I like to midi record myself (non quantized) after I learn something so I can look at the results on a grid for timing and loudness issues. Currently I use an MPC One but would like to switch to a laptop. Any recommendations for a suitable DAW or other app?
Note: it’s important to me to learn to sight read traditional western music notation, so not really interested in apps like syntheasia.
(It would actually be great to scroll or page the sheet music somehow)
Sibelius? That one springs to mind with a sheet music perspective being a key requirement.
With Sibelius, I don’t see a way to record midi while I play or view a grid after I play. That’s what I need most of all.
(Probably my reference to sheet music was mis worded: I want to practice reading notation it, not software to generate notation. Right now I have a stand with paper, it’s ok. )
Tonetrack EZ piano VST is worth investigating. It comes with a standalone version so no need for a daw as host. Don’t know if this is what you looking for…
if you’re trying to learn to sightread on the keyboard/piano then you just have to do it the old fashioned way. get yourself some early beginner piano books (faber performance level 1 for instance) and just go ahead and read, then proceed to do this every day for a few years…
For the unquantised midi recording part, really ANY DAW will do. I’d probably focus on something with a linear timeline at its heart (Logic, Studio One, Pro Tools, Reaper, Cubase, etc etc), especially if you play longer pieces.
If you want to read scores while playing, either use a PDF reader, or if you want to view your own midi as scores, get a DAW with a score view/editor.
Studio One does it all as far as I know and for me personally is the best DAW on the market for no reason relevant to your inquiry. but I wouldn’t be surprised if eg Reaper does it all too and that one is a whole lot cheaper.
Reaper lets you record MIDI and display it as notation, if that’s what you want. But notation, ironically, will give you less information about how precise your timing and touch is than a piano-roll MIDI display.
Logic Pro will let you view a MIDI track as notation in Score Editor, after you have presumably recorded your keyboard playing as MIDI without quantization.
Interesting. Never done that for practice, but i do like to audio record myself, and listen back. This is more for me to hear the flow and the musical performance. Both sax and piano.
There’s the listening side of this i like too, the critical listening that you can do when you know a piece well.
I make notes right on the page, so i remember the next day. Often just hearing is enough.
I have videoed myself, occasionally when there’s a technique problem though a live teacher is better still with that for me.
Also big for recording for me is with improvisation. Hearing myself in improv and remembering what i played, i’m getting better at it, but i’m not great. It sounds different playing it back compared to when you first play it. The recording helps me work out some new riffs.
What sorts of things does the MIDI recording help you with that you’re having problems with ?
What i do use MIDI for is getting a new more difficult piece that I don’t know in my ears, if I get stuck. I optically scan the page for that. Listening while reading a piece helps me.
Ableton displays both note timing and velocities at the same time. And zooming in and out also works fine. I dont know whether you can plot sustain pedal easily, havent looked into that.