Midi & BIAB ??

Richard Tipple · From: Ohio, USA

I was wondering about using MIDI with my BIAB. I know zilch !! about a MIDI Controler keyboard Sad

Can someone give me a little info on what the MIDI controller will do ?

From what Ive read,,I could for example: play the keyboards in BIAB with the Midi Controller ??
and the same for the Bass & drums ???
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Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Normally you would not use a MIDI controller keyboard with BIAB, because BIAB generates its own MIDI messages to create sound from synths. The synths can be either in the computer, i.e. software synths (such as Roland Sound Canvas), or external MIDI sound modules that you may hook up to the computer. Most people just use internal sounds, and sing along or play along on a non-MIDI instrument such as steel guitar.

You could use a MIDI keyboard to record additional parts such as a melody into BIAB.

Ellis Miller · From: Cortez, Colorado, USA

I use MIDI and have used BIAB. I used BIAB to generate the tracks which played back through my MIDI device. Most computers will play MIDI files so you don't need anything special for playback.

One of the cool things about BIAB is you don't need a MIDI controller to program it. If you do have a MIDI controller, you can edit the BIAB tracks.

I prefer to program my MIDI files from scratch, but BIAB is a lot quicker and simpler.
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Walter Killam · From: Nebraska, USA

Hi Richard,

One of the things that was confusing to me was the concept of what midi is -- Musical Instrument Digital Interface is protocol that describes musical performance in a language common to midi capable devices.

So -- when you record a song via midi, your computer\sequencer doesn't record what you played, instead it records HOW YOU PLAYED IT. It records what key you pressed, how hard you pressed it, how long you held it down . . ..

BIAB substitutes as a smart keyboard\midi controller, and if you are comfortable with the songs/midi files that it generates, then you may never need a keyboard/midi controller. The way I have used BIAB in the past is to hammer out a 3-4 instrument arrangement of a song, and then save out as a midi file, so I can open the file in sequencer software (I used to use Power Tracks, it came with BIAB at the time) and then use my keyboard controller, or drumkat to add some additional insruments to the mix, or add in some additional drum tracks to make the song less sterile.

BIAB as a stand alone product is a really fast way to knock out demos for your band to listen to and get an idea of how a song should progress, I find the final BIAB product to be a little bland which is why I tweak the files in a sequecer if I am planning on playing the song in public.

With a keyboard controller you can play any of the sounds that are available on the keyboard, or sound module you might connect to via midi cable. To answer your question (I think) you can play bass, drums, piano, organ, whatever instruments are available on your sound module/keyboard. As a heads up I find it difficult to play drums on the keyboard which is why I picked up the drumkat.

You would probably not use a controller to create songs in BIAB, since the primary use of BIAB is to create songs without having to play them on a controller.

What is your ultimate goal? performance? recording? practice? all of the above?

let me know if this makes sense!

Walter

Richard Tipple · From: Ohio, USA

Thanks guys Smile

Walter, that makes sence to me, I really was wanting to add a little extra to some of the BIAB tracks I make. For example, add some strings or whatever, by playing them through a midi keyboard controller. Ive tried to play, for example,,strings to a track while recording BIAB to my hard drive recorder,,by using the mouse & BIAB strings Sad

very hard to do on uptempo tracks, trying to play the piano in BIABs piano window with a mouse Whoa!

I know I could simply let BIAB play the strings or piano on a track,, but I find there are many times BIABs playing dosent quite fit what Im looking for and to edit every piano note or strings move ,is just too time consuming for me to do.

So do ya think a MIDI controller would be the way to go ??Thanks
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Walter Killam · From: Nebraska, USA

Hi Richard,

The short answer is Yes you will need some sort of controller for what you are talking about.

The question that I can't answer is whether current versions of BIAB can accept input, you may need to save the file as midi, and open it in a sequencer to add additional tracks, I mentioned Power Tracks earlier, but I have also used Cakewalk, and other sequencing software to capture additional tracks.

There are quite a few BIAB gurus around here that can tell you if your version of BIAB supports additional external tracks, I am using a REALLY OLD version running on a DOS/Windows 3.11 machine.

Hopefully, someone who is conversant with current BIAB abilities will chime in with an opinion.

Walter

Richard Tipple · From: Ohio, USA

Thanks Walter,, I have the latest version 2000.8
Thanks again Smile

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