Midi playback module

[chainsaw61]

Hi guys, I am a newbie to the forum so please excuse my misuse of proper terminlogy.

My problem is that I want to use midi files to cover the keyboard/synth parts of the songs that my band is doing live. We have already created a lot of mid files using Guitar Pro but they don't sound good as they are using the PC's sound card to generate the music. Are there hardware sequencers/modules available with good keyboard and choir sounds where I could load the midi files onto and then run directly from there. I plan to hook up the module to the PA on one channnel and send the click track to our drummer on the other.

Any advice would be helpful.

[tacman7]

There is a midi file player that you can connect to any keyboard, seems like there are a few keyboards with midi file players on them.

Many keyboards have sequencers on them, and many sound great. A file player and a rack module might be a solution.

An Akai MPC type of deal might work for you, not sure what all they do.

[garww]

I think the sounds are the big problem, but actually a computer might be the best way to go.

You suggest that the PC card is generating the sound, but is that true ? Or is it the GSWavetable ??

In MIDI, finding the sample that matches the instrument is the challenge. Electric lead guitar for example. Background instruments are easier.

You might also consider just recording the MIDI playback to .wav and playing those from a pocket MP3 player or something.

[garww]

I think the Sansa 1Gb player I just got from Amazon was $28.

[chainsaw61]

You are right, it is the GS Wavetable synth taht is generating the sounds. If we record the output and then play it back from an iPod or something it leaves us with the problem of having no click track for the drummer or am i missing something?

[garww]

No, you're not really missing anything.

You can make better GM samples available system wide with something like the TiMIDIty Player.

You can use these better GM samples in SynthFont, also.

Also the MP3/wave player is stereo, so you could dedicate one channel to the drummer.

You just have to play around a bit and see what fits your style.