isabel95 Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 I am a total dunce about computer audio.I can save the music I play as a midi file, but when it's played back through my computer the sounds depend on the sounds I have on my sound card.Does anyone know how I can convert the midi performance I save to a floppy from my keyboard (A Fantom) into something that will have pleasing sounds..and sometime I can turn into mp3?Is there any SIMPLE software I can use. I have dabbled with Cakewalk in the past and other confusing programs and am very intimidated by the whole process, but I want to use royalty free music and if I can compose and perform my own, why not?Isabel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alrobin Posted January 14, 2004 Report Share Posted January 14, 2004 Hi, Isabel,Glad to see you are back at it - you said you never give up! (see HERE).Does your keyboard have a line output so you can play the sounds from it through your stereo system? If so, then you can also connect the line out from the stereo's amplifier to the line in of your sound card, and record the sounds directly as .wav files which can then be converted to .mp3 for slide show use. If your keyboard playing is not up to scratch (my problem), you can "record" your playing in MIDI form, touch it up in a sequencer such as Cakewalk, and then play it back from your computer through the keyboard and stereo combination, and from there into the sound card line input as in the previous paragraph. In this way you will be able to use the computer for your editing, and still have the benefit of the better-sounding music from the keyboard.If you can't output to a stereo amplifier, you could buy an external sound module which has better-quality MIDI sounds than the sound card, and record the output from it through your sound card.However, some of the new sound cards have pretty good MIDI sounds, especially if played through the above-mentioned stereo amp. These better-quality sounds can also be fed back from the stereo amp into the sound card line input for recording as .wav files.Please let me know if you need any more details.Corrections: see revised post below.Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isabel95 Posted January 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2004 Hi, Isabel,Glad to see you are back at it - you said you never give up! (see HERE).Does your keyboard have a line output so you can play the sounds from it through your stereo system? If so, then you can also connect the line out from the stereo's amplifier to the line in of your sound card, and record the sounds directly as .wav files which can then be converted to .mp3 for slide show use. If your keyboard playing is not up to scratch (my problem), you can "record" your playing in MIDI form, touch it up in a sequencer such as Cakewalk, and then play it back from your computer through the keyboard and stereo combination, and from there into the sound card line input as in the previous paragraph. In this way you will be able to use the computer for your editing, and still have the benefit of the better-sounding music from the keyboard.If you can't output to a stereo amplifier, you could buy an external sound module which has better-quality MIDI sounds than the sound card, and record the output from it through your sound card.However, some of the new sound cards have pretty good MIDI sounds, especially if played through the above-mentioned stereo amp. These better-quality sounds can also be fed back from the stereo amp into the sound card line input for recording as .wav files.Please let me know if you need any more details.Good luck! Hurray...you've found a solution for me. My keyboard used to be downstairs with the sound system, where I spend little time since I'm separated from my dog and cat...and I miss them...so I brought it back upstairs near me and I can sit at it any time without fear of separation! Now it seems I'll have to bring it back downstairs to record...Arghhhhhh! I guess I have to think of a theme for a new show and get the pictures ready so I can get to work making some music!I just got a Turtle Beach Santa Fe card...not the latest and greatest, but my soundcard in my previous computer was a Turtle Beach and it had much better sounds than the basic Blaster that Dell put into this machine.I'm printing out your reply for further study. I'm exciting about getting started on this project!I think I'd better do a LOT OF PRACTICING...I really don't want to get involved with editing!Thanks for the input...I have a feeling I'll be picking your brain soon.Isabel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alrobin Posted January 14, 2004 Report Share Posted January 14, 2004 Hi, Isabel,Just a few corrections to what I gave you - I was getting a bit confused with my own setup, which has a mixer in the lineup. In all cases, you should input directly to the sound card, not through the amplifier. You should be able to monitor the recording either via speakers or headphones from the output of the sound card.Does your keyboard have a line output so you can play the sounds from it through your stereo system? If so, then you can also connect the line out from the stereo's amplifier to the line in of your sound card, and record the sounds directly as .wav files which can then be converted to .mp3 for slide show use. I should have said in para. 2: "... connect the line out from the keyboard to the line in of your sound card, ..."Also, in para. 3: ...play it back from your computer through the keyboard and stereo combination, and from there into the sound card line input as in the previous paragraph.I should have said: "... play it back from your computer through the keyboard and then directly into the sound card line input ...."And, in para. 5:These better-quality sounds can also be fed back from the stereo amp into the sound card line input for recording as .wav files.This should read: "You should be able to run the sequencer program in your pc, and record via a sound editor such as "Audacity" or "Cool Edit" or "Audition" at the same time, thus capturing the sound from the sequencer directly, via the sound card."Hope I haven't confused you too much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isabel95 Posted January 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2004 Al, connecting the keyboard directly to the line-in sounds infinitely easier than having to move the keyboard downstairs. Thanks for the heads up. Is there any reason why I can keep the cables attached in the back of the computer, unattached? It's quite awkward getting back there amongst all the wires and I'd rather just leave them in.Isabel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alrobin Posted January 14, 2004 Report Share Posted January 14, 2004 Isabel,No, there's no reason why you can't leave them dangling.I have so many wires connected to mine that I'm sure some of them are not in use. I leave my pc beside my desk, all exposed, just so I can get at it to make wiring adjustments. Why they insist on putting all the connections at the back is a mystery to me.Also, I should have mentioned that the connection from the keyboard to the sound card must be a line-type input. You can't connect the MIDI output from the keyboard to transmit the "good-quality" sounds to the sound card. It has to be the same type of connection that you would use if you were connecting your keyboard to an audio amplifier. The actual cable used will likely be different, however, as you will need one with a miniature "stereo" plug on one end (for the sound card) instead of the normal "RCA" plugs you would use for the amp. You can also get adapters to convert from one type of connection to another. They have all this stuff at Radio Shack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isabel95 Posted January 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 Isabel,No, there's no reason why you can't leave them dangling.I have so many wires connected to mine that I'm sure some of them are not in use. I leave my pc beside my desk, all exposed, just so I can get at it to make wiring adjustments. Why they insist on putting all the connections at the back is a mystery to me.Also, I should have mentioned that the connection from the keyboard to the sound card must be a line-type input. You can't connect the MIDI output from the keyboard to transmit the "good-quality" sounds to the sound card. It has to be the same type of connection that you would use if you were connecting your keyboard to an audio amplifier. The actual cable used will likely be different, however, as you will need one with a miniature "stereo" plug on one end (for the sound card) instead of the normal "RCA" plugs you would use for the amp. You can also get adapters to convert from one type of connection to another. They have all this stuff at Radio Shack. Thanks, Al...I do have the cables because I use them to connect my Peavey speakers to the keyboard. I have a neat set of speakers that attach to a portable amplifier. The whole thing is on wheels but weighs a ton...definitely not for a "lady" to pick up! I'm assuming these are the cables I would use...correct me if I'm wrong!Isabel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alrobin Posted January 16, 2004 Report Share Posted January 16, 2004 Hi, Isabel,I'm not sure that you should use the same connection arrangement for your sound card as you do for the speakers. Look for a separate "line" output from the amplifier, the same as you would use if you were connecting it to the "auxiliary" input of a stereo amplifier. If you don't have such a connection, then I would suggest connecting the cable, which connects the keyboard to the portable amp, to the line input of the sound card rather than using the cables which connect to the speakers.What make and model is your keyboard?You'll probably have to experiment with different arrangements, but make sure your volume is turned way down before making any new connections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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