What is MIDI?

Question

I bought a keyboard that I've been trying to teach myself to play, and when I get music for it online, sometimes its available in MIDI format. I know my keyboard is MIDI compatable or whatever because theres these little cable port things in the back that say MIDI in and MIDI out. What I want to know is what is MIDI and what does MIDI make my keyboard do?

Answer 1

MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It basically connects your Digital Instruments to computers, sequencers, sound generators, controllers etc.

Make sure you have an appropriate MIDI connection on your computer, USB is the way to go but there are also cheaper serial connectors that I'd shy away from.

Once connected you can use software to record your keystrokes on the piano which can then be played back through the keyboard, like a player piano, or can be fed back into the software to use it's own internal sounds.

Pretty fun stuff, message me if you have more questions.

Answer 2

Musical Instrument Digital Interface is a very simple concept. Your keyboard plays a note when you hit one of the keys, well when you hit a key the keyboard translates that in to a digital signal. This signal can be sent to MIDI equipped keyboards, and other electronic devices including a computer (extra hardware and software is needed.) These signals can tell the keyboard to switch voices, play a note, or pretty much anything else you can think of.

MIDI allows you to connect up to 16 devices, well I'm old maybe it's more now :P You can have a master keyboard to play on, but as you hit it's keys a different keyboard actually plays the note. By doing this you can have 10 different sounds playing while you play one keyboard.

Read your keyboard instruction manual for an intro to using MIDI.

Computers and MIDI get complicated and you need to spend some time, and most likely some money to get this to work. You do need phisical holes on the back of your computer both MIDI: IN and OUT. You need MIDI cables, Radio Shack usually has these. You also need software that knows what a MIDI file is, run a search on "Sound Forge 9" to see an example of what your looking for.

You have a MIDI file on you computer? That means two things. You can quickly find software that plays that song through your computer speakers. On the other hand you can get the right software and spend some time playing with it and make that MIDI file on you computer control your keyboard. Maybe even record several different tracks in several different voices and schedule them to playback during live performance.

You have MIDI IN and OUT connectors because the electronics that send these signals needs the cable to be in whats called a loop. After a quick read these guys seem to do a good job of explaining it http://www.musicmall.com/cmp/article7.htm

Hope that helps a little :D

Answer 3

MIDI format is a file that contains the keyboard strokes and timing. So you might say that it is a recording of your keyboard playing.

Yes, there should be a special MIDI connector on the back of your computer that connects with your Keyboard. There is special software that you can use, like BAND IN A BOX that you can use to view this music, as well as play it back. But your Windows Media Player should do an OK job of playing it.

There is a MEDIA folder in your Windows folder that contains a typical MIDI file. Try it Debussy's Claire de Lune.RMI

Good luck and Happy Computing!

HEY, it's GREAT to be NUMBER ONE again.

Answer 4

Musical Instrument Digital Interface file. A set of instructions for a computer or synthesizer to play a certain musical composition. The MIDI file does not include actual sounds, but information on how to make the sounds. The MIDI instructions include the notes played, length of notes, instruments, volume, rhythm, etc. MIDI files on the Internet can be played with the help of a media player application, such as Crescendo.
the-write-words.net/lexiques/lexique_m.html

Answer 5

MIDI is Musical Instrument Digital Interface. If you want more details, check the Wikipedia definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midi

Answer 6

midi is a format used for tones-you can download some midi files into your keyboard and use them as backgrounds while you play, or record your own and play them back on your pc.
use www.wikipedia.com and search for MIDI files.
good luck

Answer 7

I choose Modesty. Thats merely me, although... call me previous formed, yet i might fairly date a reliable healthy lady than one that appears like a skanky prostitute. yet i'm no skirt expert... i'm merely a reality seeker. ;)