All of these things have a half-dozen inputs and outputs, including a MIDI connection -- whatever that may be -- which I'm told is for recording into a computer. How does this work? Can you rig up a mike to record vocals along with it?

The PC I have is a Hewlett Packard Pavilion, which does not seem to have a MIDI connection, but does have a quarter-inch input for an external mike. Will a keyboard work through this sort of computer? Do I need additional hardware or software?

All I want to do is make simple one-voice/keyboard demos that I can use as a sort of musical notebook. Would it be less trouble just to wire everything into a small tape or digital recorder?

Thirty years ago I was a pretty good hand with analog recording and PA gear, but it seems the world has changed in a big way.

Help!

Tony

It is a simple matter to connect up.

But then you need a software programme such as Cakewalk for instance in order to record your music to the computer.

Just check your soundcard connection.You can probably get a cable from your local computer store.

Tony - What city are you located in? Perhaps, I can give you a reference to a shop that specializes in modern electronic musical devices. A good salesman and telephone support during instalation are helpful the first time around. A good shop in one city knows others throughout the nation - for backup of "on-the-road-disasters.

One of my greatest original concerns was a connecting cable long enough (12 ft in my instance)to work around the given space.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Cakewalk is a programme which gives you the facility to record, edit, your recording and you can also notate a musical score and add words etc. I believe that you can upload your smart card and save the contents as a wave file? You don't need a Cakewalk programme to do that. (There are other software programmes on the market by the way!)

They permit you to lay down track over track - re-create the acoustics of Carnegie Hall or the Grand Ol Opera or an intimate living room. You can edit out noises and pops and hisses.... And most importantly, to align the tracks precisely. i.e. you sang a perfect track at a 110 tempo but you acompanied it at 120, you can align the two and keep them in correct pitch.

For CD burning and WAV/MP3 conversion - Nero Burning has them all beat (for the moment) -

Your Humble Servant
Gargoyle

For an explanation on MIDI go to MIDI Organization
Question 2 - No, you can't quite do that.

> The PC I have is a Hewlett Packard Pavilion, which does not seem to
> have a MIDI connection, but does have a quarter-inch input for an
> external mike. Will a keyboard work through this sort of computer? Do
> I need additional hardware or software?

Strange that it would have a Quarter-inch input. - No, a keyboard probably wouldn't work through this. If it is for a mic, it would be swamped by the line-out of a keyboard. For the MIDI port, you would probably need something to be plugged into the sound card to accept it.

> All I want to do is make simple one-voice/keyboard demos that I can
> use as a sort of musical notebook. Would it be less trouble just to
> wire everything into a small tape or digital recorder?

Perhaps. Your keyboard, if it has a speaker on it, could be the music, and you singing into the microphone of the recorder might be able pick up the sound of the keyboard.

LOL, Tony

Neither I like this 21st century.. Un abrazo - Andrés

This keyboard plugs into a Soundblaster soundcard, which has its own drivers. This means that you (or a serviceman) opens your computer, rams a card into a slot, closes the computer and puts some software on from CD or even some floppies. Then the cord from the keyboard plugs into the part of the soundcard that sticks out of your computer case.

In time, I bought Noteworthy Composer software to compose and arrange with. It cost $30. Noteworthy is pretty popular with Mudcatters.

I have been having fun (more or less) ever since.

My guess is they've got nice little four- or eight-track coffee table DAT machines, or direct-to-drive infinity-channel machines, and don't screw around with all this make-one-home-PC-work-for-everything garbage.

Would this be a better way to go? Again, I just want an electronic notebook that I can play and sing into by wire or by microphone -- kind of a musical diary.

All this MIDI stuff sounds REALLY confusing, and -- reading between the lines -- like the technology isn't really there yet.

Love to you all, Tony

Tony - MIDI is over 15 years old....and was orinally an "Apple" thing. The technology is "there" and way beyond your imagination.....i.e. how about a "directional" single microphone that covers the entire stage but only clues in on a single voice wherever it moves....no need for radio mics anymore?

In the simplist of ways with the new technology, you will be having original WAV CD's that can play on ANYONE'S player, in their home, in their car etc.

For the "musical diary" you desire - why not use a small simple pocket cassett player?

It is obvious you lack the patience to work through the computer processes on your own. Check with your local univeristy - put an eight dollar advertisment in their newspaper and have a college kid tutor you in the basics.

When play becomes "work" the joy is gone.p>

Sincerely
Gargoyle

Calm, soothing and wise words.

Thanks, Tony

There are now two ways to get a new song down. You can record yourself singing it (or playing it on an instrument.) That is simple. I guess there is a lot of rock music out there which exists only in recorded form.

But if you want to produce a written copy, with a musical staff, with notes, and with lyrics that look professional, then MIDI teamed with music software is what you need.