Multimedia Corner

MIDI Kit and Caboodle

If your multimedia presentation needs music, and you have the talent to play it on a MIDI instrument, you need MidiKit from MidiSoft. This software package is a complete multi-track recording studio in a box. You can use any MIDI instrument to create the music, and the software will record it onto your hard disk. You can take .wav compatible files from other sources and make them tracks in your recording studio. The tracks can be mixed, blended, and edited to produce the final sound track.

If you have a microphone, you can also add voice tracks to the final product. The package comes with a small library of classical, jazz, pop, and blues clips. The program's "recording Session Plus" element allows you to record and edit your own compositions that include MIDI, vocals, sound effects and lyrics. As you record from your MIDI instrument, the musical notation for the score appears on the screen in real time.

The software allows you to position the start pointer where you want the next group of music from your MIDI source to appear. As you play the music, it is displayed in music notation on the track you are using. If you make any mistakes, you can either edit on the computer or erase and replay on the MIDI. You can record up to eight tracks from the MIDI or other .wav file type sources.

To make a completed composition you can change the overall tempo and volume. For each track you can make a tone into a chord, add reverb, play the note as a solo, or change its volume within the mix. All of the controls are mouse actuated buttons, knobs, or sliders. Each track can be labeled to indicate such things as vocal melody, bass, piano, drums, etc.

The sound room editor has many features which handle the recorded sound from the keyboard. You can cut and paste to compose on the screen from previously MIDI entered melody inputs. You can change the time signature with a few key strokes, or move to a different key to make the melody right for your new tenor. The whole composition can be played back much like the controls on a tape player.

The program will send output to your sound card or a MIDI device. Base-level MIDI devices can play back three to six notes or voices. Extended-level MIDI devices can have nine to sixteen notes or voices. Extended-level percussion devices also can have nine to sixteen notes or voices. Base-level percussion parts are limited to three notes or voices.

The package is a little short on documentation. The manual provided is basically a quick start document. There are numerous questions the new user will have to answer through trial and error. While it is probably true that the program's principal market is for the individual musician wanting to create and compose, the functions are much greater. The multimedia developer will want more documentation to get the editing done with a minimum of experimentation.

MidiSoft MidiKit requires a 80386, 80486, or Pentium compatible processor, Microsoft Windows 3.1 (will run on Windows 95), a MIDI instrument, 4 Mb of RAM, 3 Mb of available hard disk space, a Windows compatible sound card, a mouse, VGA or better video card and a 3.5" drive. A microphone is supported if available. The product will not operate with Roland SCC-1, Roland SC-7, or Microsoft sound cards. The package includes necessary cables for interfacing with the MIDI instrument.

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