Virtual MIDI Cable installation - Notation Musician and Notation Composer

[panworks]

So the tutorial shows how to find a "midi cable" , how to download it, and how to install it. How about tutorial about what the heck it is and how to use it!!!

[Sherry C]

Hi,

Originally Posted by panworks

So the tutorial shows how to find a "midi cable" , how to download it, and how to install it. How about tutorial about what the heck it is and how to use it!!!

There are

As I mentioned previously, a virtual MIDI cable enables you to use a number of other MIDI devices (sound sources) on your computer such as SynthFont (see tutorial here) or Garritan Libraries (see tutorial here) or other sound libraries. It provides the connection between Notation Musician or Notation Composer, and the MIDI device, or sound "engine". Such sound "engines" (MIDI devices) might be SynthFont or Garritan Personal Orchestra or VST Host (where you can use different VST instruments) or any other MIDI-capable device that needs such a connection to the program that's providing the directions (eg. Notation Musician or Notation Composer).

A sort of schematic way to think of it would be:

directions for notes/instruments -> virtual MIDI cable -> MIDI device -> sound

or to be more specific

Notation Composer/Musician -> virtual MIDI cable -> MIDI device -> sound card -> speakers -> your ears

I don't plan to create tutorials for every MIDI device or library out there (for one thing I don't have them all ). But SynthFont and Garritan libraries (eg. Garritan Personal Orchestra and Garritan Jazz and Big Band) offer a model for using virtual MIDI cables to connect to a computer MIDI device. They both offer an avenue to quite nice sound sources at free or reasonable cost.

Finding and installing a virtual MIDI cable is just the generic first step in using any of those MIDI devices with Notation Musician or Notation Composer.

Enjoy!
Sherry

[panworks]

So this midi cable is like the DXi button in my composing software which lets me choose a soft synth, (I have Coyote and a roland soft synth) to run my midi tracks through? When I click the DXi button I get a dialog letting me choose which synth.

[Sherry C]

Hi,

Originally Posted by panworks

So this midi cable is like the DXi button in my composing software which lets me choose a soft synth, (I have Coyote and a roland soft synth) to run my midi tracks through? When I click the DXi button I get a dialog letting me choose which synth.

I'm not sure which composing software you're using. Notation Composer does not have a DXi button. Perhaps this is where any confusion is occurring? These tutorials are intended for users of Notation Musician and Notation Composer, not all notation software (generically speaking).

ttfn,
Sherry

[panworks]

I am just asking: Is this what the midi cables do in Notation composer?

[Sherry C]

Hi,

Originally Posted by panworks

I am just asking: Is this what the midi cables do in Notation composer?

The virtual MIDI cable provides a connection to other MIDI devices, kind of like your phone provides a connection to various friends. It can be used for different devices, but not for multiple devices at once.

ttfn,
Sherry

[Sherry C]

Hi friends,


I'm adding the information to all SynthFont related posts that with the Notation Software Synth, as well as the advanced audio capabilities of version 5 and going forward, there is no need to use SynthFont with our software as our synth is actually more flexible and handles more than SynthFont does.


ttfn,
Sherry