Hello there! Questions about playing MIDI with samplers.

[dopple]

Hello everyone. I'm a pianist with a MIDI keyboard, and I've got some recordings (in .mid) that I'd like to convert to .wav or .mp3 and have it sound as close as possible to a real piano (not using the built in crap that came with my computer and Windows!). I know it's expensive, but how about for now, let's assume that money is not an issue here.

I did find this page that said I could use a sampler. Midi Recording

It says, "The main purpose of the sampler is to load the libraries from the harddrive into RAM, and route these sounds through the virtual midi port used by the sequencer of our choice. The program has the capability of automatically recording the midi file into a WAV file in realtime as it plays, and this is the correct way to record a midi file."

So, apparently, you can use a sequencer to send a signal to a software sampler (such as Kontakt) with a sound library, and have it played using the samples. However, can you export these to .wav or .mp3 format somehow? I got the demo version of Kontakt, but I was infinitely confused - I can't find any function for saving/recording/exporting anything that goes through the sampler.

I'm sure it must be possible, because I was looking on the Bardstown Bosendorfer website (yes, I know, another expensive choice) and they have a lot of mp3s of music played using their audio samples.

Also, what sequencer would you recommend? The page says that Finale or Sibelius is best, but I'm not really looking for something fancy that maps out notes, since I already have them written or in books.

Thanks a lot in advance!

[brandondrury]

However, can you export these to .wav or .mp3 format somehow?

Yes. As a matter of fact, I've got a piano player who is late right now who we'll be routing his MIDI files into Kontakt for a tune we are recording. I've never used Kontakt in standalone mode, but I know it has one. I just use it in Cubase SX3. When I like what I have I render it down.

The page says that Finale or Sibelius is best, but I'm not really looking for something fancy that maps out notes, since I already have them written or in books.

Those are really good for composing, but they are not so good for actual recording. I'm big on Cubase, but there are many great options out there. Sonar, Digital Performer, and Logic all come to mind.

Brandon