MIDI to CD methods

[IBNezz]

I've read several post that go through some of the steps to export MIDI out, and I have done some of these but I'm not getting catching on . The overall goal is to put the audio from MIDI playback onto a CD. However, I'm missing the connection on turning MIDI into an audio file.

Lets say I have a MIDI track in Cubase LE 4. I can play this through my Presonus FP10, and out through my stereo receiver fine. Would I simply mic the speaker(s) and record the audio back into Cubase while it's playing? This seems reasonable...but "unsophisticated"

Of related note: I did export MIDI files out, and was actually able to play them through Windows Media Player (somehow it plays MIDI)! However, the raw MIDI file won't play on a CD (becaue I tried it)!

Right now I only have MIDI from my MIDI piano to the FP10, with no return MIDI cable. What's the best way to do this?

[drago]

What you want to do is set the output of the MIDI tracks to a bus and then set the inputs of some audio tracks to the same bus and record them. Voila!

[maestoso]

raw MIDI file won't play on a CD

midi is info not audio. try file/export/audiomixdown

also do you have a vst instrument playing back your midi?

i use it alot, such as ezdrummer and i have no problems with playback.
hope this helps!

[IBNezz]

Sounds great:

Output of MIDI buss = input buss to audio track.

So this will apparently change the file format from MIDI to an audio track (such as .wav)? This sound simple, and I'll give that a try!

Also, I previously tried export/audiomixdown. I got a .wav file and it would "play" on windows media player, but no sound ever came out. In other words, I could see the file name, and the file would play with the moving scroll button moving across the bottom, but no sound. Then I read in the Cubase LE 4 manual, that audiomixdown is ONLY for audio files, and could not be used for MIDI. It explained that the MIDI data had to be output to an audio file (which is where my confusion started )

Finally, yes, I am using vst instruments. So, I'll give the buss setup method a try, and will let you all know how it worked out.

Final question: If the audio output is a .wav file, is the a recognized file type that is playable on CD players?

Thanks again for your help.

[drago]

The file format it is recorded ot depends on how you have your session set up, which is most likely .wav

Once you have the outpt f the MIDI printed as audio tracks, you can bounce the session like normal and burn it to a CD.

[brandondrury]

The overall goal is to put the audio from MIDI playback onto a CD.

Okay, it needs to re-said (it's more or less been stated already) that exporting MIDI is means you have exported a MIDI track. You want to export the audio output from your synths and samples. That's entirely different.

Lets say I have a MIDI track in Cubase LE 4. I can play this through my Presonus FP10, and out through my stereo receiver fine. Would I simply mic the speaker(s) and record the audio back into Cubase while it's playing? This seems reasonable...but "unsophisticated"

If you were to play a MIDI track out of your Presonus FP10 it would have to go out the MIDI port and trigger an external synth or sampler. You won't be able to hear MIDI out of the FP10 because there is nothing to hear with MIDI by itself.

You mean that you have triggered X synth/sample and sending that audio out the stereo bus of your FP10, right?

The X factor here is what synth / sample are you triggering? Press F11 and you should see all the synths you have loaded. If you are triggering the Windows Wavtable synth, DON'T! It's the same as using an external synth...sorta. You'd have to record that back in through your audio interface (like you mentioned). If you were to use virtual instruments within Cubase, it's as simple as rendering them.

Brandon

[IBNezz]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

If you were to play a MIDI track out of your Presonus FP10 it would have to go out the MIDI port and trigger an external synth or sampler. You won't be able to hear MIDI out of the FP10 because there is nothing to hear with MIDI by itself.

Brandon

So, it sounds like there are two options for creating audio with MIDI: 1) with software synth/samplers or 2) with external hardware synth/sampler? If true, then I'm using the software version to generate audio.

Originally Posted by brandondrury

You mean that you have triggered X synth/sample and sending that audio out the stereo bus of your FP10, right? Yes!

The X factor here is what synth / sample are you triggering? Press F11 and you should see all the synths you have loaded. If you are triggering the Windows Wavtable synth, DON'T! It's the same as using an external synth...sorta. You'd have to record that back in through your audio interface (like you mentioned). If you were to use virtual instruments within Cubase, it's as simple as rendering them.

Brandon

Yes regarding the Windows Wavtable synth.

So, I'm working to get past this particular nuance and actually using VST's. Basically, I've found a way, based on comments here, and some reading, where I can create an audio track from the MIDI. Since I already had MIDI data "recorded" (for a bunch of songs), I can just go into any given song (session?), and create an instrument track. Then I copy the MIDI data down to the instrument track, select a VST, and it creates the Audio. It works!


I did read that I could have initially set up an instrument track, and recorded the MIDI straight into that track, and it would generate the audio - but I did the extra step since I already had the MIDI. This may be a perverse way of doing this, but I'll do it right next time!

[drago]

The way I explained is how recording MIDI sound is typically done.

[IBNezz]

Hello again. I humbly return to the forum and seek clarification. Been reading through Cubase manuals, reading forums, but am still feeling "stoopid".

First, question: should I have some additional VSTi available as output on the MIDI track? In the inspector, the output routing has (3) items: 1) "not connected", 2) Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth 3) FP # xxxxxx Midi out.

As indicated below, it's a bad idea to use #2, but I don't have any other VSTi's or Synths, or whatever, and I get no screen popup onfo when I hit the F11 key.

Originally Posted by brandondrury

The X factor here is what synth / sample are you triggering? Press F11 and you should see all the synths you have loaded. If you are triggering the Windows Wavtable synth, DON'T! It's the same as using an external synth...sorta. You'd have to record that back in through your audio interface (like you mentioned). If you were to use virtual instruments within Cubase, it's as simple as rendering them.

Brandon

As mentioned in my original post, I have no Midi out of the interface back to my digital piano Midi in. It's my understanding that you often will have Midi out of the sequencer (computer) back to the synth (my piano). However, I would like to just use the piano to input MIDI data, then use an internal (software) synth. Is this a problem, and am I missing something?

[richiebee]

When you load VST instruments into the VST rack is when they'll appear in your midi tracks as available outputs.

What you're missing is VST instruments... once you figure that bit out, you'll be good to go. Open the VST rack - as Brandon mentioned, if your shortcuts are the standard ones, F11 will open it. Click the dropdown in one of the rack spaces to load a VST instrument. Configure if you wish, and then return to your MIDI track. You'll find the instrument available as an output.