Need Help: MIDI or WAVE ??

[IDEAL]

Hi guys/gals,

I was thinking of trying out doing my own home recordings on my PC/Laptop using either Keyboards or Mixers. I sought some advice from friends and have two different views:

Some said that MIDI would be a good start whereas other reccomended using WAVE (mixer)

Any views & comments on which of these two would be a better choice.

Any good software in the market as well.

lastly, I thinking of working on a budget of $500/-..what would be a good buy for starters??

Thanks.

 

[blueprintstudios]

composition : MIDI!

recording : WAVE!

just in case you missed this :
http://soft.com.sg/forum/showthread.php?t=38326

 

[IDEAL]

Hmmm, thanks for your views man but what are the reccomended softwares in the current market right now for both MIDI & WAVE? I understand that there a lot in the market and everyone has thier own choice of preferences..

Considering that Im new, will it be user friendly??

BTW does shops like city music/Swee Lee sell this kinda stuff and what should I be looking for?

 

[soft]

There are 3 places you can check out. They have loads of recording solution and the best part is, they are all 5 mins walk from each other.

City Music
1 Sophia Rd, #02-12/13
Peace Centre
Singapore 228149
Tel: 63377058

Resolution
91 Bencoolen Street
Sunshine Plaza
#01-70
T: 63399877

Sinamex
35 Selegie Road
#B1-34 Parklane Shopping Mall
Singapore 188307
Tel: (65) 6338 8657

 

[Cheez]

Are you intending to record the sounds from your keyboard(s) or are you intending to record other instruments as well?

I believe you may have a misconception about midi, as with many other people.

 

[IDEAL]

Hmmm... Just got back overseas and managed to read the replies...
Guess I will have to visit the three shops suggested to find out more..

By the way, I do understand that if I am planning to record songs from my keyboards alone, then I am restricted to MIDI as it is the obvious answer....For a start this would be good choice...

However, in future, I do plan to venture further and record using other instruments as well.. hence I was advised to get a small mixer for such purposes..

 

[soft]

IDEAL, you can record directly into the computer via a audio interface (soundcard). The trend (budget) is to get one with Firewire/USB that connects to your computer. Then plug the microphone/instrument into the box. And hit Record!

Therefore bypass the need for a mixer.

Most of these audio interface has MIDI connection built-in too.

* for comparision, check out http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/computer-audio/audio_interfaces/

 

[Cheez]

Choosing between midi and wav recording is already a misnomer. When playing back recorded midi (ie sequencing), you'll get no sound. The sound needs to be generated by a sound source - of which when recorded will have to be wav. It doesn't matter whether the sound source is lousy (the cheesy sounds from soundcards - yes, those are not "midi" - they are wav, albeit lousy wav) or good (various VSTi or keyboards).

So, if you have more than one sound source (you mention keyboards, which I take to mean more than 1 keyboard), then you'll have at least a few stereo outputs. The sequences will be recorded as midi - but recording the sound will be at least 2 stereo sources (depending on the number of keyboards you are talking about). These will have to connect to your PC via an audio interface (like one of those SOFT talked about). You don't need a mixer - just an audio interface with multiple inputs. So the end-product is a wav file.

 

[IDEAL]

OH!!!! Now I see some light....

Thanks a million to both of you!! (SOFT & Cheez). I will check out what CityMusic and the other two shops has to offer before making a decision on what to get...

Ooohhh..Im soo excited about this already..!!