FLStudio-Tutorials

1, The raw basics of recording a MIDI soundtrack is easier than you may think. Before you actually start to make your recording though, it is helpful to organize your thoughts in advance. You need to decide what instrumentation you are going to use, what the most logical recording order for the parts will be, and the tempo you can play the parts in at without making mistakes. Let's use a simple instrumental trio for an example of how to make your first recording. Our instruments will be PIANO, BASS, and DRUMS. You will record the drum part first, then piano and bass. A tempo of 76 will be a nice, easy-going speed for entering the parts.

So, open your sequencer software on the computer and confirm that the main "Track View" is displayed on your screen. (Most sequencers are in this view already when you first start the program, so you probably won't have to do anything to get to the Track View!).

2, Prepare to record by setting up three different tracks, one for each instrument. We'll set up the Piano track first. Select TRACK 1 and name this track "PIANO". Next, you need to assign a MIDI channel to this track. Find the CHANNEL column and assign this track channel "1". Find the "INSTRUMENT" column ( your software may call it the "PATCH" column - it's same thing). Type in the number "1" in this column or simply select the "ACOUSTIC PIANO" sound from your General MIDI instrument list. Now, we need to assign a volume level to this track. Find the column that allows you to enter the volume value and type in a value of "100". (In MIDI, the valid number range for most functions is from "0" to "127". Zero is "minimum" and 127 is "maximum." When we assigned the Piano Track a volume level of 100, this is close to maximum volume.) Find your TEMPO SETTING box and type in a value of "76" to set the tempo for the entire song.

3, Now select TRACK 2, name it "BASS," assign this track MIDI channel "2," choose the "FRETLESS BASS" sound from your GM instrument list (or type in number "36"), then enter a volume level value of "90."

3, The final preparation is to assign the drums to track number 10. (You could really put the drums on any track you wish, but the "standard of practice" for commercial MIDI recordings suggests putting drums on Track 10.) Select TRACK 10, name it "BASS DRUM and SNARE," assign it MIDI channel "10," and type in a volume level of "80." In the instrument column, type in the number "1" (this selects the General MIDI "STANDARD DRUM KIT").

5, While TRACK 10 is selected, play a few notes on your MIDI keyboard and verify that you hear drum sounds. Keep playing notes until you find a BASS DRUM note and a SNARE note. (In a GM instrument, the BASS DRUM is on note #35 and another on note #36. The SNARE is on note #38 and another snare on note #40.) Let's use note #'s 36 and 38 since they are conveniently located side-by-side on your keyboard ( a C-natural and D-natural).

6, Let's record the Drum Part. Select Track 10. Find your "RECORD" button and click it. You will have a one or 2 measure count-off with a metronome click. At the end of the count-off, start playing the BASS DRUM on beats 1 and 3, and the SNARE on alternate beats 2 and 4. Not exactly an "exciting" drum track, but it will serve as a rhythm track to follow when recording the piano and bass parts. If you goof, just "undo" your recording and do it over. When you are happy with your drum track, you are ready to record the piano part. (You should now turn off the metronome click, so when you enter the piano and bass parts, you will hear just the drums as your timing reference. Check your software documentation for instruction on how to do this in your particular program.)

7, Select Track 1 (the Piano Track). Click the RECORD button, wait for the count-off and play in your piano part in time with the drum track you recorded.

8, Select Track 2 (the Bass Track) and play in the bass part in time with the drum and piano parts you recorded earlier.

9, You should save your song at this time. Congratulations! You made your first multi-track, multi-instrument MIDI recording! Now you can load and play your "virtual trio" anytime you want.

Pretty much all of the steps above can be be used within any multi-track MIDI recording software. Have fun!