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How to Generate MIDIs

Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) is the language of digital music. It allows soundless controller devices (like keyboards and drum machines) to communicate with sound-generating devices (like sound modules and computers). When you the play the controller instrument, you send data to the secondary device, informing it as to which sounds it should make. If it sounds confusing, imagine a computer connected to a computer keyboard. When you type on the keyboard, it sends data to the hard drive, and letters appear on the screen. MIDI works much in the same way, but with digital music.

Things You'll Need

  • MIDI controller
  • Sound module
  • Computer
  • MIDI cable
  • MIDI USB interface
  • Digital recording software
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Instructions

    • 1

      Connect a MIDI controller to a MIDI receiver. For your controller, you can use any music keyboard or drum machine that contains round, five-pin MIDI ports. For your receiver, you can use a sound module, a music sequencer or your computer. Use a five-pin MIDI cable, and connect to the "MIDI In" jack on your receiver, and to the "MIDI Out" jack on your controller. If using your computer as a receiver, see "Tips" for information on how to connect.

    • 2

      Turn on your receiver. If using your computer, open a digital recording program with MIDI accessibility. Programs include GarageBand, MixCraft, Reason, Sonar, Pro Tools, Logic and Cubase.

    • 3

      Select a voice on your MIDI receiver. Your "voice" is the sound that will play when you press keys on your controller. So if, for example, you select a "Trumpet" voice, your controller will trigger the sound of a trumpet. Sound modules will contain a menu that reads "Voices," "Instruments," "Presets" or "Synthesizers." If using computer software, you can find voices on your "I/O" ("Input/Output"), "Software Synthesizers" or "Software Instruments" menu.

    • 4

      Turn on your MIDI controller and begin pressing keys. If you hear sound, you can begin playing or recording. If you do not hear sound, locate the "MIDI Channels" menu on each device and set both of them to the same channel. You should not need to do this if using computer software as your receiver, but some programs will still contain MIDI channel selections on the "Options" or "Preferences" menu.

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Digital Music

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