computer

Computers can...
   - run sequencers (song editing computer programs) which can...
         - display and scroll sheet music
         - display live piano roll notation
         - load in midi files of backing tracks (drums, strings, etc)
           and tracks to learn
         - record your playing as midi
         - save it all into a midi file for later
         - print out what you played on paper
         - aaaaaand other fancy things :D

   - synthesize midi into audio

   - record audio and save to a .WAV or .MP3 file.
     then maybe burn it to CD, stick on the web, etc...
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sequencers:

   A midi sequencer is a computer program that
      listens to the notes coming in from your midi controller and
      sends (sequences) notes out to your midi sound module.

   pianocheater, baby...  read up...:)
      If you need a WAY fancier sequencer than PianoCheater, hit google.
         Just don't ask me for help ;-)
      If you need one that's just a LITTLE fancier,
         tell me what you need and you just might get it.  For free with credit.

   Sitting in the middle there,
      a sequencer can listen to the midi coming from the
      keyboard controller and record it into a "track".

   A track is similar to a
      midi channel,
      but there's no "16 max" limit on tracks.
      You tell a track to listen to a midi channel (or set of em) and
      record all the notes&controls it hears.

   Tracks are played out together (sequenced) with
      other already recorded tracks.
      You can display the tracks' notes on screen,
         save em in a file,
         load em from a file,
         edit em on screen,
         juggle which track has which sound,
         juggle which tracks go to which sound module channels, etc, etc.

   The sequencer is what gives the keyboard player "super human" capabilities:
      - playing tons of tracks at once
      - playing notes a human hand can't reach
      - playing notes SUPER fast or EXACTLY on time, and so on.

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synthesizing midi into audio:

   Maybe you've got a midi file on your PC or
      maybe you've got midi out from your keyboard coming into your PC
      (see hookup)

   A PC's usb port  (with possibly a midi=>usb interface in front of it)
     + sound card
     + sound card software  (for example,  SoundFont, VST or DLS)
     = a midi sound module to synthesize midi into audio.

   It could be your PC will BLOW AWAY your keyboard's sounds.  (or maybe not).

   I use a Creative Audigy (SoundFont) card.  It's $30.  It's pretty powerful.
      You can add new sounds to it that you download (for FREE) on the web !!
      (called soundfonts - .SF2 files)
      NO latency :)

   Microsoft designed "DLS2" (downloadable sounds) technology too.
      Similar to SoundFonts.

   Or you can go the softsynth route - wierd little glitzy pc apps that hang off
      one of the "big boy" sequencers  (or a softsynth "host" of SOME sort).
      VST (Virtual Studio Technology) are a popular variety of softsynths.
      I'm still not very enlightened on these.  Go hit google...

   Check out PianoWorld.com's forums for other things such as
      Ivory, PianoTech, etc.
      These are pretty powerful midi=>audio renderers but
         can be expensive or require dedicated hard drives and modern CPUs, etc.
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recording audio to a .WAV or .MP3 file

   I want a .WAV or .MP3 to burn on CD or post on the web !!
   You just haaaave to show off, don't you.
   And your Mom has a lame soundcard with a rotten piano sound and,
      well, she struggles with MSWord
      so don't even mention MIDI to her or she'll freak...

   PianoCheater has a Mid2Wav app that turns midi directly into a wave file.
      (Using SF2 sounds).

   If you want to use your keyboard's sounds,
      you'll likely need to send audio out from your keyboard to
      audio in on your PC.
      Then use Audacity to record the audio in to a .WAV file.

   MAKE SURE you mute all the stuff you DON'T wanna hear while recording.
      And that you've got the levels right.
      And, well, just practice and you'll get it.

   The audio recording app can be as simple as windows' "Sound Recorder"
      (Start/Program Files/Accessories/Entertainment/Sound Recorder)
      Or you can hit google and look for fancier ones like Audacity.

   That'll get you a .WAV file.
      You can hit google and search on LAME and find somethin to convert to .MP3
      MP3 is just a compressed WAV file:
      You lose a little quality, but also lose a lot of bytes off file size.
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Next up,
   the rest of your rig - things like stands, pedals, etc...