Pre-Purchase Questions

[jimmie123]

Hi DJ, Thank you for your reply. The KN-7000 can work with Midi files...if I were to do an "easy record", prior to saving it, the 7000 asks in which format, Midi or Technics files. I'm wondering if I made a copy of the existing SD card that I use for Casinos accompaniment, played one of the existing Technics files on it, then saved it as a Midi file as opposed to a Technics file...would Composer be able to work with that?? I called one of the bands that backed us at a recent show in Lakeland, FL and asked the leader what most groups are supplying as far as charts go. He said that both lead and bass guitars generally get a chart, as well as drums, and horns (usually a sax and trumpet). Paul's band also has a keyboard player, but of course since I always accompany the Casinos on keyboard, I'd have to work out a separate keyboard part. There is also software that was included with the 7000 whereby I can save something as an MP3, but I guess that would be no good to Composer.

The thing is, I have NEVER scored horns or drums, and don't know the 1st thing about it. If the Midi-saving trick that I've suggested above would work, would Composer be able to pick out and score those parts?

Since Composer uses Midi to do it's thing, I went to the following site: http://www.freemidifiles.biz/

I did a search there for our "signature" song, Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye. Several versions came up, including the original with Gene Hughes singing lead. Give that a listen....is this type of file something that Composer could/would work with??

Generally, when we do these Doo-Wop shows with other groups, we may do a maximum of 5 songs, so it's not like I have to score all of our tunes....when we perform "alone", I'm the accompaniment alone, so I wouldn't need scores etc. Eventually, I would probably produce a good looking lead sheet for my use alone, but that would be "down the road" lol.

Thanks for the prompt reply and I look forward to (hopefully) being able to use Musician Composer as opposed to having to pay $$ to get the scores done.

Jim Helwig, keyboardist, The Casinos, Sebring, Florida (863) 546-4483

[dj]

Hi, Jimmie:

Composer imports and exports standard midi files, so if you can save in that format on the KN-7000, there should be no problem.

Despite the name of the site (freemidifiles.biz), it seems that all the versions of Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye on the site are mp3 files, not midi files. Nice song, by the way -- I'd not heard it before.

A midi file is the "score" whereas an mp3 file is the "45 rpm record" -- the two aren't interchangeable. There are some programs now that claim to be able to transcribe from an audio file, but to my mind they are not very successful.

There are plenty of midi file versions of Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye on the net.

But, going back to the KN-7000, if you have an option to save as a midi file, you should be able to get your sequenced tracks into Composer. The only remaining question is whether the Technics saves the auto-rhythm/auto-accompaniment tracks into the file.

Hope that helps.

David