Midi (musical instrument digital interface) is term we often find linked to music recording. Everyone has heard music that has come from a Midi file. All those twinkly, low quality tracks that are built-in to your computer's sound card are Midi files but Midi is also used to originate fantastic, professional sounding music tracks despite not being audio at all.
Midi does not contain any sound whatsoever, it isn't music and it isn't a digital audio format such as Mp3 or Wav. It stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface and is basically just data. Midi is plainly instructions, a pure data file which contains a list of events or messages for an additional one electronic expedient such as a virtual studio technology instrument (Vsti), sound card or cell phone. These Midi files tell the electronic advice exactly how to originate the sound required.
Some of the advantages of Midi technology include:
Compactness - you can fit hours of your music on a particular Cd in Midi format
Efficient - as Midi files are very small almost any computer can deal with Midi technology
Powerful - from particular instruments to a whole orchestra, you can originate the music you desire with ease
Versatile - with one simple click you can turn the tempo, key or instrument of choice
When Midi was initially invented in 1983 it allowed a particular musician to control a whole of distinct instruments at the same time. For instance, he could use a keyboard to trigger other keyboards and synthesizer modules in the studio or on stage. When computers became ubiquitous, a whole of advantages developed. A musician could bring a laptop on stage and run some synthesizers all paying together, like a virtual electronic symphony. Also, the small file size was ideal to originate and share music on disks and in the middle of computers even without external synthesizers, since most computer sound cards had built-in Midi sounds, though as mentioned, these were pretty cheesy sounding.
However, as technology has industrialized along with the quality and type of Midi sounds a computer can trigger, Midi can now be used effectively to originate overwhelming quality tracks. By combining a standard Midi keyboard with a quality virtual instrument such as Acoustica Pianissimo Virtual Grand Piano or Steinberg Groove center 3 for percussion (just to name a petite sample...no pun intended), you can perform stunningly real instrument sounds. As well as Midi keyboards which are the most popular form of Midi player, you can also get Midi wind instruments and full Midi drum sets if you feel they would be a definite sway on your track. There are truly endless possibilities when you harness Midi technology in your home recording environment.
These virtual instruments mean a particular vocalist can equip themselves with a backing band and the finest concert pianist can accompany their music will a full orchestra. Midi files add a great degree of flexibility and choice to your recording process and can make your simple home recorded vocals sound like a professional audio track. Many Vsti programs come with sampled tracks built-in as well as the opportunity to add your own samples which provides even more flexibility to your recording process.
If you're construction your own home studio and have all your equipment set up you must invest in a Midi controller. The Midi keyboard is your best bet but if you want to try out other controllers because they benefit the style of music you're creating that is up to you. With a Midi controller you can have a whole orchestra in your studio!
What Is Midi Good For?