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Old 10-11-2011, 02:29 AM
Sherry C's Avatar
Sherry C Sherry C is offline
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Default Virtual MIDI Cable installation - Notation Musician and Notation Composer

Hi friends,

Some folks are a little shy of trying to do things that they think are too technical. Installing "virtual" MIDI cables might fall under that heading for you. I recorded this tutorial to walk you through the steps of installing a virtual MIDI cable to show how easy it is, and it can open up a world of new sounds for your song files and compositions. Virtual MIDI cables make it possible to use a number of MIDI sound sources that can operate on your computer. (Do note, however, that these types of "virtual" cables don't connect to external units such as a keyboard. Those require physical cables )

One of our users has put together a great reference post regarding virtual MIDI cables at this other post. This tutorial video shows installation of the LoopBe1 because it's compatible with a lot of operating systems, it's robust, and it has a "feedback loop protection" feature which mutes the cable if a feedback loop is detected.

If you're interested in diving into the world of extended synthesizer or instrument library sounds, check out this tutorial video to get started. I'll be covering a couple of popular MIDI device options (SynthFont and Garritan libraries) in some follow up videos.

You can view the video by clicking here, or use this download link to download it to your computer.

Enjoy!
Sherry
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Old 10-21-2011, 01:45 AM
panworks panworks is offline
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Default Re: Virtual MIDI Cable installation - Notation Musician and Notation Composer

So the tutorial shows how to find a "midi cable" , how to download it, and how to install it. How about tutorial about what the heck it is and how to use it!!!
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Old 10-21-2011, 04:16 AM
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Sherry C Sherry C is offline
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Default Re: Virtual MIDI Cable installation - Notation Musician and Notation Composer

Hi,

Quote:
Originally Posted by panworks View Post
So the tutorial shows how to find a "midi cable" , how to download it, and how to install it. How about tutorial about what the heck it is and how to use it!!!
There are

As I mentioned previously, a virtual MIDI cable enables you to use a number of other MIDI devices (sound sources) on your computer such as SynthFont (see tutorial here) or Garritan Libraries (see tutorial here) or other sound libraries. It provides the connection between Notation Musician or Notation Composer, and the MIDI device, or sound "engine". Such sound "engines" (MIDI devices) might be SynthFont or Garritan Personal Orchestra or VST Host (where you can use different VST instruments) or any other MIDI-capable device that needs such a connection to the program that's providing the directions (eg. Notation Musician or Notation Composer).

A sort of schematic way to think of it would be:

directions for notes/instruments -> virtual MIDI cable -> MIDI device -> sound

or to be more specific

Notation Composer/Musician -> virtual MIDI cable -> MIDI device -> sound card -> speakers -> your ears

I don't plan to create tutorials for every MIDI device or library out there (for one thing I don't have them all ). But SynthFont and Garritan libraries (eg. Garritan Personal Orchestra and Garritan Jazz and Big Band) offer a model for using virtual MIDI cables to connect to a computer MIDI device. They both offer an avenue to quite nice sound sources at free or reasonable cost.

Finding and installing a virtual MIDI cable is just the generic first step in using any of those MIDI devices with Notation Musician or Notation Composer.

Enjoy!
Sherry
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Old 10-21-2011, 03:05 PM
panworks panworks is offline
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Default Re: Virtual MIDI Cable installation - Notation Musician and Notation Composer

So this midi cable is like the DXi button in my composing software which lets me choose a soft synth, (I have Coyote and a roland soft synth) to run my midi tracks through? When I click the DXi button I get a dialog letting me choose which synth.
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Old 10-21-2011, 03:07 PM
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Sherry C Sherry C is offline
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Default Re: Virtual MIDI Cable installation - Notation Musician and Notation Composer

Hi,

Quote:
Originally Posted by panworks View Post
So this midi cable is like the DXi button in my composing software which lets me choose a soft synth, (I have Coyote and a roland soft synth) to run my midi tracks through? When I click the DXi button I get a dialog letting me choose which synth.
I'm not sure which composing software you're using. Notation Composer does not have a DXi button. Perhaps this is where any confusion is occurring? These tutorials are intended for users of Notation Musician and Notation Composer, not all notation software (generically speaking).

ttfn,
Sherry
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  #6  
Old 10-21-2011, 03:10 PM
panworks panworks is offline
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Default Re: Virtual MIDI Cable installation - Notation Musician and Notation Composer

I am just asking: Is this what the midi cables do in Notation composer?
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  #7  
Old 10-21-2011, 03:16 PM
Sherry C's Avatar
Sherry C Sherry C is offline
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Default Re: Virtual MIDI Cable installation - Notation Musician and Notation Composer

Hi,

Quote:
Originally Posted by panworks View Post
I am just asking: Is this what the midi cables do in Notation composer?
The virtual MIDI cable provides a connection to other MIDI devices, kind of like your phone provides a connection to various friends. It can be used for different devices, but not for multiple devices at once.

ttfn,
Sherry
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