HELP WITH MIDI KEYBOARDS

[dgreen52280]

Hello and blessings be to all,

 I am having issues with transferring MIDI Data. I am currently in Germany, but I'm trying to send some praise and worship songs to my pastor in Maryland Through Keyboard MIDI.

 I know how to record save as MIDI file and send it through email, but I don't know how to transfer the data while keeping the same instruments as I recorded.   I use the General MIDI instruments hoping that it would make a difference.    I record 5 tracks with different instruments each so that it can sound like a band, but when I play it on the computer or another keyboard, all of the tracks come out using the same piano sound for every track, or some instrument other than the one I used for the recording.
VERY FRUSTRATING!!!

Is there a remedy for this???
dgreen

[thekeynote]

Yes, there is a remedy.  Obviously, you are using a sequencing program on your computer?  Like Cakewalk or PowerTracks?  Those are the two that I am familiar with.

Your instruments and what you are recording are listed on "Tracks" so you have a track # for each instrument.  In addition, you need to assign channels for those instruments.  There should be a channel number assignment on the sequencer program.  Here's how I typically set up my sequences:

Piano on Track 1 (Channel 1)
Bass on Track 2 (Channel 2)
Drums on Track 3 (Channel 10)
Guitar on Track 4 (Channel 3)  

And so on with however many instruments you have.  The drums should ALWAYS be on Channel 10 because most keyboards recoginize drum kits and percussion instruments from channel 10.

I had the same problems you are having until I realized that about assigning Channel Numbers.  The track # really doesn't matter what order, it's assigning the Channel Number.  If all the Channels are left at 0, they will all play the same instrument (piano) no matter what midi voice you have assigned.

I pray this is your solution  

Lisa

[dgreen52280]

Thanks Lisa
 That was very helpful. I only have one more question.  Sorry if I am bugging you, but my whole life I've always played in live bands. I'm new to the MIDI world. I understand about the channels and everything, but what about when you are just using your keyboard and no additional computer software like cakewalk.  Most of the time, I only use my keyboard.

I record the music on the 3.5 disk while inserted to my keyboard.
And then I insert the disk directly into the A drive. Can your advice work for this method also?
Thanks,
Derrick

[thekeynote]

I'm using a PSR 2100 right now.  It has a 16 track sequencer built in it, but I don't use it because I am used to Power Tracks, CakeWalk and Band In a Box.  But, I think when you record on the keyboard sequencer too that you need to make certain the voices are on a specific channel.  In the PSR 2100, even with the "Styles" or Auto Accompaniment, the drums are always on Channel 10 and any other percussion instruments on Channel 9.  

I know what you mean---nothing worse that the drum beat playing piano notes...lol.  AWFUL!  

What type of Keyboard are you using?  Most of them have online forums where you can others specific questions about the instrument.  Do you have the owner's manual for it?

Generally speaking--I would think it would work the same.

Let me know what happens--you are not a bother at all  

Also, I'm curious...how is your pastor going to play your midi files at church?  Do they have a keyboard with a floppy disk at the church that they can play them through?  Or is he going to convert the MIDIs to WAV files, then MP3 and then burn them onto a CD and play on a traditional CD player?

Lisa