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I'm about to order a new midi keyboard, i'm an experienced player but i've never tried midi before. the keyboard has 8 drum pad buttons, 4 assignable buttons, a pitch wheel, mod wheel, and 4 assignable knobs. What I want to be able to do is basically use midi to have unlimited sounds and some cool customization. I want to use one knob for volume, then the rest for bass treble and middle. I would like to use the buttons for a quick: record stop playback and reset function, and maybe switch 2 of the drumpad buttons to a cc to make them switch sounds. then maybe use 2 more drumpads, and each one would apply a different affect or distortion. then use the remaining 4 as normal drumpads.
is this possible?
how would i go about doing this?
has anyone done something similiar?
and finally, is any of this never been done before?
Posted : 01/11/2017 5:55 pm
I just joined this forum...
Have you gotten anywhere with your request? The easy way for you do accomplish what you are trying to do is to get an inexpensive (read used) Macbook pro, or even a vintage (prior to 2013) mac pro. I picked a mac pro 2009 up from Ebay with dual quad core processors, lots of HD space and plenty of ram for under $400. I have several hundred DAT tapes I am trying to curate. However, even a machine like this will do everything you are trying to do and more. Then, you will want a DAW that has lots of virtual instruments in it. Logic would be a great choice. Then, should you want to create your own compositions, you will already have the DAW ready to go. However, if you are simply after creating sounds in real time live, this will work fine for you.
You may have a latency issue. You can optimize your machine. Learn how to do so by googling optimization hacks to streamline the operation of your machine. BTW - you can do the same with a windows DAW - just make sure it comes with the virtual instruments you want to use.
You can always obtain more virtual instruments - many are free downloads.
Good luck!
Posted : 24/12/2017 2:39 pm
BTW - you will want a MIDI interface for your keyboard - unless you have a USB connector on the back of it - in which case you can connect directly without a midi interface - the USB port acts as the interface.
With MAC and many windows machines, you can use the internal audio hardware as the audio interface in order to be able to get the sounds out of the DAW, until and unless you want to purchase a good quality audio interface.
Again,
Good luck!
Posted : 24/12/2017 2:41 pm
Not at all sure what you're thinking of here.
You refer to the 'new keyboard' only. In which case I'm not sure that midi can do anything for you at all, and certainly none of the things you mention. The keyboard will do what it can do directly, and the link between keys or buttons pressed and sounds made could well not involve midi at all. If the keyboard you get includes some sort of 'sequencer' that in effect records and then plays back stored (recorded) data, this data may include (or be all) midi based and then midi COULD be relevant, but you don't say anything about this possibility.
As Steve above says, if you bring a computer, and software on the computer, into the setup, then all sorts of things become possible as midi data moves bewteen the keyboard, the computer and the software, whereupon you will be able to apply various levels of manipulation. You could, for example, use the various controls (keys, and buttons) on the keyboard to create sounds generated by the software on the computer, or you could use the software to create original sounds back on the keyboard via midi (and SYSEX) manipulation
However, the keyboard can still do only what it's capable of doing, and the computer/software likewise, while your original message suggests you are hoping to find 'unlimited sounds and cool customisation' from - well, from where?,
Geoff
Posted : 24/12/2017 5:34 pm
