working with midi files

how do you use them in a sequencer? is it like pre-programmed music notation and i just select a single sample instrument file after i load it? i asume the files for a song would be broken up for each part to load into their own channels. i'm asking because my friend wanted me to remix some songs for him and add my own touch to them and said he would send me midi files. he doesn't produce music, but he does sing. i'd like to do this for him as the person he is used to working with isn't avilable. i really want to help. so if anyone can explain it to me in simple terms...i'd be very thankful! hopefully, i can pull it off...this is one way he wants to feature me in his next show and want to do good! : )) if not, i told him he would have to find someone else for the job. but i at least want to try one song first. i am only used to mixing my own work...i've never done any major remixes from other artists.

thanks!!

Complicated subject. Midi files just contain information that tells the sequencer about notes, velocity (how hard to hit that note) and duration. How you use them will depend on the sequencer or daw you are using. But yeah, in most all sequencers you will open a midi track, assign an instrument to that track, import your midi file to that track. If your midi file contains several tracks you will (usually) inport midi and it will create however many tracks there are. At this point you will start assigning instruments to each track and hopefully you will know what tracks are what (or quickly find out by trial and error). It can be really tricky which drum tracks as every kit may have different interpretations of what the midi instructions actually trigger. In anycase, you're probably in for some experimentation. Good luck and if you run into specific problems post them and we'll see if we can collectively clear (or mess ) things up.

Knowing what sequencer you are using would be a terrific start. But basically, to start I would fire that puppy up and click file->inport->midi file and see what happens and take it from there.

-Ed

yeah that's what i told him...get it to me asap, because i'll prob skrew it up and he will have to find someone else lol. but i'm trying...so far all i can do is add too the existing sounds(with new ones)... i can't figure out how to change the midi files and put my own sample sounds in them instead of the cheap midi sound file sounds...ugh. i am using acid 7.0 for this...he actually told my uncle to buy this for me for christmas and this is prob why haha. but i can't figure it out. i'm super frustrated. i see soft synth thingy but no option to use my own samples...none will load with the soft synth. this makes no sence!! haha thanks so much so far ed...i'm going to see how to change the sounds that is my biggest hurdle...i figured out which go on which channel but gosh...just won't let me change the sound out!!

i'm not upset with you by the way...you helped me get started out. and i apericate it. was just venting my frustration with the sound issue.

i want to add X sound in 1 channel of the midi song and there is no option...and i tryed to even edit that sound with the EQ and there is no option. humm

Need to know what application you are using. Is it acid pro?

Sony Acid Music Studio 7.0 thanks if you can help...i've looked up tutorials and nothing really...and also the program has a helper tool that has demos on screen to show how to use things...all it shows me, is how to load and work with the midi file and notes. but nothing on how to change the sample to make it more real sounding.

i might just be acting like a cave woman...trying to force-fit a square peg into a round hole. midi no work! me need instrument! you work for ginnger! raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa uga buga

GinjaBug wrote:Sony Acid Music Studio 7.0 thanks if you can help...i've looked up tutorials and nothing really...and also the program has a helper tool that has demos on screen to show how to use things...all it shows me, is how to load and work with the midi file and notes. but nothing on how to change the sample to make it more real sounding.

Don't know that I can be of much help with Sony Acid Music Studio. Are you trying to use the soft synth? I have only one idea at the moment and that is to open a track with an instrument you like, copy one of the midi tracks and paste it in there. If that doesn't do anything, I've got nothing at the moment. But I'll "think" on it. I have an earlier version of that program I never use. I'll fire it up and see what happens when I try.

Ed

thank you, ed...you have helped me get started. and didn't even think to copy the notes over to a new channel...i'll try that.

GinjaBug wrote:thank you, ed...you have helped me get started. and didn't even think to copy the notes over to a new channel...i'll try that.

Well, I learned what I had on my computer is Sony Acid Music Studio 5.0. I didn't have any luck at all, probably didn't get as far as you did. If you are able to load the midi file and get it to play on any instrument you are ahead of me. If you are at that stage though, you might look for a program, I think it's called free midi (kind of like free willie only for midi lol). Anyway, it is a free midi editor. With that, you can actually edit the notes in your midi file before you import them into acid music. Not really what you were looking to do, I know, but useful if you want to change some parts around etc...

I'm hoping that you pull this off, BTW, I'd love to hear that song contemporized with your beats in it.

Ed

close to being done with a rough mix...couldn't get the midi to work for me or copy the notes over. that's strange...FL studio would have been better but i only had a demo. i want to buy it when i have enough $...it's better for programing and notation. but what i could do is save the midi tracks seprate as wav files and then drop them back in and deleted the midi tracks. so i can at least use fx and that to change the overall sound...really. i didn't want to mess allot with the notes as they are a big part of the song. just wanted to give it a fresher feel...still have work to do on it. i'll gladly e-mail you the finished product! or maybe sooner...as i'd like to know what you think and if i should smooth anything out. i want it to sound the best i can make it : )) . thanks so much for helping me and that...well i would give you a hug but there are to many states in the way hehe.

i got the bassline to sound like a jawharp...seriously and it's sooo cool haha

GinjaBug wrote:i got the bassline to sound like a jawharp...seriously and it's sooo cool haha

Good work!

thanks...i think i finished it. for now...all i need is vox and then i can do the finishing touches.

do you still have the same e mail...?

GinjaBug wrote:do you still have the same e mail...?

Appears that I do. Love the percussions you did on that! Jealous, I am

haha thanks again! well, we can call it even. i'm envious of your digeridooability haha. but that is also the reason i think you are the coolest!

he wants me now to remix 2 more songs. i'm waiting to see what they are...he better take me out for ice cream after all this work

if anyone else wants to hear pm an e-mail

sorry, wanted to ask...what is the best free software for recording vocals? it's not for me, but the person i'm working with on these songs for. i've found some, but have no experience with any of them. if any of you guys have used any...please, let me know which one is the most legit. thanks!!

is this one a good one?
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

GinjaBug wrote:sorry, wanted to ask...what is the best free software for recording vocals? it's not for me, but the person i'm working with on these songs for. i've found some, but have no experience with any of them. if any of you guys have used any...please, let me know which one is the most legit. thanks!!

is this one a good one?
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

I've heard really good things about audacity and it is frequently recommended for small, quick projects like audio books etc.... I personally use a version of sound forge which is not free, but it was relatively cheap ($39 I think). But audacity seems to have most of the features of soundforge and if I was looking for an audio editor now I would probably have went with audacity. At least worth a trial. I think it's considered the best of the free audio editors and it handles all the usual suspects, WAV, AIF, MP3.

I use audacity for enhancing and tweaking all my music (equallising, compressing and many other effects) Never recorded vocals with it though

sounds good!!

thanks

this show is going to be april 6th at 8pm/ if anyone is going to be in the chicago area...prob not, but just incase haha. i got the butterflys again...