?Tempo
?If you write a song with midi and decide that the tempo is dragging a little bit, all you have to do is change a number in the box to fit what you are going for. All midi files in the song will automatically adjust to fit this tempo. Unfortunately, most midi sequencers can not alter the tempo of recorded wave files in this fashion. I know that Cubase SX3 can, however. So if you are putting together a little demo of a song, you may notice that the tempo is a not right when the vocals are being recorded. It's easy to go in and change the tempo for the entire song. Or, you can always add a tempo map to let the song speed up or slow down as you see fit.

Instruments
Writing songs is great with an acoustic guitar. In fact, I personally find it to be the best instrument to write songs on. However, what if you have an idea for a saxaphone part? Well, you can try playing that part on an acoustic guitar and hope that it works out. However, if you are using midi, just fire up your sampler, load up the saxaphone, and start beating on your keyboard.

If you decide that, after playing the part, you don't like the saxaphone, changing it to another instrument takes about 2 clicks on the mouse.

Changing instruments can give you tremendous tonal and also creative options when you are in the songwriting zone.

Samples almost always sound amazing! They are recorded by guys who are probably better engineers than you or I in rooms that sound far superior to what I have, with gear and knowledge that greatly surpasses my situation as well. In other words, samples sound killer, if you choose the right ones!

I bought a program for $270 called DFH Superior by Toontrack. The drums sound better and even more real than any drums I've ever recorded!! It's amazing just how for midi sequencing and sampling technology has came! (Of course, it's up to you to program the drums to sound like they were played for a real drummer, if that's what you are going for).