Part 3 of 5 in Music Production for Beginners

MIDI (music instrument digital interface) is a computer music language, that transfers the “notes” of what is played on a controller (keyboard, drum machine, guitar).

Typically when we digitally record instruments or vocals on a computer, those sounds are converted into waveforms. Most any recording software will let you copy, cut, paste, and manipulate that data. MIDI is different because it actually records the specific notes you play.

If you play a song and record it in MIDI, the notes will show up exactly as you played them, in a format that you can manipulate note by note. You can correct mistakes just by either moving, or erasing “bad” notes. You can arrange what you played in a way to create a completely different feel. It also makes transposing notes into another key, very quick and easy.

Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of using a MIDI device is that (with the right software) you can have an entire orchestra of instruments at your fingertips by using one device (typically a keyboard). Synths, strings, horns, drums, and all other kinds of sound effects can be produced from one instrument. Even though your individual keyboard may have all these “voices” built into it, it is your software that will produce the sound on the computer.

This makes sequencing a track far more economical, and it’s a chance to really let your creativity go. If you don’t play guitar, you can use a keyboard to create the guitar part. You can create string parts with chords. If you don’t play anything, most software lets you just insert the notes using your mouse. Drum tracks and loops can be created rather quickly.

MIDI gets a bad reputation (have you ever downloaded a .mid file?) because sometimes it sounds like some cheesy instrumental elevator music being played on an 1980’s Nintendo system. A lot of home audio recording software has been refined over the years with far more realistic sounds, so the power of MIDI shouldn’t be discounted.

Piano, keyboard, synths, bass, and drums appear to be the most realistic sounding instruments. There are MIDI guitars, but for some reason they don’t sound perfectly like a guitar when played back (and they’re expensive!). It really comes down to how good the sound samples in your software are (I’ve been able to make my old cheap Yamaha keyboard produce screeching electric guitar that sounds real enough).

I prefer USB connection to transfer MIDI data to a computer. Some keyboard controllers have direct USB connection (like the one on the right). Most have two outputs that you can connect with a USB interface cable (pictured on the left).

Most audio software packages that support MIDI should easily recognize your device through the USB cable. Even if your computer can’t detect the specific device, it should recognize that there’s a USB instrument attached, which should be enough to send the recording data in real time as you play.

MIDI can be a great tool in your music production arsenal. It’s used by professionals and amateurs alike. Any simple home setup should probably have at least one MIDI controller, but again, most software will let you insert the notes manually with a mouse.

Peace,

Bret J. Piontek

p.s. Click here to check out my recommendations for recording software that supports MIDI.

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