Topic: Why Midi ?

[gerhed]

If I can create mp3s out of the obscure sounds that I make, why do I need midi ?--what more can it
do for me ?.
Some of my equipment has "midi in, out & through" jacks--out to what ? --in from what ?
Any suggested reading ?

[mystic_1]

Midi has been around since the 80's.  Can't imagine it's used much any more except perhaps for capture/playback via PC.

mystic_1

[78CB750CAFE]

musical instrument digital interface

midi is a language/protocol for programming and sequencing synths and other devices, a bit archaic now but still very usefull.
I have plenty of midi gear and books etc, LMK if you want to borrow the whole shebang

[ChrisR]

MIDI is still very useful for a number of musical situations in which you want different pieces of equipment to interact. MIDI has been improved and updated over the years. It is basically a set of data instructions sent from one piece of equipment (say a synthesiser keyboard) to another ( say a computer virtual synth) 'actioning' a sound. It's not the actual sound that's being sent but an instruction on how to produce it.
I'm no expert and probably not explaining it very well but this website is quite good for sound recording-

http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

I use it to connect an old (but very good ) synth to my computer to run the virtual synth software on it for recording.
I think people can get confused over where to put their 'ins' and 'outs' as it seems the other way round to normal practice.

[gerhed]

musical instrument digital interface

midi is a language/protocol for programming and sequencing synths and other devices, a bit archaic now but still very usefull.
I have plenty of midi gear and books etc, LMK if you want to borrow the whole shebang

78CB,

Appreciate the offer, but maybe I don't need MIDI to complete my mission.
I can now move on to my next project:
Elecrtifying an erhu (ancient Chinese 2-stringed instrument)

grhd

[333]

You do go for the odd ones, don't you.  Will your vids have erhu instead of theramin?

I'd bet the same device used to electrify an acoustic guitar would serve your purpose, and I'll bet the Guitar Center in Seven Corners or out at Camp Washington might have one.

[TwoTired]

I'd be willing to bet money that you can't find an erhu with a MIDI interface.  Not even in China.

[DammitDan]

Midi has been around since the 80's.  Can't imagine it's used much any more except perhaps for capture/playback via PC.

mystic_1

Many rap producers use MIDI these days in one way or another, from sampling to building beats.  Also, a lot of modern rock bands that implement synthesizers (Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Death Cab, etc.) do the same.

And then of course in the studio session drummers will use midi to build a click track (to keep the band in rythm)

It's a format which is still very much alive.  You can do some amazing things with the new keyboards...  Hook up a Motif 8 (which has live-captured samples) to a MOTU computer and you can basically use MIDI to create a REALISTIC sounding 80 piece orchestra.  No longer are the days of 8-bit Mario MIDI