Subject:Excuse me for butting in but I still haven't gotten an answer

Posted by: roofy

Date:12/31/2002 1:17:12 AM

Ok,
maybe it's me, and I know that a lot of you are complaing that you want to get rid of Cakewalk. However, even if it is the worse program out their, I still like to know would that resolve my answer. And if Cakewalk is something that you really despise of and wouldn't recomend it to someone, don't ignore the person by not replying to them. Atleast tell them if that is correct or not, and if it makes you feel better then also metion that you wouldn't reccomend it and if you know of other programs than metion other programs that are out there.

I really don't understand this new technolgy. I am use to doing it the old fashion way where you plugged your midi wires to the joystick port of your sound card.

So if someone can help me here, I like to know how do I send data from my keyboard and record it to my computer with usb midi support. Is it correct that I can use Cakewalk, and please, even if you don't like using Cakewalk just atleast tell me if I am correct. I'll make that decission if Cakewalk sucks.

I ask this becuase the information of where I got this that the person was asking was not even talking about keyboards though still it had to do with using midi and from what I understand is that SoundForge does not midi as of yet. Also keep in mind I also have ScreenBlast Acid 2.0 and a trial version of Acid DJ. From what I was reading what Acid DJ does it says that you can create your own loops, and that is all I am tring to do. Which I have created a loop on my keyboard and then recorded it onto my keyboard's memory bank. Now all I need to do is send that data to my computer. If it is such a problem that it is really not the best solution to use Cakewalk, then can I use Acid DJ or if you know of other program that can record with USB midi support?

Subject:RE: Excuse me for butting in but I still haven't gotten an answer

Reply by: specktron

Date:12/31/2002 10:39:20 AM

Yes you can use cakewalk to record the midi tracks. What is the problem? It shouldn't be much different than plugging into the joystick port.

Subject:RE: Excuse me for butting in but I still haven't gotten an answer

Reply by: Rednroll

Date:12/31/2002 11:03:40 AM

The point you're missing is that you need a "midi interface" that connects to the USB port. Just like you needed one of those Joystick port to Midi jack connectors connected to your soundcard, when you did it in the "old days". There is a variety of midi interfaces out there. The joystick connection limited you to 1 midi port, therefore 16 midi channels, therefore 128 notes per channel or 1 instrument per channel or a max of 16 tracks....of course taking into acount all your drums could be run on 1 midi channel. Midi interfaces on a USB connection can give you 8in/8 out worth of midi ports....therefore 8x16=128 midi channels....a little more than the 16 you got with the joystick port.

Subject:RE: Excuse me for butting in but I still haven't gotten an answer

Reply by: roofy

Date:12/31/2002 7:45:36 PM

Specktron,
The problem is I don't understand the new technology. What I ment by "in the old days", was I ment all you needed to do is connect the midi jacks to the sound card and as long as you had Windows 95/98 you can transfer data from the keyboard to your computer with no additional sound recording software (like Cakewalk as an example). It was as simple as just running Windows sound recorder. And my original first question was why do I here nothing when I transfer my keyboards data to Sound Forge. The answer I got to that was that Sound Forge does not support midi recording, and you will need additional software. However I was not told what software I could use. So I was not sure of if Cakewalk is what I needed, and I do not understand what makes Cakewalk so special.

Subject:RE: Excuse me for butting in but I still haven't gotten an answer

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:1/1/2003 10:30:06 AM

Just about any version of Cakewalk software has MIDI support of some sort. Home Studio 2002 or Home Studio XL will do the job of MIDI recording for you just fine.

Personally, I like Cakewalk's software...to a point. I happen to like digital audio better than MIDI, so SoFo's line of software was a better fit for me.

HTH,
Iacobus

Subject:Don't mean to be a pain, but one more question, and Many Thanks

Reply by: roofy

Date:1/1/2003 8:39:02 PM

First I like to thank you all who helped. Second I have one more question. my question is what type of software is Cakewalk. Is it considered a midi-sequencer? The reason why I ask this, is because if I ever decide to try something else or decide to buy something else at my local store, I don't want to look like an idot when I ask a sales rep what I want to buy.

Subject:RE: Don't mean to be a pain, but one more question, and Many Thanks

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:1/1/2003 10:25:31 PM

Most Cakewalk products are considered MIDI sequencers (including Home Studio).

Something like ACID is a loop-based music creation tool (generally a digital audio sequencer for loops, including the ability to loop MIDI).

Sound Forge is a digital audio editor. (In my opinion, highly essential to those using a MIDI sequencer and/or digital audio sequencer.)

Vegas is a multitracker app for both digital audio and digital video. (No MIDI involved.)

One caveat: Do your best and keep yourself impartial to whatever the sales rep suggests. More than likely, he/she will suggest something he/she likes, which means that you may not.

HTH,
Iacobus