I have been using the Midi Editor to write some basic sound loops, but all of them sound like a piano. It says that the instrument it's using is MIDI Out, and I thought that there were a lot of instruments available through MIDI. How do I select them, instead of this piano sound?
You can click on the down-pointing arrow to the right of the track number and choose a different VST instrument from the drop-down menu.
You can also double-click on the object in the arranger to bring up the MIDI editor. You can choose a different instrument from the menu at the top of the screen.
Well, the options there are:
No VSTi (which is checked)
Software Instruments -> VST Plug-in Path
Instrument Editor (which is greyed out and inaccessible)
When I actually enter the MIDI Editor, it tells me I'm using MIDI, and that's what I'd like to use, but I was just under the impression that MIDI encompassed more than the default piano setting that it's on now. Do I have to set a VST Plug-in Path to the Microsoft Synth? If so, how?
Well, that stinks! You must be using the Basic version.
The tutorials show all of the instruments you'd get with the Premium version, but it's not the first time MAGIX has stretched the truth.
Your only options are to upgrade to the Premium version, or download and install other VST instruments. The vast majority of free VST instruments are keyboard/synth based, although there are variations available, like grand piano and string synths, etc.
Many can be found here (and elsewhere)...
Of course, you can also purchase many VST instruments.
Place a copy of the folder of the VST instrument which contains the .dll file into the "Synth" folder at this location...(assiming it is the same as MM-15)
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\MAGIX\MusicMaker 16\Synth
Then, open MM-16 and it should show up as a VST instrument in the menu's and under the Synth tab at the bottom of the screen.