MIDI 101: The Basics

Dennis Mauricio
 Session Overview
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• Basic Concepts & Terms

• MIDI Connections
• Computers & MIDI
• MIDI Instruments
• MIDI Software Applications
• MIDI Standardized Formats & Files
• MIDI & Digital Audio Overview
 MIDI Basics
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
 MIDI Basics
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
• Designed to connect electronic music
instruments
 MIDI Basics
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
• Designed to connect electronic music
instruments
• Digital (0s & 1s)
 MIDI Basics
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
• Designed to connect electronic music
instruments
• Digital (0s & 1s)
• A set of standardized messages that
allow different electronic devices to
communicate (interface) with each
other
 MIDI Basics
• First introduced in 1983
 MIDI Basics
• First introduced in 1983
• MIDI isn’t hardware or software
 MIDI Basics
• First introduced in 1983
• MIDI isn’t hardware or software
• It’s a universal “digital language”
and means of communication for
music technology

A C Words
B Thoughts
 MIDI Basics

A C Words
B Thoughts

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(digital words) Note On/Off

Note Number

MIDI consists of performance

information—like print music
 MIDI Basics
• MIDI is completely independent of the
audio circuitry—it’s not sound.

Note On; Note Number; Velocity; Note Off

IN OUT THRU L R
MIDI AUDIO
 MIDI Connections
MIDI Cable
• A cable with a 5-pin DIN connector on
each end.
 MIDI Connections
MIDI Ports

IN OUT THRU
To next
MIDI IN
• IN – Receives MIDI information
• OUT – Transmits MIDI information
• THRU – Passes along MIDI information
 MIDI Connections
MIDI “Master” instrument
• The instrument that sends information
MIDI “Slave” instrument
• The instrument that receives information
IN OUT THRU

IN OUT THRU

Slave

Master
 MIDI Connections
Daisychaining
• Process of using the IN and THRU ports to
connect several MIDI devices together

IN OUT THRU
IN THRU

IN OUT THRU
 Computers & MIDI
MIDI Interface
• A device that is used to connect a
computer to a MIDI system
• Provides the MIDI IN and OUT ports for
connection to a MIDI device
• Translates MIDI data into a computer’s
own machine language
 Computers & MIDI
Connecting a MIDI Interface

OUT IN
MIDI
.... ....
Interface

IN OUT
 Computers & MIDI
MIDI Devices with USB Ports
• Allows MIDI keyboards and sound modules
to be directly connected to a computer
• Eliminates need for a MIDI interface
 Computers & MIDI
MIDI Devices with USB Ports
 Computers & MIDI
MIDI Management Software (Mac OS X)
 Computers & MIDI
Turning Local Control Off
• Disconnects an electronic keyboard from its
internal sound generator
• This is necessary when using a software or
dedicated sequencer

IN MIDI OUT
Internal Sound
Internal Sound
Generator
Generator
 Computers & MIDI
Turning Local Control Off
MIDI Software Thru On

IN MIDI OUT
Internal
Internal Sound
Sound
Generator
Generator

Local
Control
OFF
 MIDI Basics
MIDI Channels
 MIDI Basics
MIDI Channels
• There are 16 MIDI channels
 MIDI Basics
MIDI Channels
• There are 16 MIDI channels
• MIDI devices must be set to the same
MIDI channel to communicate with
each other
 MIDI Basics
MIDI Channels
Ch. 7

Ch. 2

Ch. 9

Ch. 3
 MIDI Basics
MIDI Channels
Ch. 7

Ch. 2

Ch. 9
3

3
Ch. 3
 MIDI Basics
MIDI Channels
• Each instrument is assigned to its
own MIDI channel

Bass Electric Piano Drums

Ch. 2 Ch. 3 Ch. 10
 MIDI Basics
Multitimbral MIDI Instruments
 MIDI Basics
Multitimbral MIDI Instruments
• Instruments that can receive and play
back MIDI information on more than
one channel at a time
 MIDI Basics
Multitimbral MIDI Instruments
• Instruments that can receive and play
back MIDI information on more than
one channel at a time
• Typically 16 parts with each part
assigned to a different MIDI channel
 MIDI Basics
Multitimbral MIDI Instruments

