FIRST UP

What is MIDI ?
MIDI stands for Musical
Instrument Digital Interface, and
works as a controller that sends
Binary messages/ Event data to
help create a variety of sounds
when introduced to a Digital
Audio Work Station (DAW)
History
In 1982 MIDI was born and was
developed by Dave Smith The
Synth Man and stemmed from
the Project 5 Synthesiser which
was a multi voiced, which
helped create the idea of
having a single set of control
different Voices (instruments).
The Wires
The common use today to
connect MIDI controllers is
through USB, however originally
and still often used now is the 5
pin din connector.
MIDI
The essential guide for Music Tech lovers.
In modern day music MIDI is used a huge amount, it is
great because it can be used for any type of music.
Whether its a common electronic synth style dance track or
a Orchestral piece written as a score. Having MIDI makes
this so much easier for example, If a band lost a member
during a series of recording sessions they could still finish
their record without having to panic. The use of a Digital
Audio Workstation ( DAW ) and a MIDI Keyboard would
help complete this with a series of sampled instruments to
recreate the original instrument in the tracks. Also MIDI
devices come in various shapes and sizes, making it
possible for a portable studio.

A single port in MIDI has 16 Channels and in a single channel of midi has a variety of messages useful for
recording and musical performance, it can send 128 messages normally sent in 7bit format. So when a Key or
Pad is pressed a message which holds what note is being played is sent along with a velocity message. This note
will then be played. Different controls then can change parameters such as
Pitch Bend Wheels- Giving you the ability to bend notes up or down, normally found on the left hand side of the
keys.
Modulation Wheels- Letting you modulate different parts of the audio signal you are using. Which modulates the
original pitch accurately.
Octaves- Octaves will allow you to go up or down 12 notes making it as high as you want or low.
Sustain Button/ Pedals- This feature will increase the decay of the sound (audio signal) making its length longer,
commonly found on a grand piano along with a Soft Pedal and a Sostenuto Pedal.
Panning Position- This feature is not too common to find on the MIDI keyboard unless changed to do so using
mapping. But when found allows you to create Stereo Left and Right Shifting.
Arpeggiator and Latch - This function will break a chord or notes playing together and repeat it in different
complex styles. Latch will then hold the chord or notes playing so it basically loops whats playing.
And to keep the volume and EQ under your control The Master Volume and Treble Middle Bass knobs are used.
Event Data in Detail :
When MIDI sends the binary messages which make Event
Data it sends messages such as
Note Pitch, includes information about which note to play
from A-G and an Octave, for an example, Middle C would
be seen as C-0 The Octave.
The Note being played.
Note Velocity, is how hard or soft the note has been
played making it sharp and sudden or, soft and gracefully.
After touch, after touch is the release of the note played.
Other Control Features.
Event Data does NOT include audio signals, this means
MIDI data does not create any type of sound.

When you are producing you piece, use the sequencer ( DAW) to help
create a perfect track by using these ;
On the right the Piano Roll from
Logic Pro X is shown. This is where the
editing of a played or drawn in melody
can be done. You can simply drag the
notes as one group up or down octaves,
stop overlapping, quantise and more.

Velocity can be raised or lowered as shown below. Colour indication is
used to show how hard the note has been played and moving the lines
up or down in the lower section does this.
DAWs
When using Digital Audio Workstations a melody can
become anything. With a library of software
instruments it allows you to make a wider amount of
music.
Shown Below is the Logic Pro X Library
Sound Card

Like some Mixers and Controllers, Sound Cards are found this allows the right
amount of power to operate Mics and for when you want to DI instruments. The
Power 48V is also known as Phantom Power.



MIDI has made a huge impact to producing it has made
music making a lot easier which allows anyone to do it
without needing to go to a professional studio. The quality
of the instrument samples are so accurate because many
session musicians have recorded real instruments to make
the samples in the sequencer.

A studio set up and recording equipment is all squeezed
into a computerised system. Technology has saved money
in the making with MIDI. You would think new technology
means more expense but with MIDI it means the opposite.

Without MIDI the music industry would be a lot different,

we would rely on creating sounds through synthesisers
and using more Analog equipment rather Digital.

MIDI is crucial in making music on a Sequencing Software
and truly is worth using in modern day producing.
Jack Grimwood