Have you ever wondered how musicians create complex soundscapes or how electronic instruments produce such a wide range of tones? The answer lies in a powerful tool called MIDI. “What is MIDI? A Beginner’s Guide” will answer all your questions and unlock the flexible world of music creation using MIDI. We’ll explore what MIDI is, how it works, and how it revolutionized the way music is produced. So, whether you’re a curious music enthusiast or an aspiring producer, this guide is your roadmap to understanding the magic behind MIDI music.

Table Of Contents:

What Is MIDI?

MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It’s basically a set of instructions that allows electronic musical instruments, computers, and other gadgets to talk to each other. It was a real game-changer back when it started in the 80’s. It allowed synthesizers, drum machines, and other electronic gear from different companies to connect and play nice together. This was way before music was primarily composed on computers.

MIDI doesn’t carry any audio signal itself. I like to think of it as a conductor coordinating an orchestra of electronic devices. Each instruction is a MIDI message telling a device to do something. This could be telling it to play a certain note, change a sound, tweak a volume knob, or any number of things. 

Understanding MIDI Messages

MIDI is more intuitive than it ever has been, as you can connect everything right to your computer with a single USB cable and modern DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) take care of all the complicated stuff for you. However, although they aren’t immediately visible in modern DAW’s, the same MIDI messages that made those rack mounted synths do cool stuff still exist. 

You have note messages like “Note On” and “Note Off” telling your keyboard to start and stop playing a specific note, and the velocity tells the device how hard or soft to play. There are also program change messages for selecting different instruments, or presets,  as well as pitch bend data.  Each message also includes MIDI control information such as which channel to play on.

The 16 MIDI Channels Explained

You can send lots of MIDI instructions at once because there are 16 different channels to choose from, which are like 16 separate lanes on a superhighway of information. You can assign your MIDI controller to play different instruments or sounds on separate channels. This is similar to how an audio mixer allows you to mix and control sounds on separate audio tracks. You might even combine channels so that they play the same notes on separate instruments, like having two synths playing the same melody but an octave apart.

Using MIDI in Music Production

Using MIDI in music production gives you tons of control over how you create, edit, and arrange your tunes.  MIDI data itself has no sound; it’s only instructions for telling your electronic instruments what to do. You’ll start by recording the information using a MIDI controller and digital audio workstation. Once you have it in your computer, you have a musical blueprint that you can use with any virtual instrument you desire! Want to rearrange that bassline? No problem, just move the notes around or edit individual ones. MIDI sequencers work in real-time. It’s possible to manipulate parameters such as pitch bend even after you’ve recorded them.

Sequencing: Create Musical Blueprints

Imagine MIDI sequencing as building your own Lego masterpiece but with sound. MIDI makes it simple to put all those creative bricks together. Sequencing lets you meticulously plan every beat, chord change, and melody line in a visually engaging way. MIDI note information, pitch bends, and other data appear on a timeline or grid in your DAW. Modern DAW’s have very sophisticated sequencers.

If you’re a more seasoned piano player you might sequence parts right into your computer without even playing them. Your fingers can create drum fills by placing them on the piano roll directly in front of you, just like you’re programming a drum machine, all at the same time you record a Rhodes melody into the sequencer in real-time by playing your midi controller.

Think about the precision involved, as if you have the ultimate cut and paste for sound. Need to move those notes over by half a beat? No problem. Copy a guitar lick from one verse to the bridge? It takes less than a second.

MIDI sequencing even opens doors to generative possibilities and randomizations. A click of a mouse can easily nudge drum fills in new directions and you can easily breathe life into your productions with programmed expressions or crescendos that would be difficult or impossible to do any other way. MIDI sequencers also let you tweak notes and make them quantized so they’re more accurate to the beat grid, perfect for if you aren’t a master drummer and still wanna have all the feels.

MIDI Files Explained

This is where things get interesting, because this common language has spawned a whole new form of creative collaboration and exchange. MIDI files (or .mid) contain a roadmap of your song or musical composition with no audio in it. A single file carries all the data from a single MIDI channel so if your composition includes information on several channels you’ll need to bounce each one to create a MIDI file for every channel.

