really adventurous making sounds then you might want to check out SynthEdit.

This program will actually let you build your own synthesiser from scratch by putting all the various components together- giving you a lot of freedom to generate sounds. Its really cool- you should give it a go!..

Quote: Original post by MadKeithV
1. MIDI is just a controller signal, it contains no sound at all. This means that your Line In will do you no good in combination with MIDI (if your keyboard has a line out, you can connect that to the line in, and get sound instead).

MIDI is an (Musical Instrument Digital) Interface, or a protocol. I wouldn't call it a signal, though.

Quote:
2. It sounds like you need some sort of sound generator. Virtual Instruments could be up your street, or sample sets (for orchestral sounds et al). A "Software studio" such as Propellerheads Reason is an option, but many sequencers have Virtual Instrument support too. (ACID Music Studio doesn't, though) There are plenty of pretty good free virtual synths on the web, and some free sequencers that support them (check the list posted here in this forum too).

Your keyboard can be hooked up to your PC (if you have a MIDI in), and you can use it to play the Virtual Instrument running on your PC.

Uh no on that Reason suggestion - it's nothing like a buzz machine, which is what sakky wants. Jeskola Buzz is probably the best freeware deal you'll get on the Web. I could be wrong, though.

And, MadKeithV, I think you mean Native Isnstruments, not Virtual Instruments (although I think I'm misunderstanding you on this one).

More specifically, the Reaktor suite by NI.

Quote: Original post by sakky
Will the Line-In work for MIDI?

No. Here's what a MIDI cable may look like:



The standard is the round one (such as the Audigy/Extigy racks), although some sound cards (such as Live!) use the SCART-like connector.

Quote:
I need to actually create the sounds though. If I can record from my keyboard great, but that's still limiting me. I need a program that can create them from scratch even.

If you have ~$500 to shell out, then Reaktor is precisely what you're looking for.

Quote: Original post by Crispy

Quote: Original post by MadKeithV
1. MIDI is just a controller signal, it contains no sound at all. This means that your Line In will do you no good in combination with MIDI (if your keyboard has a line out, you can connect that to the line in, and get sound instead).

MIDI is an (Musical Instrument Digital) Interface, or a protocol. I wouldn't call it a signal, though.

When it comes through the cable, it's a signal, a signal which contains only controller information, no sound. Since the OP was asking about plugging it into his Line In to get sound, he was referring to the MIDI signal, not the interface.

Quote: Original post by Crispy

Uh no on that Reason suggestion - it's nothing like a buzz machine, which is what sakky wants.

I interpreted his question as asking about loops, and how to create loops (quote: "and record little skits or beats with it."). Reason is a good place to start, because it internalises everything, eliminating the need for outboard sound generators, and it's quite "complete" in doing more than just one type of sound. If you want to play with sequencing some drums and samples, and have some synth sound generation, it's a cheap(ish) and good-sounding starting point.

Quote: Original post by Crispy
And, MadKeithV, I think you mean Native Isnstruments, not Virtual Instruments (although I think I'm misunderstanding you on this one).

I'm referring to things like VSTi - sequencer plugins that function as sound generators that can be used to sequence together one-shots, loops and beats, which is what Sakky seems to be asking.


Another fun option is Ableton Live 4. It's what I use right now, one of the few sequencer-like programs that encourages you to make music in it, instead of recording music with it. It has a simple 8-slot sampler intended originally for drums but abusable for all sorts of fun stuff, and a one-slot sampler that can be used as a synth. Most importantly, it's INCREDIBLY fun to use, and can be used both loop-like and if you really want, as an ordinary sequencer.

All right! So from those pictures I can need to get a MIDI adapter to hook up to my serial? I have two keyboards Technics KN750 and a Radioshack MD-1800. The later keyboard is the best one out of both. It has tons more samples, sounds, tracks, etc.. It also has one of those little card readers that you can use for a printer, except this one is for music. The MD-1800 if fare more advance and sounds about 100 times better then the KN750. But the KN750 has a a little floppy. It also has (right to left on back of case) MIDI OUT/IN, EXP-PEDAL, FOOT SW, LINE OUT L/R, PHONES and DC. So even though the MD-1800 sounds better then the KN750, I can use it with my computer. Well, at least for now any ways. But I've recorded some stupid little things I've mad with the KN750. But last night I was playing around with the Concert Chord on hte MD-1800. It's like touch play except it actually plays the sounds that the rythms use. Any ways, my point is the I was making some pretty cool stuff with it. Out of Ambient1, Ambient2, Ambient3, Rave, Trance1, Trance2, Techno1, Techno2... I think Ambient3 and Rave are my most favorites. So this means I must get the MIDI interface hooks to my computer. From the pictures I've seen, MIDI can hook to serial, correct?

A MIDI connection has a specific design. It can only be attached to another MIDI- connection, for example on your sound card, keyboard, or controller.
If you need a sound generator, as posted before, look at SynthEdit (free), Reason (commercial), or Reaktor 4 (commercial and expensive).
I use Reaktor 4 myself. You can build your own instruments from scratch, or use pre-made instruments. It's not easy, has a steep 'learning curve'. Some technical knowledge is handy.