Guitar
Piano Ch. 3 Sax
Ch. 2 Ch. 4 Drums
Bass Ch. 10
Ch. 1
Benefits of Using MIDI
 Benefits of Using MIDI
• Small File Size
 Benefits of Using MIDI
• Small File Size
• Tempo and pitch are completely
independent of each other
 Benefits of Using MIDI
• Small File Size
• Tempo and pitch are completely
independent of each other
• Locate and cue sections or specific
points using measures and beats
 Benefits of Using MIDI
• Small File Size
• Tempo and pitch are completely
independent of each other
• Locate and cue sections or specific
points using measures and beats
• Performance and notation of a song
 MIDI Instruments
MIDI Keyboard Controllers
 MIDI Instruments
Percussion Controllers
 MIDI Instruments
MIDI Wind Controller
 MIDI Instruments
Guitar Synthesizer
 MIDI Instruments
MIDI Pedal Board
 MIDI Instruments
Stringed Instrument
Controllers
 MIDI Instruments
Application:
• Use alternate MIDI controller
instruments with the band, orchestra
or theater pit band
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing
• Records and plays back
MIDI data
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing
• Records and plays back
MIDI data
• A digital “player piano”
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing
• Records and plays back
MIDI data
• A digital “player piano”
• Works similar to a multitrack
recorder
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing
• Records and plays back
MIDI data
• A digital “player piano”
• Works similar to a multitrack
recorder
• May also include digital
audio recording
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing
• MIDI Data
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing – Teacher activities
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing – Teacher activities
• Create MIDI files of performance literature to
make “music-minus-one” practice files, CDs
or tapes
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing – Teacher activities
• Create MIDI files of performance literature to
make “music-minus-one” practice files, CDs
or tapes
• MIDI files for student practice
– Mute parts for “music-minus-one” approach
– Play back at slower tempos for more accurate
practice
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing – Student projects
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing – Student projects
• Overcomes lack of initial performance
technique
– Record music at a slower tempo
– Step-record music
– Split two-handed or complex parts and record
each separately
 MIDI Applications
Sequencing – Student projects
• Overcomes lack of initial performance
technique.
– Record music at a slower tempo
– Step-record music
– Split two-handed or complex parts and record
each separately
• Provides immediate feedback and increases
motivation
 MIDI Applications
• Notation Software
– Finale (Finale NotePad – free download)
– Sibelius
 MIDI Applications
Notation Activities
• Use a notation program to create:
– Music theory lessons, scales and exercises
– Custom parts
– Arrangements and original compositions
– Lesson presentations

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œœœœ œ œ œœœœœœœ œ œœœœ œ w
? c œœœœœœœœ œœœœœœœœ œœœœœœœœ w
 MIDI Applications
• Notation Software
– Finale (Finale NotePad – free download)
– Sibelius
• Accompaniment Software
– Band-in-a-Box
 MIDI Applications
• Notation Software
– Finale (Finale NotePad – free download)
– Sibelius
• Accompaniment Software
– Band-in-a-Box
• Music Education Software
– Practica Musica
– Music Ace (MIDI & audio)
Standard Formats
 Standard Formats
General MIDI
• Industry standard compatibility between
devices
 Standard Formats
General MIDI
• Industry standard compatibility between
devices
• 128 standard sounds and program locations
 Standard Formats
General MIDI
• Industry standard compatibility between
devices
• 128 standard sounds and program locations
• Drum note assignments
 Standard Formats
General MIDI
• Industry standard compatibility between
devices
• 128 standard sounds and program locations
• Drum note assignments
• 16 part multitimbral
 Standard Formats
General MIDI
• Industry standard compatibility between
devices
• 128 standard sounds and program locations
• Drum note assignments
• 16 part multitimbral

Expanded Formats
 Standard Formats
General MIDI
• Industry standard compatibility between
devices
• 128 standard sounds and program locations
• Drum note assignments
• 16 part multitimbral

Expanded Formats
• GM2 – Updated version of GM standard
 Standard Formats
General MIDI
• Industry standard compatibility between
devices
• 128 standard sounds and program locations
• Drum note assignments
• 16 part multitimbral

Expanded Formats
• GM2 – Updated version of GM standard
• GS – Roland’s extension
 Standard Formats
General MIDI
• Industry standard compatibility between
devices
• 128 standard sounds and program locations
• Drum note assignments
• 16 part multitimbral

Expanded Formats
• GM2 – Updated version of GM standard
• GS – Roland’s extension
• XG – Yamaha’s extension
XG
 Standard Formats
Standard MIDI File
 Standard Formats
Standard MIDI File
• A standardized file format
 Standard Formats
Standard MIDI File
• A standardized file format
• Allows different MIDI computer
programs to exchange MIDI files
 Standard Formats
Standard MIDI File
• A standardized file format
• Allows different MIDI computer
programs to exchange MIDI files
• Files can be exchanged between
Macs, PCs and hardware MIDI file
players
 Standard Formats
Standard MIDI File
• A standardized file format
• Allows different MIDI computer
programs to exchange MIDI files
• Files can be exchanged between
Macs, PCs and hardware MIDI file
players
• Files are exchanged by exporting and
importing a file in this format
 Audio & MIDI
• MIDI Sequencing with
Digital Audio Recording capabilities
 Audio & MIDI
• MIDI Sequencing with
Digital Audio Recording capabilities
Mixer
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Audio in
OUT IN
..... .....
Digital audio
output
Synth audio
IN OUT THRU L R
output
MIDI AUDIO
 Audio & MIDI
• MIDI Sequencing &
Digital Audio Recording
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QuickTime™ and a
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•Virtual synth audio

•Digital audio output
Audio in

USB Cable
for MIDI
 Audio & MIDI
• Software Sound Modules
 Audio & MIDI
USB Audio/MIDI Interfaces
Additional Resources
Additional Resources

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 Contact:
Dennis Mauricio
• dennismauricio@cox.net

Hilltop High Music Technology

• hhs.suhsd.k12.ca.us/~musictech/

Roland Music Education

• www.rolandus.com/community/musiceducation/