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EDT302: Editing & Enhancinga Good MIDI File |
| For this excercise you will need a Sequencer Program of your choice (like CakeWalk, PowerTracks, etc.) | |
| You will recall that in ENH202, we created a midi file of "I'll Take Romance" from scratch, using only Band-in-a-Box (BIAB). The melody was recorded in Real-Time and many enhancements were made to create a nice arrangement. During the process we utilized the J_BASIE1.STY to provide a solid rhythm accompaniment. | |
| What can we possibly due now to further enhance this file? Well, for starters, Mr. Basie seriously objected to the unorthodox group of musicians we introduced in the final arrangement, so it looks like we will have to find a new leader for the band. He has, however, consented to contributing a bit of his piano styling to the waltz sections. | |
| Okay.. push the grand piano to the opposite side of the stage, and wheel in my favorite instrument, the Hammond B-3. Since I brought in the musicians, I have no choice but to lead them through the rest of this exercise. | |
STEP ONE. Load the file, illtak-5.mid. and refresh our memory with
what we have so far. (Click here to listen.).
First we must delete most of Mr. Basie's piano (in order not to run out
of our 32 note quota). Take a good look at the TRACKS view to determine
which track the Piano is on. In this case it is track 3. Now open
the BARS view.
Save the file as "illtak-a.mid". Re-load for the velocity change to become effective. |
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| STEP TWO. To replace Mr. Basie's piano, we will have to record the Hammond Organ track. Click on an empty track and under the "Ch" (channel) heading type in "1", since that is one which is available. On the same track, under "Prg" (Program Change) type in "19" which is the GM instrument number for Rock Organ. | |
| STEP THREE. Ensure your keyboard is set to transmit on Channel 1, and start recording. If you are satisfied with the "take", open the EVENTS window (illustrated and described in EDT303) for the Organ track. Enter Controllers for Reverb (91) set to 50. Pan (10) set to 55. Volume (7) set to 100. re-save the file as illtak-b.mid. | |
| STEP FOUR. Not a heck of a lot left that we can do. How about
sprinkling in a bit of Vibraphone, starting in the second chorus.
Check your available channels. We will use 14 which is still free.
In theTRACKS view, under "Ch", type 14. Under "Prg", type "12" the GM instrument
number for Vibraphone.
Set your keyboard transmit channel to 14 and record the new track. Satisfied? If so, add the controllers. Reverb (91) set to 40. Pan (10) set to 80. Volume (7) set to 94. |
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| STEP FIVE. Have another good look at the file in your sequencer. Delete any practice tracks, make sure the Title of the song is entered, and add any notes as to the name of sequencer, copyright notice, etc. in the TRACKS Title area. Finally, save the file with the name "illtakro.mid. Sit back, relax, and Listen. | |
| Again, we stress that this exercise is an illustration only, and as always, it is your taste and preferences that determines the final outcome. For example, if the instrument you are most familiar with should be guitar or bass, then by all means delete those tracks and substitute your own, to impart more of your own style to the sequence. | |
| Les Gorven
July 25, 1998 |
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| Questions or comments? Contact Les | |
| Download in ZIP format(including images, & .mid).
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