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Topic: 2 very basic questions about MIDI / NWC (Read 4169 times) previous topic - next topic

2 very basic questions about MIDI / NWC

Even though I've been dabbling in MIDI & Noteworthy Composer for over a year, I still feel very ignorant about 2 things:-

1) Can someone explain simply what the difference is between a track and a channel? It's way over my head! Do you have multiple tracks per channels, or vice versa, and if so - why?!?!

2) I know the make of sound card can greatly affect how realistic the end result is, and I'm told mine is a good one (Soundblaster), but nothing sounds to me like an electric guitar! (i.e: a heavy metal chord). Is it because it's just not possible to create that particular sound? Or (and I could be very wrong here!) is that what a "sound font" does? i.e: a special sound adapter one can buy separately for cetain extra sounds?

Sorry to be so dumb, but if anyone could clarify, I'd be most grateful indeed!

Thanks for your time.

Re: 2 very basic questions about MIDI / NWC

Reply #1 –
A track is a term to describe a collection of MIDI events that belong to one another inside a MIDI file. Sequencers also generally use the concept of tracks as a way for the user to group a series of MIDI events into a collection. The closest thing to a track in NWC is a staff, although it is not really the same thing.

A MIDI channel can best be though of as an instrument in a MIDI synthesizer device. Most MIDI synthesizers support multiple channels (up to 16 per device), with each channel being able to sound like a particular instrument (usually user definable, such as is done in NWC). The exact instruments supported by each channel will often be device specific, but normally General MIDI instruments are supported on most channels, with the exception of channel 10. MIDI Channel 10 is generally reserved for percussion sounds, with different percussion instruments sounding at different note pitches.

Re: 2 very basic questions about MIDI / NWC

Reply #2 –
Just to expand a little:

1: The concept of "track" really only applies to "Type 1" (or the less common "Type 2") midi files. In "Type 0" all events are simply placed in time-order in one single track.

2: In many cases, each track will contain events on only one channel. This is the "sensible" approach in most instances. However, there's nothing in the GM specification which insists that tracks can contain events on only a single channel.

As relates to NWC:

1: While a "staff" (in NWC) is technically not the same as a midi track, there is a one-to-one correspondence when exporting an NWC files as a Type 1 midi. (In a Type 0 midi, of course, the idea of a track structure is meaningless.) Similarly, if a pre-existing midi is imported into NWC, each track usually is imported into a single new staff (if Maximum Single Track Chord Size is set high, e.g. 127).

2: Midi files exported from NWC will always have events on one channel only, on any given track. This is because any given staff can be associated with one channel only (as determined in staff setup), and "channel hopping" on a given staff is not possible. (Note that this is not the same as changing an instrument patch; the channel used will be the same, only the instrument patch changes.)

Re: 2 very basic questions about MIDI / NWC

Reply #3 –
Regarding the electric guitar sound:

Sound may be created from totally-synth (calculation from a small number of numerical parameters), digitized samples of real sounds, or anywhere in between. It is my understanding that modern good-quality audio is generated from a small number of digitized samples that are mathematically tweaked, and a large number of synth parameters.

Part of the problem with any imitation of a "real" instrument is that there are user-applied transients. For a guitar, that means fingering, etc. Yes, it is possible to include these in the audio. But your computer, even with the most advanced technology, might not apply them the way you think they should be applied.

Another possibility is that when you say "electric guitar" you really mean "distortion guitar." Try it.

Re: 2 very basic questions about MIDI / NWC

Reply #4 –
>>2) I know the make of sound card can greatly affect how realistic the end result is, and I'm told mine is a good one (Soundblaster), but nothing sounds to me like an electric guitar! (i.e: a heavy metal chord).<<

First, it depends what kind of Sound Blaster you have.  An old Sound Blaster 16 isn't exactly the same as an brand new Audigy!  ;-)

But regardless, people are all different.  I recently did a cover of a rock piece using all three sorts of guitars available on my sound card.  It's a Yamaha, and I love it.

Anyway, I thought my guitars sounded really neat.  But when people listened to it, they asked me why it sounded like a keyboard.  Go figure.

If nothing sounds like a guitar to you, try more instruments playing the same notes.  Maybe mixing instruments will give a better sound.
 

Re: 2 very basic questions about MIDI / NWC

Reply #5 –
Thanks to everyone who replied. I have a much better grasp of track/channel now. As recommended, I shall keep things one-to-one. (Most of the stuff I do is piano-only anyway, i.e: 2 staffs/staves).

Re the guitar sound, my sound card is Soundblaster AWE64 or something like that. Single notes don't sound too bad using "distortion" or "overdrive". It's just the chords which I expected to be a bit meatier. However, I shall try mixing sounds and see what that gives me.

Many thanks
David