Effortless MIDI to REAL Sound?

weirdo · Joined: Nov 02, 2006 Posts: 2 Location: brazil

Hello.
Me and my online-friend creared a 2 member band, that's right.
I managed to get WAV files of drums and I use Drumsite to work with it, first I program the drums in Guitar Pro 5, then I convert them to real sound with drumsite. I'm the bassist and I record the bass in Acoustica Mixcraft after adding the WAV file of drums to it. Then my friend adds vocals and guitar and the song is finished.
Now this is good for simple songs, but when it comes to synth we have a problem.
I just wanted to know if there is a program out there that can convert MIDI keyboard sounds to real sounds, either grand piano ou organ or bells, etc...
That would be really good and we might get better quality songs.
Does anybody know about a software which converts MIDI to Real keyboard easily?

fonik · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:02 am Post subject:

if i understood it the right way you mean _.WAV_ files when using the term _REAL_?

MIDI only contains the information what note will be played when and how long (plus additional info, velocity, modulation etc.).
you'll get good results using a software that can play virtual instruments via MIDI (VSTi) and render the output of the VSTi to a .WAV file. almost any (semi)professional recording software should do. me, i am a registered user of Cubase and Ableton live as well and they both do the job. in case you want to buy a new firewire or USB audio I/O for your computer look for m-audio product. they'll come with a softwarebundle (ableton light and reason light) that will be sufficient. you'll be able to record and mix all of your music and play it live - go ABLETON! i love it.

anyway i think this is kind of crosspost... (there are forums out there for recording, VSTi and that stuff)

cheers,
matthias

weirdo · Joined: Nov 02, 2006 Posts: 2 Location: brazil

I don't really understand much about VSTi and how it works, I thought it was effects that distort MIDI sounds in a way that comes out kinda real.

Does your program do like this:

1) Import MIDI file
2) Read MIDI file notes and select Keyboard type sound
3) Convert to WAV file

does it?

Because usually I get a program with alot of buttons and I don't know where to press =(

fonik · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:47 pm Post subject:

yes it does. a VSTi is an virtual instrument loaded into the recording software and then it can be played by a keyboard connected to the computer or by a previously recorded MIDI track. there are lots of free VSTi to download in the internet, some of awesome quality and functionality: adaptions of classic analog gear, drummachines, samplers, pianos, everything you can imagine... MIDI into the VSTi, WAV comes out!
inform yourself about recording software. it's the right thing for your purposes. i'd recommend ableton live! you can record MIDI and Audio into tracks, load VSTInstruments and Effects, mix and even play loops live at a gig by pressing keys on your labtop and, and, and...
you don't have to go for the fullversion and using free VSTi will safe you a lot of money...

cheers,
matthias