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Felony Cases

If charged with a felony, the defendant may or may not be required to reply with a plea at the initial arraignment. (The policy of presenting a plea at felony arraignment is different state-by-state).
As a next step, the judge may set the defendant's preliminary hearing. (Not all states have preliminary hearings, some convene a grand jury to find probably cause.)
As with misdemeanors, bail is established according to the county bail schedule. The defendant has a right to argue to bail reduction.
At the preliminary hearing, the D.A. will show the court that there was probably cause to believe that a crime was committed and that eh defendant was the person who committed the crime. If the judge feels that there is enough preliminary evidence to proceed, then the defendant will be arraigned again and there will be a pre-trial conference at which time plea negotiations and discussions of the issues, witnesses and strengths and weaknesses.
As with misdemeanors, the next step is trial by judge or jury where all of the pretrial motions and issues of fact are decided. If the defendant is found guilty at the end of trial, then the judge would impose a sentence, usually much more severe than with a misdemeanor offense.