BLASTED MIDI

I find myself irritated as I write this.

I mentioned a few weeks ago I've been looking into starting a basic home studio, primarily to make audio/video lessons for my students or to upload on the Net. I'm still waiting for Pro Tools to arrive, but in the meantime I receoved a MIDI-USB cable, so I thought I would try it out on my Roland electric drumkit.

Man, it was a mission.

I'm not very clued on how MIDI works, so it took a while to get it connected so the kit would actually record on my PC. So that was finally operating properly. But, as I have learnt, all MIDI does is transport a digital signal - no sound. So when my triggers arrived at the PC, the program - a freeware recording solution called Anvil Studio - used it's onboard sound, which was dreadful.

So now, apparently, I have to record the MIDI drums, make any edits to the track after I have recorded it, then play it back VIA the Roland drum machine in order to make it sound the way it normally sounds. AND, while it's playing back via the Roland drum machine, I must record new as a new track.

Complicated. Bloody complicated. I will let you know how this goes. Can't wait for Pro Tools to arrive, it's gonna make things much easier.

Otherwise, this is an busy week for me. I am on my way in half an hour to a meeting for a proposed online music raining facility - internet lessons. Should be interesting. Thursday I am practicing with Angela Fergusson, a good friend and superb blues/pop singer, and we're playing a gig on Sunday. And Friday I have a photoshoot with K, Ray & the Bird for our upcoming album, 'Rhymes In The Attic'.

Lots of good things happening.