What the hell do I do with midi.

[Jamie Carr]

I've got a Korg X5,...with a midi interface. I also have a korg d3200 with a midi interface. I've got along so far without midi. So what the hell can it do for me? I don't even understand the purpose of it?
I know like if it was hooked up,...I could use the x5 to trigger events,...? I think?,.....but do all the different keys do something? I just don't friggin understand what midi is good for. I'm kinda wondering if mabey I need it? Would it make some tasks easier?

[DonF]

Start here: http://www.midi.org/about-midi/aboutmidi3.shtml

Don

[mikemorgan]

Midi simply a roadmap of events which can be triggered by recorded midi using a sequencer, or triggered by "live" input via midi controller. Your keyboard is at least a live controller, and may also have a sequencer built in. The major purpose, that I know of, for midi inputs on your recorder is to sync up with other devices. Midi is like learning a new computer language, if you're not using it, you probably don't need it.

[Jamie Carr]

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10010111= 97= 151| Chan 8 " | " | "
10011000= 98= 152| Chan 9 " | " | "
10011001= 99= 153| Chan 10 " | " | "
10011010= 9A= 154| Chan 11 " | " | "
10011011= 9B= 155| Chan 12 " | " | "
10011100= 9C= 156| Chan 13 " | " | "
10011101= 9D= 157| Chan 14 " | " | "
10011110= 9E= 158| Chan 15 " | " | "
10011111= 9F= 159| Chan 16

EEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!

It was an interesting read,...but I'm still clueless.
What do I need to start experimenting with it. Just a cable/ Is the some software? I know I'm retarded!

[mikemorgan]

Like I said, it's very computery. To hook your keyboard to a computer you need an interface device.

This can be usb, firewire, or mpu401 (gameport on soundblaster compatibles).

You attach midi cable to, and from your device to the ins and outs of you keyboard.

Yes, you'll need a midi sequencer application to record midi. When you have everything physically working, you'll be able to record your keyboard performance into your computer and save it as a midi file.

You can then play this midi file back on any device that supports midi, like your keyboard. Think of midi as a player piano reel, you can see the little holes punched in the paper streaming by, but they don't DO anything until they are driving the piano.

[Jamie Carr]

Hmmmmmm,,,,,.....well thats an answer at least. Well you're probably correct in that I don't think I need it.Like I said,..I use a Korg d3200 Daw,...normally I put down one track at a time,...and with 32 of them,....thats all I need.
I play metal,...so the arrangements aren't that big and complicated.

Thanks for the input.

[TimOBrien]

Another basic guide:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/how_to_get...with_midi.html

[steve.h]

MIDI is an interface type, a language if you will. You can't "do" things with midi by itself. It's like asking "what do I do with the internet?" (or for you tech-minded people, it's more like "what do I do with html")

I play mostly metal as well, but for instance I use it for triggering a sampler to create drum tracks. It's easy, it's quiet, and it's perfect rhythm-wise! It's great for getting ideas down on "paper", especially if you're as sick of shoddy drummers as I am

Basically it's an interface that lets you "program" either a synth (like a keyboard for instance), or a sampler, or you can even control some interfaces(mixers) with it!

So in the end no, you don't *need* it, but it's a hell of a lot of fun if you like creating your own music in the comfort of your chair

[soundchaser59]

Originally Posted by mikemorgan

Midi is like learning a new computer language, if you're not using it, you probably don't need it.

So it's like underwear? If you dont wear it, you dont need it...?? If you dont use soap, you dont need it? yeah, right....

Disagree with that....I wasn't using PHP before either, but once I learned it I wish I'd had it years ago. Leaves microsoft languages like vb and asp in the dust.

Midi is the same way....if you aren't using it, you just dont know you need it. Once you learn it and use it, you'll never do anything without it.....

[dweeb]

MIDI…Musical Instrument Digital Interface…I occasionally use midi for hooking 2 digital recorders together. This helps synchronize them with each other. I also use midi to hook up a piano type keyboard to a computer that has a synthesizer program loaded. I also use midi to help synchronize my digital recorder with whatever recording program I’m using in a computer. If you play your keyboard into a computer with a recording program like Sonar, you can see how it looks on an actual page of written music, which you can edit with your mouse, use it to play back through your system, and print it out for others to see. A guitar can have a midi processor mounted to it. You can use a Yamaha wind controller to record or play live with. You can download midi files of popular songs and use maybe the drums from the file to get you going. If you have a General midi keyboard or module it’s real easy to play the whole arrangement or edit to your liking, and maybe use for live accompaniment or recording, or whatever. In other words there are a lot of things you can do with midi. I remember when I first started fooling around with it during the early 90s and downloaded a Van Halen song. Jump, I believe. Then I played it back with all the parts set as flutes. Sounded pretty amazing at the time.

[iqi616]

Originally Posted by Jamie Carr

Hmmmmmm,,,,,.....well thats an answer at least. Well you're probably correct in that I don't think I need it.Like I said,..I use a Korg d3200 Daw,...normally I put down one track at a time,...and with 32 of them,....thats all I need.
I play metal,...so the arrangements aren't that big and complicated.

Thanks for the input.

I have a D1600 and I sync it with a MIDI computer sequencer to provide mix automation. That lets me lift accents and fills and keep the vocal nice and tight with the mix.