Midi Sequencer recommendation

[Ernie Willson]

For several years I have been recording my voice/guitar work using Audacity. Now I want to add additional embellishments to my work. I have a midi controller (Keyboard) and want to use it to add other synthesised instruments to my vocal/guitar tracks. I am looking for a sequencer proram that is SIMPLE and easy to use. I don't want something that I need a doctors degree to use. I am quite computer literate, but I am a complete novice at using MIDI files. I have tried Cake Walk and it is challenging. I cannot use garage band because I do not have na Apple machine. What can you suggest for a 75 y/o novice like me?

[Pete]

In article <JCmVF.92362$Zw7....@fx34.iad>,

You might look at Fluidsynth. You don't say, but I assume you're
using Windows. I understand Fluidsynth runs on that (as well as
Linux, etc.).

I've never really used the app version, though I regularly use the
library which is its core. It gets the actual instruments it uses
from a 'Soundfont', which you'd have to acquire as well, but there
are a number of free excellent ones on the web.

It is run from the command line, though I think 'Qsynth' may be
a GUI for it [never investigated]. It can be driven from an existing
Midifile, or by live MIDI input.

Good luck!

-- Pete --

[J.B. Wood]

On 1/20/20 1:49 PM, Ernie Willson wrote:
> For several years I have been recording my voice/guitar work using Audacity. Now I want to add additional embellishments to my work. I have a midi controller (Keyboard) and want to use it to add other synthesised instruments to my vocal/guitar tracks. I am looking for a sequencer proram that is SIMPLE and easy to use. I don't want something that I need a doctors degree to use. I am quite computer literate, but I am a complete novice at using MIDI files. I have tried Cake Walk and it is challenging. I cannot use garage band because I do not have na Apple machine. What can you suggest for a 75 y/o novice like me?
>
>

Hello, and if all you want to do is real-time MIDI recording and
playback, then many Linux distros (I use Fedora) come with the
command-line apps "arecordmidi" and "aplaymidi". Of course you'll need
a USB-to_MIDI interface (e.g. an M-Audio MIDISPORT) if the MIDI
instrument you want to control uses the tradition DIN serial cables.
Sincerely,

--
J. B. Wood e-mail: arl_1...@hotmail.com

[Pete]

In article <r06rpg$1ct0$1...@gioia.aioe.org>,

J.B. Wood <arl_1...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>On 1/20/20 1:49 PM, Ernie Willson wrote:
>> For several years I have been recording my voice/guitar work using
>Audacity. Now I want to add additional embellishments to my work. I have
>a midi controller (Keyboard) and want to use it to add other synthesised
>instruments to my vocal/guitar tracks. I am looking for a sequencer
>proram that is SIMPLE and easy to use.
>

>Hello, and if all you want to do is real-time MIDI recording and
>playback, then many Linux distros (I use Fedora) come with the
>command-line apps "arecordmidi" and "aplaymidi". Of course you'll need
>a USB-to_MIDI interface (e.g. an M-Audio MIDISPORT) if the MIDI
>instrument you want to control uses the tradition DIN serial cables.
>Sincerely,

But that won't help him to generate instrument audio to add to his
vocals. aplaymidi just generates MIDI events from a midifile.
Of course in Linux those can be fed to fluidsynth. Dunno about Windows.

-- Pete --

[Les Cargill]

Audacity? So Windows, then?

There's only so simple something like this can be made to be. I barely
remember Cakewalk.

A commonly used DAW ( so it records audio as well as MIDI ) is Reaper. I
really like having one program do it all, so...

Once you get all the configuration figured out, the number of things you
have to to to record and playback MIDI in Reaper is pretty small. Setup
isn't hard, there are just a lot of menus.

Many "use cases" - things you'd try to do - are explained in detail in
videos on Youtube. This is a big plus for it.

You can try reaper before you buy.

You don't say how you'll connect the MIDI keyboard to the computer. Do
you have a USB interface with round 5 pin DIN connectors? A "MIDI over
USB" cable for the keyboard?

A MIDI port is just a serial port in the end. As is a "MIDI over USB"
arrangement. But you have to know how to tell the sequencer which to
use, stuff like that.

You might like n-Track better - the UI is a skosh simpler.

A lot of people like Ableton. It's supposedly simpler.

Good luck!

--
Les Cargill

[Pete]

In article <r089qq$it5$1...@dont-email.me>,
Les Cargill <lcarg...@comcast.com> wrote:
>Audacity? So Windows, then?
>
That's awfully provincial! (:-)) Audacity is fairly cross-platform,
and I suspect [without evidence] that most users (like me) are on Linux.

I should also point out that fluidsynth that I suggested is not
a 'sequencer'. I assumed the OP is actually looking for a simple
way to turn MIDI into instrument audio, which fluidsynth will do
well.

For an actual sequencer, there are several free ones on Linux.
Again, dunno about Windows.

-- Pete --

[Ernie Willson]

Les,
Thanks for the reply.
You are correct about simplicity. It is said that you cannot make something foolproof because sooner or later a more perfect fool will come along. In this matter I may be that person.
I could not handle Abeldon. Complicated and there were no instructions with the copy that came with my MIDI keyboard. BTW it connects with a wire to my computer USB.
I'll look at reaper and N-track.
Thanks...Ernie

[Ernie Willson]

Thanks Pete,
I don't do Linux..W10.
Fluidsynth sounds very interesting so at leats I could use the Keyboard like a piano.
I'll try it.
Ernie

[Ernie Willson]

Thanks for the comment Pete.

[Ernie Willson]

Thanks for the reply JB

[Ernie Willson]

Thanks for the comment Pete. You are correct.
Ernie
>