Old timer - new technology - HELP

[Nigel45]

Good Day Folks

I’m new on the forum, and need some urgent advice:

As a musician I used to work with midi files as backing tracks using a very early version of Cakewalk as a simple means to edit. I would then save to a floppy disk and use a Roland SD35 midi player for live stage playback. Fine, but this was some years back, and now things have changed.

I now have a few hundred midi files that were mapped for Roland Sound Canvas, which I believe is no longer used much because the instrument sounds have improved on more recent software – so I’m told.

The dilemma: I am starting a new project with another musician, and we need to resurrect these midi files. I need:
1) A software program that will edit midi files down to individual instruments and effects.
2) That will recognize the current Roland Sound Canvas mapping so I don’t have to spend an hour on each song to re-map.
3) That will also allow for simple home recording, able to export to MP3 / WAV and to burn onto CD, and thus to have a CD to use as my new backing material.
4) Also, what hardware / interface I need for this simple home recording set up.

Please be gentle – I am not a recording engineer, so I know diddly squat. Simplicity but powerful will be the key, and I’m not aiming at becoming a commercial recording studio.

[brandondrury]

1) A software program that will edit midi files down to individual instruments and effects.

I'm confident that most "good" recording software can do split up MIDI tracks by channels. I'm confident Cubase can do it, but I've never done it. You may want to post in the Cubase forum and ask if anyone has done it. I know someone posted about this recently and someone explained how to do it.

2) That will recognize the current Roland Sound Canvas mapping so I don’t have to spend an hour on each song to re-map.

Maps should be easily downloadable. I would do a search for your Roland Sound Canvas thingy to make sure they have one to work with whatever recording software you are leaning towards.

It needs to be said that I've never seen a soft synth that used General MIDI. Preset #27 is always the same instrument on all do-it-all synths it just may have a different sound the synth next to it. With the software stuff, I've never seen a do it all synth. Instead they may have a VST instrument that simulates an old Prophet or an old B3. Some people used to General MIDI have a hard time switching to the more free for all method.

3) That will also allow for simple home recording, able to export to MP3 / WAV and to burn onto CD, and thus to have a CD to use as my new backing material.

All recording software I've ever seen has been simple once you have taken the time to learn it.

4) Also, what hardware / interface I need for this simple home recording set up.

Check out the Home Recording Soundcard Wizard. Go through the Beginner section. It'll take care of everything.

Brandon