Making Music with MIDI | Music Production for Beginners

What do you need to produce music with MIDI? What is MIDI? How does it work and how can you get started using it in your home studio? In this video, you'll find out!

Learn more about MIDI with this book...
-The MIDI Manual by David Miles Huber

MIDI Controllers
Akai MPK Mini MK III 25-Key Keyboard Controller

Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 Keyboard Controller

Virtual Instruments
- Drums: Steven Slate Drums
- Electric Piano: Waves Electric 88 Piano
- Bass: Waves Bass Fingers
- Free Instruments - Spitfire LABS

0:00 - Intro
0:22 - What Is MIDI?
1:16 - MIDI Controller vs Keyboard
2:31 - How To Set Up A MIDI Controller
4:44 - How To Produce Music With MIDI
8:22 - How To Convert MIDI To Audio
9:08 - Subscribe To Audio University!

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Disclaimer: This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click them, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

[Lowend]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! As someone who has been playing guitar for the last 30 years I am coming very late to the whole MIDI thing. I love how elementary you broke this information down. Please more of this type of video!!!

[ThePoorMusician]

It is nice to see someone putting out some good videos on helping beginners. I have just started a channel myself documenting my music producer journey from beginner. Now I just started to go full-time about 3 months ago and created a channel to document it. So my videos aren't the best, I haven't got around to creating and intro animation/graphics or music yet. But I'm going to document all of that for everyone. Keep up the good work for the beginners.

[migueldebarros]

I decided to get into midi and music production after playing the guitar for 25 years and this was exactly what i was looking for. You just got a new subscriber thank you.

[devikwolf]

I've been wanting to play with MIDI instruments for 20 years ever since I got a keyboard with MIDI on it, but it's always been intimidating, because of a lack of good "here's what you need to get started" content. This video finally made it approachable for me to get started!

[lesalmin]

Probably the clearest narration voice on the net. 👏

[thesecretofbellisland]

Clear, succinct and to the point without a lot of obnoxious self aggrandizing fanfare. Just a matter of fact explanation of midi and the digital realm that even an old analog sound guy like me can understand. Two thumbs up.

[diiegopc]

2:48 *Setting up a midi controller with USB conection:*

- (I think that before using a MIDI divice it's necesary to know how to set up the Option Audio: Device Audio System, Driver, input and output and download some VST's)
- Conect the controller to the computer
- Open the DAW
- Go to Preferences: MIDI devices, Enable the controller, Eneble imput from this device
- Create a new track and set the imput that I need: Right click on the track, imput: MIDI, select the option that I want.
- Add a sound module, VST by clicking the FX bottom and search and select the instrument I want.

[kj-marslander]

This is by far the best intro tutorial video I've seen on here for MIDI, and I've watched a lot of them. Thank you!

[sunnygremlin]

Thank you so much! This is one of the clearest and most concise explanations I’ve seen on MIDI, and helped me decide what setup I want. Very helpful!!💯

[thedoritos]

This video is one step closing to reaching my dream. I’m only 16 and I’m doing this kind of stuff in GarageBand for the last 2 or 3 years. Never thought I could take it further until I saw this vid. Thanks a lot!!!

[CB-iibi]

I LOVE THIS CHANNEL!! As an audio engineering student, the channel has helped me to understand certain concepts that I could not grasp while at school. You explain everything with such clarity and simplicity Thank you so much!! 💞

[KatherineOrho]

❤🎉 Great course! Shared on Tech Apart. Fabulous job from this Audio University instructor.

[KirtanFi]

Thank you for the great introductory info to midi. Very easy to understand 🙏🏽

[giwan]

so helpful for me as beginner.. thank you!✨✨

[matsvb]

Perfect. This is what I was looking for. Can't wait to get the equipment and take it to the next level!

[bilhelm]

Thank you, the best basic video ever distributed. Flawless, informative and "unflavored" with BS opinions that nobody needs to nor wants to hear! Thank you for your professionalism!

