Tracktion Software

wood_shedder · Post by **wood_shedder** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:20 pm

Alrighty. I'm trying to dip my toes into the midi pool for the first time, and I don't quite know how to start. I don't have a MIDI synthesizer, but if I understand it correctly, my "Home recording for Musicians for Dummies" book says that you don't need a hardware MIDI synthesizer, because you can use soft-synths without hardware to record MIDI. I've read the Tracktion Quick Start Guide and the Manual, and other Tracktion info I could get my hands on, and searched the forums (so no "RTFM!" please

), but I don't see how to do a MIDI recording with the soft synths alone. I don't really have anything in mind to record with MIDI at this point, I'm just trying to educate myself, so that when the need arises, I'll be ready. So, can someone take me by the hand and show me how to get going???

(I'm using Tracktion 1.6.01 and Tascam US122).
Thanks

IIRs · Post by **IIRs** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:33 pm

To "record" MIDI you will need a device that creates it in response to your playing.. these usually take the form of a keyboard, but can also be drum pads, MIDI guitars / basses, or wind controllers. In the absence of one of these, most people will choose to "program" MIDI instead. ie: manually create and position notes in a piano-roll display using the mouse.

You should have a "3rd party" folder in your plug-in list: this contains two basic synth plugs "mda DX-10" and "mda JX-10". Insert one of these on a track, and press "G" to create a blank MIDI clip. Double-clicking the clip will expand it to show the piano-roll: if the "E-to-E" option is turned on (by the transport controls), you should be able to click the keyboard on the left of the track to preview the sound, and draw notes into the clip itself.

wood_shedder · Post by **wood_shedder** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:46 pm

Hey platinumears. That is what I needed to know. I've at least got it going now. Thanks!

IIRs · Post by **IIRs** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:52 pm

now search the database here for free VST plugs that work with your OS.. should keep you busy for a while!

semiquaver · Post by **semiquaver** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:58 pm

Note: Tracktion has the absolute most strightforward vsti implementation you will find.

pHz · Post by **pHz** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 9:11 pm

semiquaver wrote:Note: Tracktion has the absolute most strightforward vsti implementation you will find.

once you remember 'filter = plugin' anyway ...

slainte

rob

wood_shedder · Post by **wood_shedder** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:50 am

Is there anything special about the Drumatic 3 plug-in that causes it to work differently than the other soft-synths? I've gotten three different soft synths to work, but for some reason, trying to use Drumatic in the same way I'm using the others doesn't work.

Lunch Money · Post by **Lunch Money** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:41 am

Make sure you're hitting the right keys (drum maps are usually in a lower octave) and also that you have channel 10 (traditionally the 'drum' channel) active.

I haven't used drumatic, so I'm just giving generic information.

.jon · Post by **.jon** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 10:29 am

Welcome!

Drumatic is a drum synth, and they are different from "note-playing" synths- one drum sound responds to one MIDI note, usually starting with the kick on C#1. I think in Drumatic all the sounds are spread on an octave or so, starting from that middle C.

ornitholestes · Post by **ornitholestes** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:48 pm

There are also a few programs that will turn your computer keyboard into a midi music keyboard - not as good as playing a velocity-sensitive synth keyboard but pretty handy for entering midi data (especially when I've just got my laptop with me). The one I use on my Mac (OS X) is MidiKeys but there are plenty of others.

I've used this while programming sounds in a couple of soft synths but I haven't tried this with Tracktion. I'm not sure how it works with a host that uses keyboard shortcuts. Anyone tired it?

FoxV · Post by **FoxV** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:52 pm

ornitholestes wrote:There are also a few programs that will turn your computer keyboard into a midi music keyboard - not as good as playing a velocity-sensitive synth keyboard but pretty handy for entering midi data (especially when I've just got my laptop with me). The one I use on my Mac (OS X) is MidiKeys but there are plenty of others.

I've used this while programming sounds in a couple of soft synths but I haven't tried this with Tracktion. I'm not sure how it works with a host that uses keyboard shortcuts. Anyone tired it?

I've tried midikeys and it's awesome! Great tool for laptop recording sessions away from the home studio, though it can only do so much! But for what it is, very cool.

wood_shedder · Post by **wood_shedder** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:07 am

Thanks LM and pakana! Hitting the right keys fixed it fer me.

Tracktion Software

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MIDI virgin here