Template:MIDI

MIDI

MIDI - Musical Instrument Digital Interface

Harmony central MIDI page What is MIDI?

Evolved out of trigger signals between synthesizer modules

MIDI is a serial connection between devices. 8 bit words.

One cable 16 channels - each device or voice of a device listens to one channel and only responds to or sends information on that channel

Some devices have more than one voice which means that they can play more than one sound or bank of sounds at a time.

Different connections IN , OUT, THRU

IN

input for MIDI communication

OUT

outputs and MIDI signals origination in device

THRU

Throughput for MIDI information not intended for the device

MIDI information

System - send system information Tempo - what tempo measured in ticks SMPTE - sync information Track - which midi track

Channel

which midi channel to send message to

Note Number

turns notes on and off

Velocity

how hard a note is hit

Sustain

how long to hold the note

After Touch

how key way released

Pitch Bend

to bend a pitch

Synthesis

Types of synthesis

additive - adding together different waveforms in order to synthesize more complex waveforms. Uses the Fourier theory that all complex waveforms are made up of sine waves. Therefore by adding together all the right sine waves and complex wave may be synthesized.

additive synthesis article

Granular synthesis

(adaptive) - changing existing sound samples (wave table)