Friday, August 23, 2013

MIDI Basics ABC - Entertainment - Music

1. What is MIDI?

MIDI is Musical Instrument Digital Interface (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) of the abbreviation. So MIDI is not a real thing, but an internationally accepted standard interface. Through it, various MIDI devices can be accurately transmitted MIDI messages.

2. What is the essence MIDI files?

MIDI file itself is just a bunch of digital signals only, does not contain any audio information. We know that any sound has its waveform, if we record a sound wave, we can accurately reflect the actual sound effects, WAVE file is this form, it is played back on any computer are the same . But MIDI is actually a bunch of digital signals, it is a record of what time in what the music sounds sound long hair, etc., while the real is the source for sound, but different sound, different soft wave table, different source of the sound hardware is completely different, so the same MIDI files to play on different devices will be completely different results. This is the basic characteristics of MIDI. However, due to a MIDI file size is quite small, so it is suitable for network transmission. But for a professional MIDI producers, it is impossible to do their own MIDI music in MIDI format as the final product, it must be recorded, so the vast majority of MIDI producers inevitably wi ll enter the recording The more esoteric musical projects.

3. What MIDI device?

The basic device is a MIDI music the three magic: audio, sequencer, input devices, then we have to explain each of these three basic equipment.

Source - is a lot of installed sound of things, so it is used to send voice, so a lot of sound equipment is defined as a sound source with a lot of different samples of the waveform, such as the piano had piano sound samples, guitar there guitar sound samples. But the audio is also very stupid, because it does not know when to send what kind of voice tone, it is just like a pool of resources, as to how to work redeployment of resources is not a source, this task is made from the heart of MIDI - Music sequencer to complete.

Sequencer - commonly known as the sequencer. It is such a device: the sound needed a song, rhythm, notes, etc. in accordance with a certain sequence organization so that audio sound, it actually records the general elements of music, tempo, pitch, rhythm, note a time when, all of the music must be composed by these elements, but is a sequencer to record them in digital form. MIDI file is actually the essence of the contents of the sequencer.

Input device - if you just listen to music, then do not MIDI input device, while if it is produced, then have to be one. This is actually quite easy to understand, the contents of the sequencer must also tell it by the people ah, in order to meet the people of the original music habits, the people to create a variety of musical instruments based on the traditional form of MIDI instruments, such as a MIDI keyboard, MIDI blowpipe, MIDI guitar, MIDI violin, etc., you can follow the way of playing traditional instruments to play them, and then play it through your MIDI sequencer interface is to receive and store content for the sequencer. So at least that will make the same MIDI music instrument it! If you are not the same instrument (hard!), Is not no way, that is, with the click of the mouse! So you can tell your music sequencer content, but more bitter.

Now we do a summary: MIDI music production process is like this, select a sound in the audio, the input device to play some music, while allowing the sequencer to record this music, after you finished playing was transformed into content stored in the sequencer in the sequencer, then play this music, audio will be used according to the contents of the selected sequencer sound play this music.

4. The actual form of the three magic?

The previously mentioned sources, sequencers, input device is a theoretical concept, then their actual form is like? Here's a detail.

Audio - audio sub-soft and hard sources. The so-called "soft" and "hard" is that the former is essentially a software must be run through the computer, which is a real device, is tangible. Soft sources must rely on computer chips and memory work to sound, we often have YamahaS-YXG100, Roland VSC88, etc., and other software, they must be installed on your computer before you can use. Source is a real hardware stuff, and a bigger home VCD players about the same size, smaller than a CD-ROM not much to it and connect your sequencer can be used later. In fact, sources can be made very small, ordinary household we have a small source on the sound card, but it's just a chip, we can directly use the sound card to listen to music is to use it as a MIDI sound source. In the current field of professional MIDI hardware sound source or indispensable, although it is completely profits products. (See later) are relatively well-known hardware audio RolandJV1080, JV2080; Yamaha MU90, MU100 , TG500 and so on.

