The only audio that I have managed is the "audio" on playback mode. This of course is not a "file"
The Mac system unfortunately would not be an option as I would then have two different systems to cope with - all the music files , video files and still photos are on the PC and therefore (as far as I know - and I don't know much !) would not import into a Mac as it's a different operating system.
well in it's current state, at your level of frustration, your PC is not much use to you either...
Ern
I also have a Windows laptop for "on the road" as I do a lot of filming and stills away from home and introducing a Mac to that situation would also be too complicated. The GarageBand already loaded into a new Mac sounds about my level (I only record one instrument usually). It's a pity that Windows don't bundle a similar one in their OS.
Ern
There are two very nice commercial software packages that can approximate the function and user interface of Garage Band:
Mixcraft by Acoustica:
http://www.acoustica.com/mixcraft/index.htm
Sequel by Steinberg:
http://www.sequel-music.net/whats-sequel.html
The closest thing to iMovie I could find for the PC is Pinnacle Studio:
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSi...+Products/Home+Video/Studio+Family/Studio.htm
It would cost you somewhere around $100 USD to get a modern music and video production environment for the PC...
Since this problem arose about a month ago (the problem of putting music to video on a budget) I have searched the web for free music software which will accept m i d i .
Ern
Free software is usually utilitarian in nature, if you want complete software solutions for the workflow you suggest on the PC, you'll probably have to spend something.
After a month I am still searching. It may be me that's looking in all the wrong places or being too cautious I don't really know. For example there are many websites offering free download versions of Cubase, Pro Tools or Cakewalk which have no connection to any of these manufacturers; I would not touch them for 2 reasons a) they are probably illegal sites (copyright etc etc) b) the software would have a load of viruses bundled with it set to appear in a couple of months and destroy a whole load of valuable files.
I thought actually that I had "cracked it" the other day when I downloaded Audacity - it came well recommended (Sunday Times PC page), its an original site (as in manufacturers original) and was made by students doing music research. So I connected the digital piano, pressed record and . . . . . not a boffin.
Ern
You'll probably have to give us some more details on what other hardware you have and what steps you have taken to properly set up the hardware so that Audacity recognizes program signal flowing into your computer.
What makes me so crazy is the question why go through all that work and produce a music software programme WITHOUT m.i.d.i. ? ? ? ?
Ern
Audacity is not really a 'music' software program, although it could be handy for musicians. It is an audio editing software that many folks doing podcasts and audio batch processing and the like can use for all sorts of audio related tasks. You can't really be complaining if a 'free' piece of software does not do what you think it should do, many people use Audacity for what *they* need it for...
I might as well make a piano (I make, tune, repair, rebuild pianos) and leave out the keys.
Ern
Not a good analogy because Audacity is useful for all sorts of audio editing and processing, a piano without keys is not useful at all, unless you are John Cage or something...
Thanks for your patience.
Ern