MIDI: where to begin?

[Gwonster]

I'm interested in learning how to use MIDI, but have no idea where to start. I've got a KORG X3 keyboard/synthesizer and a digital 4-track recorder and have been doing home studio recording for some time. I've been sequencing instrumental tracks on the KORG and shooting them over to my computer as digital audio files, but I'd love to start creating and manipulating these with MIDI. Where do I begin??

[AlChuck]

If you're sequencing on the Korg, you already have begun...

Seriously, you must mean how to use your computer with it.

To start, you need:

MIDI interface for the computer
MIDI sequencing software like Cubase, SONAR, Cakewalk Home Studio, Logic, PowerTracks Pro
A pair of MIDI cables

The software you want will depend on budget and platform (Mac or Windows). You might already have a MIDI interface.

[Gwonster]

I've got Cakewalk Home Studio on my computer, which is what I've been using with my digital audio files. I guess what I don't know is how to create MIDI information, get it to my computer, and then manipulate it.

[mikeh]

When you say you want to get MIDI information to the computer so that you can manipulate it do you mean performnace data, control data or both.

I consider performance data to be the basic note on, note off, pitch bend, hold pedal, etc. Control data is what I consider using MIDI for MIDI channel assignments, changing patches, turning effects on & off etc.

Basic MIDI performance data is simply hooking up a MIDI cable from the out of the controller (keyboard) to the in of the MIDI interface on the computer and playing a performance into the sequencing software (in your case Cakewalk). Cakewalk will have a parameter that you can set to "tell Cakewalk if the incoming data is digital/audio or MIDI - Cakewalk will then record the information accordingly. A second MIDID cable from the out of the computer interface to the in of whatevr MIDI keyboard/sound module will then trigger sounds.

Basic MIDI is very simple to learn - more complex MIDID application require time to learn like anything else. There are tons of books to learn MIDI applications. If you've firgured out how to work digital/audio files you should be able to figure MIDI out pretty easy with a basic MIDI instruction book.

[VooDu Valve]

Originally Posted by Gwonster

I've got Cakewalk Home Studio on my computer, which is what I've been using with my digital audio files. I guess what I don't know is how to create MIDI information, get it to my computer, and then manipulate it.

Are you using external midi devices or are you using DXi software. Also What kind of a device(s) are you using, keyboard, drum module, what model? Also do you have a MIDI cable interface on your computer? If not then thats the first step when using an external device....... not using the plug ins (software)
Chris