Be Gentle - I'm a Midi Virgin

[Rox]

Many many years ago (about 20!) I bought a Yamaha PSR400 keyboard. And it was the best keyboard for writing music I've ever owned. Even keyboards three times the price did not have the same ease of use. I could write a backing track from scratch in 20 minutes.

I've been looking for a replacement, and I can't find anything suitable... Whilst the PSR400 was supposed to be Midi, apparently the Midi wasn't implemented in the standard way. Consequently I never managed to get Midi working, and so was immensely put off.

However, I've now decided to bite the bullet and go down the Midi route. This is primarily because I write my own stuff, and want to make my own backing tracks in the best way I can. I figure that making backing tracks this way is non-destructive, and I can alter tracks in the future without starting from scratch.

This all sounds great, but I'm a Midi Virgin, having never been able to get the Yamaha to work.

I've got an M-Audio Axiom 61 keyboard on it's way to me (I have plenty of space for a bigger size keyboard) and am hoping that the technically minded amongst you may be able to help guide me!

I generally write rock and pop tunes, so my main requirements are to create realistic drum tracks, sometimes bass, and then pianos / organs / etc. Pretty straightforward sounds. Most of the time I play the guitar and bass myself.

I use Reaper for my recording at the moment, I find it really easy to use.

So, any help and suggestions for where I should start would be really appreciated.

[Fazer]

i dont use reaper, it may automatically recognise that the midi keyboard is plugged in (once you've installed the drivers etc) or you may have to go into the setup options and select it.

you have a decent soundcard? if you want to be recording it live into the DAW you need to have a pretty low latency, make it as low as you can for the recording, and raise it up afterwards for mixing the multi-tracks

some great freeware keyboards:
http://www.martinic.com/combof/
http://www.martinic.com/combov/
http://www.blaukraut.info/
http://www.fullbucket.de/music/deputy.html
http://www.genuinesoundware.com/?a=showproduct&b=40

[Rox]

When I'm recording I either use the Yamaha USB mixing desk I have, or the M Audio Delta 44. I don't seem to have any latency issues when recording guitar if that helps.

Mind you, I don't change the latency...?

[Lexie1]

Rox, PM sent on TGG as inbox here is full.

[maltingsaudio]

Good luck! There appears to be plenty of support on the Maudio site http://www.m-audio.com/news/en_us-142.html,

As an aside I couldn't find a drum editing grid in reaper is there one? My sequencing efforts are at least 15 years old I use a Sw1000 soundcard and XG software which is absalutely seemless with no latency on windows 98! The drum grid is brilliant!

[Rox]

Thanks for the link. Will give it a good look over. The Axiom 61 just arrived and it's a hefty bit of kit. Feels really well made and the keys are really piano-like. Will take a bit of getting used to after the light keys on the Yamaha

As for the drum editing grid, according to this link, yes there is, and they seem to love it:

http://prorecordingworkshop.lefora.c...ing-in-reaper/

However, I've not even got as far as loading the drivers, so I've not seen it myself. My music room is unheated and it's blinkin' freezing in there, so won't be trying anything until it warms up a bit!

[Rox]

Well, I've made more progress in 10 minutes than I'd previously managed in 20 years. I have at least got a sound through the computer using the Axiom...

Now will be the hard bit - how the heck do you get the Midi Controller to talk to Reaper so that play, record, etc work? And I just want to find some decent rock organs, pianos and strings. Any ideas welcome.

[Lexie1]

Can't wait to hear where this is going to take you Rox.
I can imagine you conjouring up Jon Lord style organ to go with "Run Free". Keep us posted.