Hi there...
I never did a blog before, so this should be interesting! My name is Jim, and I used to be the keyboard specialist at a pro music store many moons ago. Back then, I was referred to as 'The MIDI Doctor' because I helped lots of musicians learn to use MIDI technology when it was in its infancy, right up to computer based products we use today. I taught seminars on MIDI sequencing, digital recording, music composition and synthesizer programming. MIDI is much more amazing than many people realize. Too many people think of MIDI as the cheesy music that comes from their computer's sound card, although even that has come a long way since the earlier days.
I always come across musicians who have music gear and computers who are mystified by their interconnection. Back in the day, it was more complicated because there were many more pieces of music gear necessary to accomplish the job that one single instrument can today. I still have about a dozen or so sound generating devices floating around my basement studio. (Maybe I'll save them for a long time and they will become valuable as antiques!!)
If anyone out there needs advice on how their keyboards, modules, drum machines, sequencers, MIDI effects, computers and any other interconnectable gear, please ask!
This is my second attempt at posting so I`ll just say that I`m looking forward to learning some stuff from you.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I am in the process of getting some recording gear up and running. I just got an E-MU 1616m module for my computer as well as an old cracked version of Logic Audio that works with windows. I also just got BFD2 and am still in the learning process on that one. After that it will just be a matter of having all these things working at the same time.....or something. I know that my set up has many midi opportunities but that`s another thing I need to figure out. I`ve used midi in the past, but all it did was give me more sound choices than my existing keyboard had.
ReplyDeleteCool Dean! I'm still a way from getting to computer based Audio/MIDI here, but I will try my best to research gear I'm not intimately familiar with and provide some feedback where I can!
DeleteHey Jim, this ia great! I think we met just before MIDI evolved. Unfortunately I never learned much about it since. Really looking forward to checking in here for some ideas! Thanks for creating this blog! - Don
ReplyDeleteHopefully, Don, if you follow this, you'll have a fairly decent understanding of how it all works...I'm sure I will miss something along the way, so if I do and you want to know about something, please ask...I'll be glad to incorporate it into this mess!!
DeleteSounds good, Jim! I remember a conversation not long ago where you mentioned "virtual piano". I guess I need to learn about MIDI oppirtunities via keyboard & computer / internet, etc.
ReplyDeleteDon, there are SO MANY great virtual instrument tools for the computer...I have some that are downright amazing. There are way more out there than I can ever own (or afford to own)but the ones I do have are pretty incredible. I just don't want to have so many great sounds and suffer from option anxiety! I'll never record anything!!
ReplyDeleteHey Jim. Very cool blog. You are the midi doctor. Hope to learn some recording tips from you.
ReplyDeleteHi Jim
ReplyDeleteNovice posting!
I have acquired some old equipment to see if I can start a bit of home recording. I have a Roland Gi-10, linked to a U-110, but when I play my Godin through its synth output, I can get sounds, but it seems hypersensitive, so that it seems overloaded...just picking the guitar up sets off a cacophony of noise! I have tried online to see if there are compatability issues, but no answers so far. Can you help? Pete