Open Mixcraft. Double-click the desktop icon or open Mixcraft from the Programs menu.
Connect a MIDI controller to your computer. Typically MIDI controllers call for a USB connection, but some newer devices call for Firewire cables. This sets up a communication channel between the controller and the MIDI interface in your Mixcraft program. If you don't have a MIDI controller and are using Mixcraft version 5, you can configure the program so that your "QWERTY" keyboard acts as a MIDI controller. Click "View" and select "Musical Typing."
Click "File" and select "New MIDI Track." This tells configures Mixcraft to assign the MIDI device as the primary sound source, as distinct from an audio source such as a microphone.
Assign an instrument to the MIDI channel. Click "Instruments" and scroll through the various menus and sub-menus until you find the sound that you want, for example "orchestral strings" or "acoustic drum kit."
Set a tempo. Click in the "Tempo" box at the bottom of the screen if you want to change the tempo setting from the default of 120 beats per minute. Click on the "metronome" symbol and press play. Audition the tempo by playing along, adjust if necessary. Because MIDI is data, you can perform extensive time-based and sound-based post-production edits. Setting a tempo in advance configures beat-markers, which makes editing easier.
Press "Record" and play your part, either using the MIDI controller keyboard or your typing keyboard, depending on the assigned input device. Rather than recording audio, MIDI sends data messages to the recording interface. Each note is called a "MIDI event." These messages contain information about note-length, pitch and velocity. You can alter almost all parameters of a MIDI event afterwards, either by manually moving it or adding a post-production effect such as reverb.
Click "Tools" and select "Quantize." This moves any out of time notes to the nearest beat-marker.