Something Really Cool - Using Only MIDI To Make Backing Tracks

I updated this old blog in June of 2024.

I have done my best to recreate several dozen of Dave Hum's backing tracks. I share them FREELY for the pure love of music. My only motivation is to promote the cheerful music of Dave Hum, to help other banjo enthusiasts learn, encourage others to purchase original backing tracks from Dave Hum's family, and not least of all to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others (so you can know that your name is written in Heaven too - Luke 10:20).

I had no idea that I could use my MixCraft program to piece together backing tracks using MIDI bass and drums. It is so awesome! Here's how to do it...

1. Right mouse click on any audio track and choose “Insert Track,” and then select “Virtual Instrument Track.”
2. Double left mouse click anywhere on the new track (in the white area). This will create an Instrument Track to edit.
3. Click on the picture of the piano keys under the name of the track. Here you can select the MIDI instrument you want. I select bass (electric, finger bass), and then “Percussion - Drum Kits” and choose “Drum Machine Kit 1.” There's a nice kick drum in there that sounds like the one Dave Hum uses. I also like to use the “Standard Kit 1.” This is how Dave Hum made his drum lines, but he used Reason instead of MixCraft. Reason, to me, is MUCH more complicated.
   
   I made this backing track for “My Grandfather's Clock” in the Key of G, Dave Hum style. The process is simple and does not even require playing bass guitar at all. The track you just heard uses MIDI instruments that I made into an MP3 to share. When you finish your song in MixCraft, you can export it as a wav, mp3, ogg or other file format of your choice.

There are two things to remember that I have learned:

1. Make your drum track first and then use that as a guide to lay down your bass beats (synced with).
2. You can get a human feel to your backing track by adjusting the duration of certain bass beats, to give it rhythm and a bounce feel at times. In other words, I tried to make my bass beats sound like Dave Hum's playing. I cannot tell if Dave is playing bass or using MIDI bass, but I think he uses MIDI. I use both, depending on the song. For more faster songs I like to use MIDI, because I am not a skilled bass player. I can play simple songs.

Also, in the lower portion of your MixCraft screen, in the MIDI editing area, I set mine to “Snap 1/16.” This allows you to set your beats at 1/16 beats. If you want even more precision, choose “Snap 1/32” or even “1/64 triplets.” If you get good at your timing, you can create backing tracks that sound very realistic. I made this backing track for the song, The Maid Behind The Bar, using only a MIDI bass. It sounds very nice. So, if you cannot play bass guitar, you can do all your bass with your mouse in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) like MixCraft.

For my MIDI bass, I always add a premade effect from MixCraft called “Smooth & Warm” (this adds a Compressor and a Parametric Equalizer). I learned something important about the Parametric Equalizer. You want to set the lower frequencies well below the zero line. If you don't your bass notes will distort in the finished recording. By reducing the low end of the bass, it ensures that at higher volume there won't be any distortion. This has allowed me to set the volume higher in my finished track, without concern about it pegging in the red on the signal intensity meter.

Also, I have tried the free MODO emulator software. They give you a 1960's P-bass for free. You can adjust the style of picking, type of amp simulation, old or new strings, and even choose rusty strings...lol. No kidding. After using MODO for a couple months, I came to the conclusion that I don't need it. I think just using regular MIDI bass with the “Smooth & Warm” preset effect within MixCraft is all I need to produce a great bass for my songs. By adjusting the Parametric Equalizer, you can get just about any bass tone imaginable.

I made this track of “Merrily Kiss The Quaker's Wife” recently using only MIDI bass. You can hear how nice it came out, humbly said. There is no distortion. I'm just as armature, learning as I go. I played an acoustic guitar in this track. It's a Cort brand that I bought at a local Guitar center. It's a very nice guitar for only $130. It has natural wood without any lacquer coating, which gives the instrument an organic sound that I really like. I'm playing along on a Cajon box that I bought used from Amazon for $88. I used a Rattle Shake loop at the end, pun for “Rattle Snake.” I found that free .wav loop online last week. You can download it to use in your projects, if you'd like.

MIDI bass is very nice quality. I don't think 99% of listeners could tell the difference between MIDI bass versus real bass. I think only a skilled bass player could tell the difference. I can't tell the difference, but I'm not a proficient bass artist.