midi

[Cobalt272]

i'm looking for a MIDI keyboard and computer software to go with it but i'm not sure what to get.

I pretty much know what kind of MIDI keyboard to get, but not what software. At the moment Cakewalk Home Studio 2 (2004) XL has caught my eye. What i'm looking for is a program that can interpret the MIDI keyboard into sounds (e.g. piano, bass guitar, electric guitar, drums) so that i can write music on my computer.

There seems to be many features that these type of programs can have, but what i really want is:
- good quality sound;
- ability to interpret a MIDI keyboard and also sounds from a microphone;
- reverb/fading etc;
- ability to get different guitar effects that imitate pedals and amplifiers for distortion and stuff;
- can print out sheet music for piano, guitar and possibly drums if that is possible;
- easily createable drum loops,
- interpret touch sensetive keys on a MIDI keyboard, aftertouch and weighted/hammer/piano action keys;

So basically what i need is a pretty good piece of software, but not break my piggy bank with a vast number of features that i'll never use. I won't discard a program just because of it's excess in features though.

[phl666]

You should look at Cubasis 5 (about 60 quid). It is a cut-down (but not by much) version of a professional program called Cubase.

You should also consider the Edirol range of MIDI controller keyboards.

What is your budget?

[Cobalt272]

I have as much money as required for a good program and MIDI keyboard. Ideally the program should not cost more than �200 and the MIDI keyboard �400.

The keyboard budget is quite expensive because the one i have my eye on has 88 keys with hammer action keys...quite expensive to get.

I would also like to put emphasis on the good quality sound i put in my first post

[Tweed]

Cubase is probably your best bet. It can do all that you require, it supports high bit depth and sample rate for high sound quality. It also supports real time wav file processing. However, for some of the effects you mght have to buy some additional plug-ins.

[phl666]

You might want to consider the following:

Cubasis 5 (�60)
Midiman Keystation Pro 88 (�330)
Decent sound card (Audiophile �70 or Delta �120)

If your budget can stretch to it, the full version of Cubase is worth it as it uses the newer Cubase SX engine.

The best additional bit of software has to be Propellerheads Reason. Worth every penny.

[Tweed]

Reason is a great piece of software, but you can't send MIDI signals to external devices. You can use it with Cubase though, using the rewire software that comes with both applications.