MIDI tracks to 'instrument tracks' in Cubase 5

[LawrenceF]

If you have Cubase 5 here's a project example of how I use instrument tracks for cover songs that people sing over. Somebody wants to sing Whitney, I use a SMF from the net, mix it up in midi and track vocals.

Every track has it's own instance of Halion One. Every tom, every crash, etc has it's own instrument instance/audio channel. It's all Halion One. 20 instances, 13 just for the drums.

Project: http://dawsession.com/projects/saving.cpr

MP3: http://dawsession.com/projects/saml.mp3

There are no audio plugs (comps, eq's, delays, etc) or FX sends being used on any of the instrument tracks in this "midi mix". The master bus has an enhancer, eq, and a limiter, the only plugs used. No automation except the master fade.

That's it... it's all raw midi. Any verb etc you hear is coming from the instruments, not plugins.

Frankly, I don't take midi (sounds) all that seriously. It rarely sounds like real musicians. The quality of a good Karaoke CD with real players will blow away anything most people can do at home with midi for this kinda thing.

But track a good vocal with a good mic and do a real audio mix of the stems and it would make for a decent demo.