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MIDI (Musical Instrument
Digital Interface) was established in 1983 by the MIDI
Manufacturers Association to allow musicians to connect
synthesizers together. MIDI allowed musicians to experiment with
music in a new capacity. They could play more than one instrument
all from the comfort of one keyboard.
Today, MIDI enjoys
ubiquitous use in the computer industry.
MIDI enhances the audio output in games and other
multimedia software. MIDI,
however, is not a software program, nor is it a music recorder.
MIDI is divided into three
different components: MIDI protocol, standard
MIDI file, and the
MIDI connector/cables.
Protocol
The MIDI protocol is the
language that writes the MIDI
files. The language does not contain the actual note but rather
has the instructions on which note to play and how long to play
it. The MIDI protocol
basically is the conductor of the synthesizer.
Connector
MIDI files are shared
through MIDI cables which
carry data needed by each device in order to play the right music.
The proper way to connect MIDI
devices to each other and transmit the
MIDI protocol is through the five pin connector (shown
below). Every device has both IN and OUT connectors usually
located at the back of the device (shown below). These cables
allow the MIDI information to
flow from device to device.
Standard MIDI Files
Standard MIDI files are
files that carry or hold the MIDI
protocol information. Just like other types of files like a text
document they can be shared and copied and modified. Unlike other
music files such as .wav files, MIDI
files take up much less memory. Another comparative benefit is
that MIDI files are editable
while other types of files are not.
How does MIDI work?
MIDI data, taken from a
MIDI file, are transferred
between devices through MIDI
cables. The cable is divided into sixteen channels. The
MIDI protocol does two things
here. First it assigns the data to a certain channel and then it
tells the MIDI receiving
device what channel the data are on. The receiving device then
tunes into that particular channel and receives the instructions
for that channel such as what note to play and for how long.
One analogy that illustrates how MIDI
works is that of a player piano. The punched roll represents the
notes that need to be played on the piano. The reader on the piano
player converts the roll punches into commands or pressure that
actually presses the key down. The MIDI
files are like the punched rolls. The reader is like a
MIDI player and the piano is the
synthesizer.
Still a little confused about what
MIDI is exactly? Try
www.midi.org...
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