I have experimented with the tunes in the DT and a variety of abc format sites at Tunes at Ceolas. I am now wishing to venture a bit further into transcribing existing tunes plus tunes/songs that I am writing in a Celtic/folkie vein.

But this MIDI stuff is quite dauntimg to a new-comer. There's such a proliferation of hardware and software available, and like a lot of people I don't choose to spend a lot of loot on it. For the time being I guess I have just a couple of fairly straight forward needs.

(1) Input the tune, and fiddle with the dots, until I am happy with the musical result. And save it of course for onforwarding to DT or wherever.

(2) Play the tune in a way which sounds more like a traditional instrument rather than the electronic noises that emanate from one of the kid's toys. Fiddle, concertina, whistle and Irish pipes would be great. Mandolin, banjo, harmonica, harp ...?

I have a 486, and am just about to purchase a Creative Labs SoundBlaster 16 - unless someone talks me out of this.

Any feedback and direction would be warmly appreciated.

Regards John

La Marca, if you read this I haven't forgotten about the tune for 'Farewell To The Rhonda'