what is a midi interface?

Question

i have the program fl stuidos 6.0 and i got a usb cable to connect my yamaha keboard model ypt-400 to my sof. the issue is, is that i wanna play the instruments thats on the keyboard on fl studios. i know its possible i seen videos on youtube thatproducers doing it. i went to the fl studios tutorial they give the steps out and i was like what is a midi interface so anyone can help me with that and where to buy it from and what kind to get

Answer 1

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is an industry-standard electronic communications protocol that enables electronic musical instruments, computers and other equipment to communicate, control and synchronize with each other in real time. MIDI does not transmit an audio signal or media — it simply transmits digital data "event messages" such as the pitch and intensity of musical notes to play, control signals for parameters such as volume, vibrato and panning, cues and clock signals to set the tempo. As an electronic protocol, it is notable for its success, both in its ubiquitous widespread adoption throughout the industry, and in remaining essentially unchanged in the face of technological developments since its introduction in 1983.

You should be able to get one at most computer stores, more then likely not at an electronics store.

Answer 2

MIDI means Musical Instruments Digital Interface so we say MID Interface. It is a type of file equivalent to ringtone of phones. It is a very light type of file and every microsoft OS could play it.

Just be sure with your Configuration/setting when connecting your keyboard to your PC. Try other MIDI devices that is already in your PC like the following: Microsoft Synthesizer, Microsoft MIDI Mapper and Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth. These are commonly present in Windows OS.

Answer 3

The Technology of MIDI

* MIDI Messages
* MIDI Transports
* Standard MIDI Files

The original Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) specification defined a physical connector and message format for connecting devices and controlling them in "real time". A few years later Standard MIDI Files were developed as a storage format so performance information could be recalled at a later date. The three parts of MIDI are often just referred to as "MIDI", even though they are distinctly different parts with different characteristics.

The MIDI Message specification (or "MIDI Protocol") is probably the most important part of MIDI. Though originally intended just for use with the MIDI DIN transport (see Part 2) as a means to connect two keyboards, MIDI messages are now used inside computers and cell phones to generate music, and transported over any number of professional and consumer interfaces (USB, FireWire, etc.) to a wide variety of MIDI-equipped devices. There are different message groups for different applications, only some of which are we able to explain here.

There are also many different cables/connectors that are used to transport MIDI data between devices. The "MIDI DIN" transport causes a lot of confusion because it has specific characteristics which some people associate as characteristics of "MIDI" -- forgetting that the MIDI-DIN characteristics go away when using MIDI over other transports (and inside a computer). With computers a High Speed Serial, USB or FireWire connection is more common. Each transport has its own performance characteristics which might make some difference in specific applications, but in general the transport is the least important part of MIDI, as long as it allows you to connect all the devices you want use!

The final part of MIDI is the Standard MIDI File (and variants), which is used to distribute music playable on MIDI players of both the hardware and software variety. All popular computer platforms can play MIDI files (*.mid) and there are thousands of web sites offering files for sale or even for free. Anyone can make a MIDI file using commercial (or free) software that is readily available, and many people do, with a wide variety of results. Whether or not you like a specific MIDI file can depend on how well it was created, and how accurately your synthesizer plays the file... not all synthesizers are the same, and unless yours is similar to that of the file composer, what you hear may not be at all what he or she intended.

Over the past 20 years MMA member companies have created many enhancements to MIDI that are designed to address some of the issues mentioned briefly above. General MIDI (GM) and Downloadable Sounds (DLS) both help address the issue of predictable playback from MIDI Files, and there are new standards from MMA's for high-speed and high-capacity MIDI transports. More information is available throughout this web site.