Help Needed: Tips on Making Midi Sound Natural

joojoo

Hi everyone,

I want to make my MIDI sound more natural (especially the keyboard) and would appreciate advice from the experts in this forum. :)

I know how to change the velocity and duration of the notes but recently read you should also modulate parameters called "modulation" and "expression". I'm a classically trained pianist so I've been pretty unhappy with how my MIDI programming has been sounding. Can anyone advise on how to do this and if you have extra tips on how to make MIDI data sound natural?

Thank you!

PK The DJ

What kind of music are you making? What kind of sounds are you using? When you say "more natural" are you trying to emulate non keyboard instruments (strings/brass/woodwind)?

joojoo

I'm making instrumental music! To be specific, I am using Claire (a piano) and want to make classical music so expression is important. Tips on how to make both keyboard VSTs (claire, noire etc.) and instrumental (session strings) would be very helpful!

stephen24

I expect you've found by now how to control volume and dynamics in your string instruments to give them expression (not sure what you expect with your piano, which just needs to be played nicely.)

You can control these by "drawing them in" after playing them, and if this is good enough for you, then good luck.

You can control them during your playing with a slider or knob - not easy, but some people get results they're happy with.

But if you want your orchestral lines (strings and wind) to really come to life, you could consider using a breath controller. There are several sorts, some which you can actually play like a real instrument - you have to spend time (probably months) learning the fingering and so on. Others you just blow to get the expression, using a piano keyboard to play the actual notes.

Glad to help with advice if you're interested.

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stephen24

Is this the kind of stuff you had in mind?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NKVVlG3_zuoiSM5VaYtBm9MqXsDaXKHJ/view?usp=sharing

Done a few years ago with a vintage EW library with some modern Spitfire instruments (solo cello, oboe). Blown with my trusty Yamaha WX5 (alas no longer manufactured) except of course for piano, pizzicato strings, etc