Decent MIDI sounds? How?

justinthyme · #1 October 28th, 2006

I've been to many MIDI sites - all far too in-depth and confusing, so I'm going to ask the experts here.

Here's the background ...

I have some MIDI files. I have a program which will play them (GuitarPro) and a computer with XP and bog-standard soundcard (RealTek HD). Sounds are horrible, to put it mildly.

... and here's the question I need a really straightforward answer to ...

What do I need to get decent sound from these files?

If I might suggest just a brief list for starters, something like:

.decent external sound card (optional suggestion - blah blah)
.decent speakers (optional suggestion - blah blah)
.ASIO drivers (available here - http:\blah blah)
.any other software/hardware/knowledge/suggestions/tips
.a look at this simple tutorial to make it all work (http:\blah blah)

I'm suggesting that kind of approach because I'm (pretty) sure I can't be the only one who would benefit from this info

so may as well get the info as complete as possible in one place.

Many thanks!

scotty_b · #2 October 29th, 2006

Hey Ian
Better speakers, drivers, or whatever will not change the basic sound which is generated by your sound card - and therein lies the problem. The MIDI sound module on a sound card is awful. The samples are pretty limited. A sound module (Edirol, Roland, Yamaha, etc) will provide better samples, therefore better quality results.
The best results will come from using high-quality samples from the likes of Toontrack/East West or Native Instruments. I don't know if you have heard the recordings I posted of 'Mustang Sally' and 'Hoochie Coochie Man', but on those tracks the drums came from DFHS - which is a sample engine that comes on 9 DVDs and requires 40 gig of space for installation. Hopefully the sounds would be better for all of that.
Something else that makes a big difference is the actual programming of the file to begin with. Velocity and quantization are two things that can really affect the outcome. For example, a drummer never plays perfectly in time, yet a lot of midi files have the hi-hats all perfectly in time and played at the same velocity (volume), and the kick and snare falling perfectly on the beat.

737blues · #3 October 29th, 2006

What version of GP are you using? If it's version 5, be sure to download all of the rse sound files. Still not backing track quality but a lot better than the basic synthesiser sounds.

namiguShin · #4 October 29th, 2006

Hi Ian,

You say you use Guitar Pro... Have you tried GP5's RSE? I think it produces really decent sound...

But, as scotty_b said, you'll hardly have a sound you could enjoy in, like - you hit play and then sit back and enjoy in your symphony orchestra playing... MIDI is not about playing, it's about writing down notes... MIDI files are keeping the notes... Then when you hit play they give those notes to MIDI mapper, which has sound samples for those notes... The quality of those samples (i.e. the quality of MIDI mapper, i.e. the quality of your sound card) determines what will you hear as a result...

So, you could 1) get a better sound card (at least that's what I heard of, never had one so I don't know how great would be the benefit of it), or if you use GP 2) get RSE whose sound libraries are pretty decent, or 3) just understand that MIDI files are not audio files, and that they should be used as a transitional solution, a good tool so you can hear (not just read) what had been writen down (i.e. they have a whole different purpose)...

If you can get that RSE, you can almost always import MIDI files into GP and see the standard notation, guitar tabs and hear them...

btw. here's the quote from wiki: "MIDI does not transmit audio—it simply transmits real time digital data providing information such as the type and intensity of the musical notes and technical cues played during a performance."

Hope this helps a bit...

All best

edit: and 737blues was a little faster on this RSE idea...

justinthyme · #5 October 29th, 2006

Guys, thanks as always for your responses.

I'm trialling GP5, but the sounds are just a little less awful than without RSE. I have a Yamaha keyboard that uses MIDI (I guess) and the sounds coming from that are pretty decent! Think I'll just learn to make my backing tracks with that ... been fiddling around with that this a.m, and it so far, so good!

Bob Wolford · #6 October 30th, 2006

Good midi sounds come with a good sound system starting with the sound card. Sound Blaster Live, or Sound Blaster Audigy are good ones.

fly135 · #7 November 1st, 2006

The RSE sounds much better than the trial without it. You might be able to run a midi cable to your keyboard and use it to play back from the computer. You just set the default midi device as to your midi output jack (in XP control panel). You can also record the midi data from your keyboard into the computer.