From the Mad Dog/Allison music workshop... Basic Concepts in MIDI The Musical Instrument Digital Interface, or MIDI, has become a major force in the music world today. It is incorporated into almost every professional synthesizer and is beginning to be used with other instruments, guitars being one. What follows is an introduction for those of you unfamiliar with MIDI. The most common application of MIDI involves synthesizers. Let's look at some terms as apply to synthesizers: Polyphonic vs. Monophonic: This term refers to how many individual notes a synthesizer can play simultaneously. Monophonic synthesizers can play only one, polyphonic can play two or more. Monophonic synthesizers are used mostly for lead parts or baselines. Sometimes synthesizers will have sixteen or more voices, more than will ever be played from the key- board at one time, for use with sequencers (which we'll discuss later). Programmable and preset: Programmable synthesizers allow the user to alter the sound of the instrument or create new sounds entirely. Preset synthesizers, such as the lower-end Casio and Yamaha instruments, have a certain number of pre-deter- mined sounds which cannot be changed. Split keyboards: Some synthesizers allow you to "split" the keyboard, setting part of it to play a particular sound and another part to play another sound. Doubling: Most keyboards that are splittable also have a "double" feature, where every time you strike a key, two or more different sounds are produced. This mode can create some interesting effects, but it drastically cuts down your available voices; if you have an eight-voice polyphonic keyboard, you can only play four-note chords in doubled mode. Touch and velocity sensitivity: Many keyboards have not just on/off switches for each key but components that sense what level of volume and force the notes are being played with. Through these features it is possible to inject emotion into the music being played in a way it is not possible to on other sythesizers. Sequencers: Some keyboards feature built-in sequencers, which can "record" digitally the keystrokes being played. It is possible, using a sequencer, to create a bass line to play to or even record an entire song by overdubbing multiple parts. External sequencers as well as computer software programs are also available which perform similar functions. A few technical details for the technical-detail-minded: MIDI Configuration: Six-pin connector, 16 channels (some system-exclusive) Pitch bender: 8 bits, quantized to nearest 128th pitch step 128 recognized notes, 60=middle c (usually 261.626 hz) (mapped into existing keyboard if octave not available) Velocity/aftertouch: 0-64, defaults 0 and 64 for non- touch sensitive keyboards Tone data: (usually system exclusive) System commands: song pos, song sel, tune, clock, command ch (not on all synthesizers) Coming soon to a conference near you: GUITAR MEETS MIDI! ==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-== _ _ \ (_><_) And if you enjoyed this Text-file, Call: \_______[]_____ The Works "914's Text-file BBS" at (914)/238-8195 _\ 300/1200 N,8,1 1200 baud only from 6:00pm to 12:00mid ___________ \>\ 10 Megabytes on-line Anti-RBBS and Networks / > \ SysOps: Jason Scott & Terror Ferret / ======= (900) Text-files on-line! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following names compose a monument to last forever in the electronic highway: Patrizia Bravi Alessandra Bravi Glenda Frank Marcelle Dumont Donna Reznik Valentina Bravi Britt Warner Jennifer Gruen --=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-- Call The Works BBS - 1600+ Textfiles! - [914]/238-8195 - 300/1200 - Always Open 