Okay, in the last lesson you learned the basic functions of a multi-track music sequencer. In this article, we are going to teach you how to arrange your own MIDI music piece. You will be able to do so even without formal music training.
For a start, we will not be using a MIDI keyboard. Here, we define MIDI arrangements as choosing your favorite lead instruments as well as changing the instruments that play the background music. We'll also learn to use the basic features of cut, copy and paste.
Part I : Introduction to Basic MIDI Arrangement
Remember, a piece of music should have these elements: the main melody,
the accompaniment, the bass line and the rhythm. Picture a band
-- the vocalist sings the main melody, the pianist or keyboardist
and guitarist provide the main accompaniment and the drummer
plays the rhythm. Keep this in mind when you arrange a MIDI music
file.
In this example, first download the MIDI piece that you will be working on.
Now launch the MIDI sequencer that is bundled with your Sound Blaster AWE32 card.
Open the MIDI file and CLICK on the PLAY button.
Listen to the music carefully. Listen to the melody, the bass line, the rhythm and the accompaniment.
Now you are going to re-arrange this piece of music by using other MIDI instruments. That's the magic of MIDI. Because MIDI data is actually a set of instructions containing messages such as what notes to play, what instruments to choose and so forth, you can easily arrange a song in MIDI format.
This is not possible in conventional music recording. If you dislike a particular instrument and prefer to use another, you'll find it's tough to rearrange the music.
Part II : Changing Instruments for the Melody
Play the music once again. On track 1 which is marked as "Melody ", click on Patch
Instruments.
You will see a list of 128 MIDI Instruments with the current instrument highlighted which, in this case, is the Trumpet.
In General MIDI (GM) standard, the order of these instruments is always the same in all MIDI instruments that support GM. For example, the first instrument is always the Accoustic Grand Piano, the second, Bright Acoustic Piano and so forth.
Choose another instrument. This is your first task in our MIDI arrangement example.
Remember, this instrument has to be appropriate for playing this melody. Suggested instruments you can use are: Pan Flute, Trombone, Saxophone.
Try playing the MIDI piece once again and switch the MIDI instruments on the fly. This is a special feature that MIDI allows you to do.
Part III : Changing Instruments for the Accompaniment
Now we will do the same thing for the accompaniment.
Select the track named accompaniment and click on the patch option.
Change the currently selected instrument "Trombone" to any variation of piano. You can also choose accompanying instruments such as the guitar. Experiment with these selections and determine which instrument sounds better. Of course, it also depends on how the accompanying track was played by the original arranger or composer.
Part IV : Changing Instruments for the Bass line
For the bass line, you can find an alternative instrument such
as the Fretless Bass, Slap Bass, Fingered Bass etc.
Listen to your new selection carefully and determine the best alternative.
Part V : Changing the Rhythm track
For the rhythm or drum track, always remember that it is found
in channel 10. The Sound Blaster AWE32 has 9 drum kits available.
Go to the Drum track and click on patches. Selection here differs from the rest of the regular instruments.
Notice that the General MIDI Instruments are still displayed. Ignore this.
Instead of looking at the instruments, you should look at their patch number counterpart. For example, the Grand Acoustic Piano's is always 000, the Acoustic Electric Piano's is 002 and so forth.
In order not to be confused by the patch instrument label, click on CONFIGURE and change the settings to numbers between 00 - 127.
You are now ready to pick your favorite drum kit. In the Sound Blaster AWE32, the drum selections are made possible through a standard called GS. Ensure that the GS standard is selected in your AWE32 control panel.
The 10 drum kits are in the following patch numbers - 0, 8, 16, 32, 34, 35, 40, 48, 56, 127
Summary
You have now learned to "arrange" a MIDI music piece
by changing the MIDI instruments in the various tracks. In summary,
the following shows the possible instruments that can be applied
to a MIDI file. Please remember that it all depends how the original
composer / arranger played the particular MIDI track.
Here's a Simple Guide
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