Software for Midi Files

[Old Guy]

Hello Forum,

I'm thinking about selling my Extreme 76. I still enjoy using some midi files for backing tracks which I did with the Extreme Sequencer. If I decide to sell the Extreme, can anyone suggest a good software program that I could use for midi file creation.

Thanks

Old Guy

[billbaker]

I think one of the things you will want is something to change .sng ( korg) to .smf/.mid files - otherwise you will need to save your sequences as midi files before selling your keyboard.

Once thats done there are lots of choices for playback and resequencing: logic, cakewalk, Abelton, protools, and scads of shareware /freeware are all possibilities


BB

[Old Guy]

Thanks Bill,

I see what your saying. Might be just as easy to keep the TEX.

Old Guy

[billbaker]

OG,

Just an opinion here, but I think that the Triton Extreme is an excellent keyboard, certainly the top of the Triton line. Absolutely worth keeping.

It has about as expanded and varied a sound palate as your likely to wrap your head around. I could see composing almost any genre on it. So as a sound source only it is credible, reliable, and quick to program. Those are qualities that are truly valuable in a studio setting or live.

---------------

Do a little research, try out some of the "Lite" versions of popular midi sequencing software (budget a couple hundred over a 3 or 4 month period) dive in and see what you like and what fits your style. In a lot of cases the Lite/entry level version may be enough for your needs -- if 8 to 16 tracks is your maximum usage then don't blow another $300 on the "Studio/Pro" version with infinite track stacking - you'll never need it. Lite versions also tend to be cheap... ~$50 or less, and some may even come free as bundled software with gear you might be considering buying like USB keyboards or Midi/Audio interfaces for your computer, so be on the look-out for bargain bundles.

Each of the top 10 sequencing programs (and hey, doesn't that sound like a Google search just waiting to happen?) has it's strengths and weaknesses. Finale is a scoring software that does multi track midi, Abelton is a loop heavy app that, yes, does multi track midi (and a lot more). Others integrate audio, video, feature drum grooves, loops, sample hits -- well, you get the idea; the list starts to get massive and at a certain price point they all start to look equally capable.

I'd also recommend the Sound-On-Sound (UK music mag) web site for pretty thorough reviews of stuff you might be considering.


BB

[Old Guy]

Thanks for the information Bill. I'll do some searches on the Internet and see what's out there.

OG