Specific MIDI questions/problems

[midiquest]

I'm sorry if i'm repeating the questions, but i've tried looking for answers over the internet, spent about 30 hours or so trying to find an answer with no real luck. I've got a few specific questions i need answering, and would be greatful to anyone for answering them.

Questions:
I know you can pair the midi keyboard/synthesizer with the software on the computer, and play the keyboard to generate sounds from the VST (?) plugins on my computer.
- I'm assuming this sound will be through the computer speakers and not hte kayboard speakers?
1. In live music situations where this is used, how does this setup work? (assuming there's only one midi synthesizer going to the computer) Is the computer output them amplified?

2. Can i edit midi files on my computer, than send the data to be played by the keyboard (using the sounds already on the keyboard)

3. Can i program a particular keyboard key(s) to play a sound file off my computer. For eg: say i've got the .wav/.mp3 file of a child smiling which i want to play in a live music situation, to be triggered by the keyboard. Is this possible?

Thanks for reading,

[tacman7]

Everything you talked about is not only possible but easy to do.

That is, if you have the right software. You can't do anything with a keyboard and a computer if you don't have the software.

Not many want to drag a computer to a gig, some do.

You might want to look into arranger keyboards, kind of like having a computer built into the keyboard, good for playing live and creating backgrounds on the fly.

[midiquest]

Originally Posted by tacman7

Everything you talked about is not only possible but easy to do.

That is, if you have the right software. You can't do anything with a keyboard and a computer if you don't have the software.

Not many want to drag a computer to a gig, some do.

You might want to look into arranger keyboards, kind of like having a computer built into the keyboard, good for playing live and creating backgrounds on the fly.

Thanks so much for the answer,

I'm afraid that's not an option atm, i'm working off my laptop and an old MIDI keyboard i found (literally) so it will have to be software and the keyboard.
I'm just going to get one of the cheaper interfaces and get *cough* free software for now to see how it works..

Another reason i ask is, one of my favorite bands (porcupine tree) has a mindblowing keyboard player (richard barbieri) who uses a mac in live situations, i'm guessing he uses plugins along with controlling triggering of sounds edited onboard the computer.

I was wondering how the computer output is amplified, because it looks like a usual macbook pro.

[richiebee]

You need a low latency audio interface really to make it work in a live situation. This needn't cost a whole lot - in the band I used to be in, the keyboard player had a fairly old Toshiba laptop with an Edirol UA-25 audio interface. He loaded VSTi's into a rack system (not sure which he used, there are a couple out there, including free ones). The output from the audio interface goes directly into the house PA. He was also able to load other effects (he was a guitarist in the band too) that he put his guitar through. It worked (still does, I'm just not still in the band) really well and is super reliable.

Mac's have inherently lower latency than PC's in their built in soundcards, but Mac or PC, I'd look into having an external audio interface instead.

If you want a free VSTi rack host, look into Plogue Bidule. Lots of others listed here - Asseca

[midiquest]

Originally Posted by richiebee

You need a low latency audio interface really to make it work in a live situation. This needn't cost a whole lot - in the band I used to be in, the keyboard player had a fairly old Toshiba laptop with an Edirol UA-25 audio interface. He loaded VSTi's into a rack system (not sure which he used, there are a couple out there, including free ones). The output from the audio interface goes directly into the house PA. He was also able to load other effects (he was a guitarist in the band too) that he put his guitar through. It worked (still does, I'm just not still in the band) really well and is super reliable.

Mac's have inherently lower latency than PC's in their built in soundcards, but Mac or PC, I'd look into having an external audio interface instead.

If you want a free VSTi rack host, look into Plogue Bidule. Lots of others listed here - Asseca

Thanks for the info there. Answered my doubt. Since i'm only starting out, i'm getting myself a USB MIDI interface like this one here to begin with.

This along with Cakewalk should at least get me started doing all those things mentioned above, shouldn't it?

[richiebee]

The problem will be latency. If you use the internal sound card, the delay between you playing the note and hearing it will make it unusable in any situation. That's why you need the audio interface.

If you need MIDI connections to your computer, look for one with them built in. Many have them.

[midiquest]

Originally Posted by richiebee

The problem will be latency. If you use the internal sound card, the delay between you playing the note and hearing it will make it unusable in any situation. That's why you need the audio interface.

If you need MIDI connections to your computer, look for one with them built in. Many have them.

OK, i think i get your point now!
Sorry, i'd read about the usb MIDI interfaces being quite good/acceptable in terms of latency..sorry about sounding like a d*ckhead, but are you sure the usb midi interfaces out there (like the one i linked in the last post) will have a delayed response? I'm using a year old laptop, with a reasonbly new sound card

EDIT: i say that because i didn't come across anything like that in the reading i did, only people with older sound cards seemed to have the problem.

[MatsonMusicBox]

Originally Posted by midiquest

OK, i think i get your point now!
Sorry, i'd read about the usb MIDI interfaces being quite good/acceptable in terms of latency..sorry about sounding like a d*ckhead, but are you sure the usb midi interfaces out there (like the one i linked in the last post) will have a delayed response? I'm using a year old laptop, with a reasonbly new sound card

ALL signal paths have latency, it's just a mtter of how much and if it is perceptible. For playing a soft synth through a computer, it CAN get noticable. Much better off, as noted, to monitor thru the interface.

[midiquest]

Originally Posted by MatsonMusicBox

ALL signal paths have latency, it's just a mtter of how much and if it is perceptible. For playing a soft synth through a computer, it CAN get noticable. Much better off, as noted, to monitor thru the interface.

Could you point me to some audio interfaces with MIDI please? i'd like to compare prices and see if i can afford any of them.

[MatsonMusicBox]

Originally Posted by midiquest

Could you point me to some audio interfaces with MIDI please? i'd like to compare prices and see if i can afford any of them.

I have no idea of your proice range or other needs, but you can start here: Audio Interfaces | Sweetwater.com

I usually just play the sounds on the keyboard and monitor that while I'm recording MIDI - then I'm not going thru computer at all for the sound.