Musical Interface (MIDI)

CS4031: Introduction to Digital Media

Student name: Kathleen Berns

ID Number: 0847461
Course: Digital Media Design

Musical Interface or MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is an industry standard

protocol, which enables electronical musical instruments, computers and other equipment to
communicate, control and synchronize with eachother. For example through MIDI devices
such as computers, MIDI controllers, sound cards, synthesizers, drum machines and samplers
can control one another and exchange system data acting as a raw data encapsulation method
for sysex commands.
A common mistake regarding MIDI is to believe that it functions through the transition of
an audio signal or media. MIDI infact transmits “event messages” such as the pitch and
intensity of musical notes to play, control signals for parameters such as volume, vibrato,
panning cues and clock signals to set the tempo. As an electrical protocol, it is notable for its
widespread adoption throughout the industry and for continuing in use since its introduction in
1983. (Wikepidea)
Electronic musical instruments date back to the late nineteenth century in a similar form.
Instruments such as the Telharmonium and also the Singing Telegraph date back to the
beginnings of electricity itself. Throughout the first half of the twentieth century electronic
musical contraptions were quite the rage in Europe, from the French Ondes-Martenot to the
German Pianorad, to the Russian Theremin.

The word ‘Synthesizer' didn't come into play until the 1950s with the RCA Synthesizer I
and II, but what once were room-sized pieces of engineering these days have been, themselves,
‘synthesized' down into more acceptable components and indeed ‘modules' thanks to the
pioneering work of visionaries like Dr Robert Moog, Don Buchla, Haorld Bode, Pete Zinovieff,
and Dave Cockerell. (www.midi.org)

MIDI is everywhere around you…. it's in musical instruments, computers, mobile phones,
infact its in many products from well known companies like Microsoft, Apple, Nokia, Sony,
Yamaha, & countless more widely known consumer products companies. Most popular
recorded music is written and performed using MIDI-equipped electronic keyboards
("synthesizers"). Much music is also written on computers using "Sequencers" and/or "Digital
Audio workstations". Almost every credible recording software available for a computer
platform caters for MIDI programming. Other MIDI-equipped musical instruments may also be
used, including digital drums, digital guitars, wind instruments, and more.
 Most computers have the ability to play MIDI files using either built-in hardware or a
software synthesizer that responds to MIDI messages, and with an appropriate adapter your
computer can be connected to other MIDI-equipped products so you can use MIDI to help you
learn, play, create and enjoy music.
Even film and TV scores are usually created on MIDI instruments, and with advances in
digital sampling and synthesis technologies making digital instruments sound ever more
realistic, the orchestra playing behind that big-screen block buster is more likely to be the
product of a few MIDI devices than dozens of acoustic instruments. 
Besides music creation and playback described above, MIDI has some other interesting
and popular uses. MIDI Show Control is a different set of MIDI messages used for controlling
rides at theme parks as well as for operating themed events such as are found outside many Las
Vegas casinos. And many people have developed unique products that use MIDI. (Sound on
Sound)

Reference: www.midi.org,

www.wikiepidea.com,

Sound on Sound magazine 2008