what to do with MIDI? Help!

[brahma jay]

from what i undeerstand all synth have midi. so i guess i have to buy midi interface? is that it?

[brahma jay]

How would we know? MIDI does all kinds of stuff. What is your idea of a final product? That will determine what technologies you might use. Such undefined questions don't lend themselves to useful answers.

im gonna work with electronic music, very loungy. Wanna play synth and add some vocals. In the future probably get some live instruments like guitars, violins, sax etc.
if im not wrong nowadays all synth are coming with MIDI (which is just a data transmitter?) so i guess i need a midi interface in order to send final track (data) to the computer.
But if can connect my synth through audio interface to my comp, and record my tracks, why do i need MIDI? or Midi is that Data that are going from synth to computer?

[jonny deep]

Midi is that Data that are going from synth to computer?

That's it - MIDI is just a language devices and computers use to communicate instructions. If your synth has a USB port, you can probably plug straight into your computer. If it has the older MIDI sockets, you might need an interface or a specific sound card.

[diggy_dude]

You can record the audio straight from your keyboard onto an audio track in your DAW if you're just looking to capture a live performance. If you want to edit aspects of the performance in the DAW or take advantage of samples or VSTi instruments stored on your computer, MIDI is what enables you to do that.

[brahma jay]

You can record the audio straight from your keyboard onto an audio track in your DAW if you're just looking to capture a live performance. If you want to edit aspects of the performance in the DAW or take advantage of samples or VSTi instruments stored on your computer, MIDI is what enables you to do that.

yes i definitely want to use and then edit samples, instruments etc. so for example if i have midi on my synth, i just have to get a midi interface in order to work with it?
and is "midi controller" that midi device in the synth? or its something different?

[brahma jay]

That's it - MIDI is just a language devices and computers use to communicate instructions. If your synth has a USB port, you can probably plug straight into your computer. If it has the older MIDI sockets, you might need an interface or a specific sound card.

ok. so it all depends on the synth im getting?

[diggy_dude]

yes i definitely want to use and then edit samples, instruments etc. so for example if i have midi on my synth, i just have to get a midi interface in order to work with it?
and is "midi controller" that midi device in the synth? or its something different?

A MIDI controller is generally an electronic instrument that doesn't create its own sounds. It could be a keyboard, guitar, wind controller, drum pads, or whatever. You can use it to control the synths in other keyboards, rackmount modules, or VSTi synths on your computer.

[brahma jay]

oh im getting lost :-)
midi, midi controller, midi interface.. lol

[brahma jay]

ok im having midi in my synth. i guess i have to get a midi controller and midi interface?

[ecc83]

I am NO MIDI guru Jay but maybe then the best guy to help you?

You need an "Audio Interface" as a basic tool but beware! Many quite pricey AI's these days have left off MIDI "ports" (including Steinberg FCS!) sure that whatever AI you get has two "DIN"* MIDI ports.

Time was when MIDI keyboards talked to "Sound Modules" and these modules gave out audio from data. These have almost been supplanted by "Softsynths" in the PC plus they were generally very expensive. I found however that I could get a better handle on this MIDI thing if I had another piece of hardware to plug up to so I found a cheap, s/h "Portasound" keyboard for £50, a Yamaha PSS-790. 'Twas not ideal, 61 mini-keys for starters and it turns out that early Yammies did not talk "proper" MIDI but if you find a Roland kdb it should be fine.

You will need some MIDI cables, DIN to DIN 5pin and do not buy special, high priced MIDI leads. THE most basic fully wired audio cables will do, in fact some V old PC keyboards use DIN and those leads work fine. You can also plug MIDI kit together any old whichway you like, might not work! But it won't smoke.

Last thing for now. MIDI recording work demands the lowest possible "latency" from the system, notably the AI. Not sure if you have an AI yet? If not DO look at the "NI KA6".

*Things I have put in "---" are for you to Google"

Dave.