MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. Simply it is a go between for musical instruments and computers. It acts as a translator that provides a common language for digital instruments. A simple MIDI connection consists of 2 MIDI cables connected through the OUT and IN jacks of 2 keyboards, forming an endless loop. This way, the sounds produced by either keyboard, can be controlled by either keyboard; and can also be made to sound like one musician is playing two different keyboards the same time.
“I have built a home studio around ATARI and have worked with MIDI for
years. MIDI and Digital Audio recording allow me to get my creativity
out of my head and into something tangible that I can share, not to
mention allowing me to work at my own pace without studio fees and
costs. I have used MIDI to do a graphics show, timed in conjunction
with my songs, at live shows. Using digital tools, time and space are
mine to manipulate.�
Paul Luscher,Insanity Void in Hill,B. (1998:96)
"MIDI has the ability to control a digital instrument from a computer or another instrument and this allows for the same digital language to be used across one computer to control a number of different instruments." (Hill,B. 1998:91). MIDI technology was the leader in digitized music since the 80's when it was introduced. Now a newer form of digitized music in the form of Mp3’s are used and this has replaced the use of MIDI generated music on the Internet. Although Mp3’s have replaced the use of MIDI in most areas of the Internet, it has opened up to a whole new world of other options; being used in many common “household� items such as telephones, mobile phones and machines that involve human interaction. One of the biggest uses of MIDI technology is in the learning of music itself. Teaching children to write and understand music has become simpler by harnessing the power of MIDI technology. At the elementary level, children can be taught to recognize basic musical values through MIDI. At the secondary level, students are taught to recognize notes when they are played as they appear on the screen. They are also taught how to splice music together with other samples of music by adding rhythm, or to make the music sound as if it is being produced by another instrument, all at the same time. In the context of learning, the teacher and student are not locked down to the traditional classroom atmosphere as students are given the chance to be creative. Also, MIDI files can be created, saved and posted on the Internet as they do not require time to download, unlike Mp3 music files. In the technological world we live in today, almost everyone owns a mobile phone with polyphonic ringtone capability. The technology that is used to create sounds like such are produced using MIDI technology. The MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) controls the use of MIDI files as they are also subject to copyright terms and conditions like music files. Each MIDI file is assigned an ID number to prevent any confusions about copyright ownership. MIDI files are protected just like music files. The evolution of MIDI technology over the years has shown that even with the emergence of Mp3 technology, MIDI technology is still widely used today.
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Zinesh gavin 18:24, 25 Oct 2004 (EST)