Sequencer - can be divided into soft and hard. Sequencer is a software program must be installed on your computer via the computer to use later. Our application is actually a lot of MIDI production software sequencer software, such as Cakewalk, Encore, CubaseVST and so on. Hardware sequencer and hardware sources, just as a real stuff, are typically very small, not much bigger than a CD-ROM, and audio connection after a sound source can be controlled. More famous Yamaha hardware sequencer withQY10, QY700, etc. And the source is different in the sequencer, the software sequencer hardware sequencer has already beat the market occupy the subject position, unlike audio, audio hardware, there are still many of the advantages. Use of computer software sequencer this large display, the interface beautiful, practical, clear, and use the mouse to control and operation, where is the point where, very easy to modify. The hardware sequencer to rely on two hands on the lovemaking in the panel keys, large display screen is also large, but the computer and then ah! Modify the parameters of the notes is very complex, the light will move a cursor key by many times, how can the mouse "brush" look past easy! Now use the computer + software MIDI music sequencer production has become the market mainstream, hardware sequencer is now the only use I am afraid to do the scene, after all, its small size, easy to carry. But as the popularity of notebook computers, hardware sequencer market there is room for it?

Input device - which is probably now the only computer music production software can not be replaced with something, although there are virtual keyboard, piano, organ, etc., but the computer keyboard to play the notes is not always a pleasant way to it! But also for professional MIDI production are concerned, the touch input device, etc. is very important, because the music needs to reflect it.

5. On "soft" and "hard" comparison?

The late 1990s, computers entered the golden age of rapid development, the computer started from a simple word processing to handle all aspects of our lives, MIDI production is one of them. United States, Germany and other advanced countries have developed a number of PC-based computer sequencer processing software, such as Cakewalk, CubaseVST, etc., they appear to make use of computer-generated MIDI music into the mainstream way, and soon replaced the hardware sequencer. Most people have now reached a consensus, is a software sequencer better than the hardware sequencer. With the further development of the computer, it has developed a soft source, it is cheaper than the hardware audio quality is not bad, but just to take up some system resources, and for increasing the personal computer configuration for this and what of it? In fact, a bulky hardware audio really worth that much money? Definitely not worth! What is the source? Is not possession of the dozens of megabytes of waveform it? With this waveform sound, Pentium chips do not do? It should be said, whether soft or hard sources can be of the same level, of course, reach the same level of sound samples. Hardware products, the manufacturers of high-profit software development have reservations, so the status quo, the majority have to rely on MIDI music production audio hardware, audio hardware also can really say we need to provide high-quality sound and sound effects.

However, the "soft" and "hard" in all aspects of the war still raging, samplers and hard soft sampler sampler, effects of soft and hard effects, effects, and soft and hard multi-track multitrack recorder recorder ... ... in many ways, the software displays a huge advantage, ease of use, low loss, version updates, and detailed and so on. Although the hardware has its advantages such as stability, but because of its high price, probably will lose the battle with the software.

6. Making computer music, what kind of configuration is better?

Shall be divided into two purposes to discuss, if only used for MIDI, 80486 or more machines on it. (Oh, seems very far away!) Memory should be more, because a lot of software and soft sources will occupy system resources. Sound card if you do a little more relaxed on the bought it, CREATIVELIVE various versions can be considered, if it does not matter at hand tight, you can use a variety of software and hardware audio as MIDI audio playback, making use of. With a sound card can be very common, Yamaha724 can be considered, but your professional knowledge and skills to be higher. If you use a computer to produce audio, it should choose the best chips (PIII450-500), a lot of memory (128M), if necessary even professional recording card and SCSI hard disk, or you wait to crash it!

If you just want to play spare time doing it with an ordinary sound card with a soft tone on it, they can provide accurate professional sound, sure to make you satisfied.

7. Making use of synthesizers and computer-generated MIDI music MIDI music different?

The answer is this: essentially no different, but there are differences on the mode of operation. Computer-in fact, just use the sequencer software (such as CAKEWALK, CUBASE, ENCORE, etc.) instead of hardware sequencer, and their final results are MIDI files, there is no question who is good and who's bad. Because MIDI music of the "bad" really depends on two factors, 1. The merits of the production work itself. 2. Grade play equipment. The latter is an objective factor in the case of objective factors constant, the hardware sequencer (synthesizer) and a software sequencer (computer) can make the fine detail work, and finally the author's own production or test level. But with a software sequencer is more convenient and efficient.

Another point is that no matter what, the computer produced a great advantage is that it's a huge display (LCD relative terms synthesizer) can provide a friendly, intuitive, easy to use interface. This point has been recognized by most people. Especially for changes to MIDI files, use MOUSE drag, pull, pull, draw, add, delete, copy, quote, I, O, memory, reading on the keys than in the synthesis of more than cool. So, the future use of synthesizers and pure hardware sequencer MIDI music production will be less and less people, and people will use computers more and more.source:





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