midi wtf is it and what can it do?

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-- midi wtf is it and what can it do?

Posted by dj prometheus on Jun-23-2004 23:51:

midi wtf is it and what can it do?

I was wondering what are the capabilities of midi.If I load a midi file into lets say fruity loops can I change the instruments that it was before easily or will I have to still find the notation for it.Is midi files different than the midi capabilities of a keyboard or do they have similarities.I know midi has only some instruments in it so im kinda confused as to what it is and what it does.

Posted by Thunder5 on Jun-23-2004 23:57:

From http://www.midi.com/

quote:

MIDI is the acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. Throughout its existence, MIDI has gained acceptance with industry professionals by leaps and bounds. Not only does it allow for faster creation and composition of music, it allows the composer to become the proverbial one-man band.

MIDI was introduced in 1983. It was developed in cooperation between the major music industry electronic instrument manufacturers including Roland, Yamaha, Korg and others. No one ever dreamed the kinds of sounds that could be created and accessed using such a powerful communications protocol.

The MIDI protocol allows electronic devices (usually synthesizers, but also computers, light show controllers, VCR�s, multi-track recorders, etc.) to interact and work in synchronization with other MIDI compatible devices. Using a master controller device such as a keyboard, one can play or trigger sounds from other electronic devices remotely. This eliminates the need for one keyboardist to perform with nine or ten keyboards around him. He can play all the keyboards through one simply by connecting them using MIDI. The other keyboards can be off-stage; he never has to touch them, yet he can play them.

The best analogy for MIDI is to liken it to the linking of two computers via modems. The same way the computers share information via modem, electronic devices share it via MIDI. It does not send the actual musical note, but the information about the note. It can send messages to synthesizers telling it to change sounds, master volume, modulation devices, which note was depressed, and even how long to sustain the note.

MIDI has been continually expanded to include other features for the professional musician. Some of note include MIDI Time Code (allowing synchronization of video and audio), Sample Dump Standard (allowing for the transfer of digital audio files) and MIDI Show Control (allowing control of devices used in theater).

Posted by Stuart Silver on Jun-24-2004 10:07:

Re: midi wtf is it and what can it do?

quote:
Originally posted by dj prometheus
I know midi has only some instruments in it so im kinda confused as to what it is and what it does.

Technically midi doesn't contain any 'instruments' at all. In its simplest form Midi sends instructions to a synth/vsti/effect telling it what to do. So for example, say you have a midi cable connecting your PC/sequencer to an external synth. If you play a midi file in the sequencer it sends information (or events) to the synth. The midi file will most probably contain note information (eg the synth would receive a 'play A#4' message) or controller information (eg the synth would receive a 'change filter to value 97' message).

Dunno if I explained that very well or just confused you more!!

Posted by KilldaDJ on Jun-24-2004 11:13:

Re: Re: midi wtf is it and what can it do?

quote:
Originally posted by Stuart Silver
Technically midi doesn't contain any 'instruments' at all. In its simplest form Midi sends instructions to a synth/vsti/effect telling it what to do. So for example, say you have a midi cable connecting your PC/sequencer to an external synth. If you play a midi file in the sequencer it sends information (or events) to the synth. The midi file will most probably contain note information (eg the synth would receive a 'play A#4' message) or controller information (eg the synth would receive a 'change filter to value 97' message).

Dunno if I explained that very well or just confused you more!!

yeah thats what my music teacher taught us in school...

his was more along the lines of a midi is just a set of instructions telling an instrument what to play, when to play, how to play etc

good definition eitherway.

Posted by Digital Aura on Jun-24-2004 13:26:

I remember asking this only 3 or 4 months back! I was of the mind that MIDI was the set of 127 basic instruments (like Brite Piano, Violin, Horn, etc) that came as a PRELOAD on my KORG Trinity keyboard.

Now I see that MIDI is just an electronic signal that a controller like my keyboard sends to my sequencer program saying "NOTE ON, NOTE is a middle C" and stuff like that. Then my sequencer takes that and says "OH, middle C using a VANGUARD softsynth with such and such a patch will be played now!".

It doesnt need to get complicated is my point!

Posted by dj prometheus on Jun-24-2004 13:59:

Hey everyone I found the midi file for the letgend of zelda song and I tried loading it into fruity.Now I have changed the instruments for it and I found a super easy way to do remixes as long as I have the midi file.Its pretty cool.Thanx for the diefinitions everyone.

Posted by Stuart Silver on Jun-24-2004 20:38:

Now go check out some of the great trance midis in this thread!

http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...threadid=111384