[tharii]

Even though I can say that I am fit with MIDI I don't have any experience on using a physical MIDI device on a DAW. This video has been a great revision of what I've learned so far and a clear guide on how to do it the way physical MIDI device owners do.

I have a wish to buy at least a controller keyboard but there is no chance due to my studies (which is still going on for the 16th year so I had to trade firstly my passion then the money allocated, to nothing but studies.)

[dreadhawkmurdoc]

Hey man, Kyle thank you for this video 🙏🏾 dude
Very clear and simple to follow very good much appreciated.

[conexant]

Dude!.. this is EXACTLY the information I was looking for. Thank you brother!

[JennyEverywhere]

I have to echo Toby Stansell's post. Seriously, THANK YOU. I've got fairly broad musical knowledge, but MIDI is one of those things I haven't really learned. I have several controllers: An Akai MPK Mini Mark 3, an AKAI Pro APC Mini MK2, a Roland AE-01 wind controller, and a Midiplus Wind Controller. I haven't tried hooking in my ancient Casio synth using its MIDI ports yet, but I can. My partner also has several synths and a couple of MIDI controllers.

The Midiplus is being sold by a number of different companies. It's sold by Carry-On, Blackstar, Korg, and Midiplus. It's made in China and sold as an OEM product to several companies. Mine, branded "Midiplus", is labeled in Chinese on the buttons. I have a guide for the buttons in English, so it's no trouble. The issue with this particular controller is that, when it was sold, the specs claimed it could use Midi over Bluetooth Low Energy on Mac, iPhone, Android, and Windows. You probably just started nodding -- MIDI over BLE is downright broken under Windows, and there is little effort being made to fix the problem. As a result, there are very few DAW systems that can even hear the thing. Since I don't own a fruit machine, I can't use their suggested DAW: GarageBand. Which is owned by Apple. Midiplus at least has stopped claiming its MIDI over BLE works on Windows. I don't know if the others have yet.

I have several DAWs, including Ableton Live Lite, which I only set up because that's what was the Akai Pro APC was already set up to use in the software, which had a huge and very lovely demo song that used all the little chiclet buttons for SOMETHING. I played with that a little, not really understanding what the heck it was doing. I also have Reaper, which I ADORE, and already had working on the Akai MPK. The Roland AE-01 also has MIDI over BLE, which does not bloody work on Windows as far as I can tell, but the nice people at Roland suggested just connecting it via USB to the computer. It isn't documented, but it works just fine. But the Midiplus doesn't connect to anything via USB. The port is just a power socket.

Enter the CME WIDI Bud Pro. It's a BLE dongle that is designed to be a mediator between a MIDI over BLE device and any operating system: macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, ChromeOS, and MIDI devices with powered USB host port. The best part is the Windows bit. It fixes the issue with MIDI over BLE for Windows. I'm running Win10, and the WIDI Bud Pro connected that Midiplus wind controller right up in Reaper, something I spent weeks trying to do and couldn't make work. But $70 bucks provided me with a device that can connect, I think, if I'm reading this correctly, up to 4 BLE MIDI devices and do the intermediation so a DAW can see the darned things under Windows. So now, I can use these controllers to start making music with my favorite DAW so far, Reaper.

You and CME have filled in the holes in my knowledge and my ability to do what I want to do.

Oh, and in case you aren't familiar with it, the Wind controller is a $99 device that looks like a soprano recorder, except it's a rectangular object instead of a round one. It can emulate ten different instruments and play them through a built-in speaker, or connect via 3.5mm TRS jumper to a powered speaker, or to headphones if you want to practice without disturbing anyone. It's a fun little instrument to play, and now a significantly more useful one, thanks to the Bud Pro. The Midiplus is I think the least expensive wind controller out there so far. It has limitations, but what doesn't?

I'm going to sub to your channel and see what other wonderful gems you talk about. That you use Reaper is a serious plus where I'm concerned! Thank you again!