MIDI file compatibility and portability opened a treasure trove for producers everywhere because suddenly everyone was sharing. These files make collaboration incredibly convenient as you can simply bounce your part in your studio in Miami and share it with your collaborator across the ocean in London, and they can manipulate it all without the degradation you’d get from audio files.

Sharing MIDI information has created another opportunity for producers as an endless list of pre-recorded songs, arrangements, compositions, and grooves became readily available, opening up a massive universe of music that could be repurposed, re-imagined, and personalized. If you aren’t sure what the chord progression to “Bohemian Rhapsody” is then simply buy the MIDI file and you’ll see every single note.

Connecting MIDI Devices With Virtual Instruments

Remember all those massive racks of cool, analog synthesizers you used to see in studio’s or in that music tech book in your college? VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plugins work in almost the same way, only they don’t have their own sounds, they have to rely on MIDI instruction to work their magic. You can make your MIDI keyboard sound like anything by telling your software synths what notes to play and VSTs can emulate just about anything imaginable. Now even beginners are working with vintage, analog-emulating sounds without dropping tens of thousands of dollars.

The combination of MIDI messages and virtual instrument technologies goes way beyond just triggering basic notes, though. If you know how to manipulate them, you can create expressive phrasing that was unheard of a few years ago. There is even something called MIDI Polyphonic Expression (or MPE) that can use the slightest nuances from your touch on pads or keys and translate them to bending pitch, adjusting vibrato, adding filter sweeps, or any number of possibilities, making digital sound generation have all the soul of the real thing.

MIDI Controller Rundown

There are MIDI controller instruments for everyone. The choices today have never been better and they don’t cost a fortune anymore. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular options around!  

MIDI Keyboards for Playing Tunes

Akai MPK mini MKII, CME Xkey and Arturia KeyStep – what do all these cool MIDI controllers have in common? For starters they’ve become much more portable. If you’re after the feeling of playing a real keyboard with semi-weighted keys, they’re compact enough to tuck away easily into your backpack.

Modern MIDI controllers make triggering complex arpeggios with sophisticated on board features simple. Many of them offer extensive tactile control, while the best even combine piano keys with buttons and knobs for controlling your DAW’s mixer or transport functions, so you barely have to look at your computer. At the high-end of things you get beautiful piano-action keys with weighted velocity response so even your classical renditions will have all the grace of an analog acoustic piano.

Pad Controllers For Making Beats

Drum pad MIDI controllers like the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32 or the Nektar Impact LX88+ are made for knocking out rhythms on a visually engaging interface. These sensitive squares are more responsive than ever making it intuitive and easy to lay down hip-hop beats, EDM drops or orchestral arrangements. They often have responsive buttons and  real-time editing tools, making beats with MIDI instruments can sound organic.

Drum pad MIDI controllers typically integrate with drum sample plugins or sequencers effortlessly. If you don’t like a hit, it’s easy to just nudge that kick to another snare. You can even switch kits, quantize the timing to create tighter rhythms, or tweak velocity information so everything has feeling, making it perfect for studio musicians or live artists.

FAQ’s About What is MIDI? A Beginner’s Guide

What is MIDI? 

MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It’s not actual sound itself, but a digital language that allows electronic instruments, MIDI devices, and computers to communicate with each other.

Do I need a MIDI controller as a beginner? 

A MIDI controller isn’t essential for beginners! You can experiment with MIDI sounds using your computer and a mouse. However, a MIDI controller can make the process more intuitive and fun, letting you play notes and experiment with melodies like you would on a piano. If you’re already comfortable with a traditional keyboard, a MIDI controller might be a worthwhile investment to enhance your music creation experience.

What do you need for a MIDI setup?

This all comes down to your budget, but for recording anything you’re gonna need the basics. First, get yourself a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), such as a free one like Cakewalk or a popular one like Logic or Pro Tools. Then, find an affordable MIDI controller keyboard to play sounds with and some virtual instruments to make sound. After that, get yourself a pair of headphones or studio monitors, as well as an audio interface,  and you are in business. It really is much cheaper than ever to get set up.

Conclusion

By now, you’ve grasped the power of MIDI and its role in creating the music you love in the digital ageKomplete Kontrol M32. It’s a gateway to a world of sonic possibilities, from classic piano melodies to mind-bending electronic soundscapes. The exciting part? It’s easy to get the hang of! 

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