|
General Computer Music Tutorial
Step-by-step tutorial on how to set-up
your computer to become a music workstation. This tutorial isn't terribly
in-depth, but it should do the job, and if it doesn't contact me via the forums.
Hardware & Software
To start, you'll need:
- A keyboard/synthesizer with MIDI
ports (don't worry about this, most keyboards have them but it's useful to
check on the box for MIDI features if you're buying, or look for two round
sockets on your keyboard (usually on the back, and should be labeled In and
Out, with MIDI somewhere around them) if you already have one.
- You'll need an Amplifier if your
keyboard does not have speakers. Just plug it into some power and the
keyboard, and test.
- MIDI cables. These plug your keyboard
into the computer and should be available from any music store that stocks
keyboards, and the large computer stores. I'd recommend that you get some
normal MIDI cables (check they don't come with anything you're buying first)
and a USB adaptor - a 1x1 is great unless you want to plug more than one
instrument in at the same time, which is not covered in this tutorial, as I
haven't done it) so that you save the hassle of finding the right sockets
round the back of your computer. This also gives added length to the cables
meaning you don't have to move the keyboard every time you want to plug it
in, and integrates well with software. If you do not buy a USB adaptor (NOT
recommended), buy some MIDI cables which merge into one and have a
joystick-type thingy on the end.
- Some software. There are two main
types:
a) Music notation software which writes out the music for you as you
play it. Popular examples are the Finale series and Sibelius. I'd recommend
Finale many different programs in the series, from plain old Finale to
PrintMusic (cheaper, simpler, but still effective) and Finale Notepad, which
is a free download and may be worth a look before you splash out on anything
expensive) as it is generally easier-to-use than Sibelius.
b) MIDI 'studios' which simply record what you play. You can add
multiple tracks and effects such as fade-ins and outs. A Popular example is
Cubasis. I would recommend Cakewalk but they appear to have changed their
product range so I'm not actually sure which product of theirs I should
actually recommend. I find Cubasis easier to use anyway.
So you've got all that, now you need to
set-up the equipment.
Set-up
1. Install your chosen
software onto your computer.
2. Grab the two MIDI cables and plug them into the primary IN
and OUT sockets of your USB adaptor. If you haven't got one of these (it's a lot
easier if you have) then you should have some cables with a joystick-thingy on
the end. Plug this into the matching socket on your computer.
3. The cable that is plugged into the IN socket of your USB
adaptor should plug into the OUT socket of your keyboard, and opposite with the
other one. If you don't have a USB adaptor (get one) its trial and error as to
which one goes in which on the keyboard, and if they're labeled that doesn't
help either, it just confuses. Plug them in anyway, follow the next few steps,
and if it doesn't work then swap them round.
4. If you have a USB adaptor, plug it into a USB port. Follow
the instructions to set it up.
5. Now switch on your keyboard and load up the software on your
computer. There will probably be a MIDI menu somewhere, so go into it and find
'MIDI setup'. There should be two menus labeled MIDI in and MIDI out. If you
have a USB adaptor, select the obvious options on the menus (the ones that say
USB In and USB Out, or something similar) and click OK. If you don't have a USB
adaptor, I think you should choose the options which say '...your soundcard...
MIDI port'. Do this, try the next step, and if it doesn't work swap the cables
round like I told you before. If this has no effect, fiddle around with the
menus in the MIDI setup menu.
6. Test it! If you have a 'studio', press record and play
something, then stop and play it back to see if it has worked. If you have
notation software, read the manual to see which option to select and how to get
it to work.
7. If it doesn't work:
- USB Adaptor users: Check all
the cables, the MIDI setup menu and especially your software manual to check
that you're working the software correctly.
- Non-USB Adaptor users: Check
all the cables, and if this doesn't work then go back to the end of step 5
and read my advice.
|
