Playing a Midi file in Reaper

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

I tried loading a Midi file into Reaper,(George Strait, Ace In The Hole), no sound. I was told it needs VST plugins to have sound.. So finally I found some (& don't know what I did), but I got sound, but it's out of sync, & sounds bad..
So I loaded the same file into Real Band, (brother of BIAB), & everything is in sync, & on separate tracks..
What am I doing wrong with Reaper?? & why does it need plug ins to play as real Band doesn't..

Michael McGee · From: Everton, Missouri, USA

jolynyk, I never know for sure how to describe midi in a way that is basic and understandable. But here goes an attempt...

MIDI data is NOT audio. It is digital 1's and 0's.

Reaper is software that turns a computer into a multi-track audio recorder PLUS it is able to record digital 0's and 1's (digital data) in a format known as MIDI (musical instrument direct interface).

1) You said 'no sound...'. Since MIDI data is NOT audio, it must be sent to 'something' capable of producing audio/sound - usually a keyboard synthesizer. Reaper is not technically a keyboard synthesizer - as an analogy we would not call a 16-track studer reel-to-reel tape recorder from the 1970's-1980's a keyboard synth. Reaper and the studer both record - but to hear the audio they record, we need amplifiers and speakers to hear it played back. We have to have an audio/sound module to hear MIDI data played back.

2) someone told you that you needed 'VST'. They may or may not have been specific, so let's get specific. VST (virtual studio technology) was developed by Steinburg as a standardization when writing music software. So, you can have reverb vst's, echo vst's, e.q. vst's, limiter vst's, etc. All of it is software emulating that used to be hardware.

3) You need a specific vst that emulates a sound module/keyboard. It needs to have drum sounds, bass sounds, guitar sounds, violin sounds, etc. IF...IF...IF... if that synth vst is properly installed and properly set up inside reaper, reaper will be happy to send your midi data to that software sound module, and you will hear music. THAT IS A BIG IF - in my case it took time and study and research.

4) 'Real Band' is a piece of software created by one of my favorite midi companies - Band in a Box - and is a competitor of sorts to reaper with a SOFTWARE SOUND MODULE ALREADY CONFIGURED. Like Reaper, Real Band can record audio and midi. I much prefer reaper for various reasons, in much the same way that one person prefers a chevy, another prefers a ford, and another prefers a dodge.

If you haven't already, take a look at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAvy_STxwos

I sincerely try to keep this explanations as simple as possible, and yet they never seem to be simple. Good luck in your midi endeavors!

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

Michael thanks so much for your reply & explanation..
I also have Mixcraft, & I load midis into it & it puts all instruments onto separate tracks & plays midis. Maybe the sounds would be better with better VSTs, I don't know..I have done some reading & seem to understand up to a very little point, that I need VST in order for Reaper to play a midi file.. First I have downloaded numerous VSTs, but don't know how to install them & allocate each instrument .. Certainly not blaming Reaper, just that I'm not finding Reaper not user friendly at all.almost like they are assuming I should know how to do that... maybe with wave files which I haven't tried..yet Greg Cutshaw does an awesome job recording with Reaper, but I don't think he uses Midis, though I'm not positive.. I think he uses Easy Drummer & Easy Keys to create his tracks.. The reason I'm trying to get Midis to work is that there are a lot of Midi files out there, & I can remove the Melody & use the rest as a backing track. I do use BIAB to create tracks, but there are some Midi files that sound pretty good, & I could use them.. But for all the reading I've done, I can't find a clear instruction anywhere on how to download a VST how to install it step by step, & most importantly WHY I install it to which tracks.. My biggest problem is how to allocate VST to the tracks & make it play.. Yet Mixcraft, Real Band, & even Studio One will play a Midi as soon as I load it in..

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

Incidentally thanks for the You Tube link.. very good & informative..

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

My piano and drum tracks are both midi. The piano track uses the EZKeys as a VST and the drum track uses EZDrummer as a VST. You can get really great VST's for drums, guitar, effects but you will need one VST for each track. And actually EZKeys for example is a VSTi. You will need to make sure you import the midi file into Reaper as separate tracks for each instrument. I've imported midi files with success but they were single track files.

Greg

Michael McGee · From: Everton, Missouri, USA

jolynyk · From: Prince Albert Sask. Canada

Thanks Greg & Michael.. Well I didn't realize easy drummer & easy Keys are VSTs.. So much to learn & so little time..
I am downloading the manual.. & thanks for the offer when I'm stuck.. I also downloaded the You tube Video about loading Real Band into Reaper.. interesting..
John

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