Introduction to MIDI - The 1981 Music Revolution

Introduction and overview of MIDI for beginners, we'll cover the history, how MIDI works, how to connect synths and keyboards to PC, how to sequence, edit and playback MIDI files.

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MORE WOODY PIANO SHACK

[kiskadar]

I play keyboards and sing in two rock bands. In the first band I use a 76-key MIDI master keyboard, two MIDI sound modules and a MIDI vocal harmony processor. In the second band I use a 37-key MIDI master keyboard, a MIDI sound module and a MIDI vocal harmony processor. So I use MIDI a lot :)

[ScottsSynthStuff]

What's amazing is that the creators of MIDI were so forward-thinking that it still works with the most advanced instruments of today.

I can take my Poly 800 from 1983, plug it directly into my brand new Hydrasynth Deluxe, and it JUST WORKS, no configuration, nothing. That's amazing! I challenge you to name one other 40-year-old technology that is still interoperable with today's newest devices.

[vxman]

I remember first encountering midi files on our family PC on Windows. I was amazed because of their small file size as well as amused because they sound different depending on the tone generator.
When I was a teen I finally can afford to buy a USB MIDI adapter for my Casio keyboard. It's a life changer for me now that I can my performance directly into MIDI.
In fact I can still recall all 128 GM sound and their patch number, as well as the extended 9 drum kits. Don't ask me about GS or XG sounds though! 😅

[Lee-vodl]

Thanks for taking the time on this refresher on midi. Have a great weekend.

[XavierRadix]

For someone, like many of us, who uses MIDI every, sometimes we forget how awesome this old technology actually still is. And how it makes our daily musical lives easier.

[hartleygabolinscy]

Just a big point Woody.
In dialing around youtube and hitting upon all the stress these days..to suddenly come upon a new video from you with your comfortable oh so human voice, is damn fantastic. It immediately sends to my ears and myself I might add, the feeling all is well and normal in the world and I should relax.
Of course, then I do with your videos. Just thought I should let you know you do have a welcome.. lets make a tea or coffee voice and thats mighty neighbourly a feeling to listen to.
Always wishing you the best, your videos are hitting the good spot once again and thats great. I really think that “Woody Piano Shack’ and you should never part. It’s a great combo... whether you like it or not. There are still lots of topics and sidechains you could cover you haven’t yet thought of.
Some of your original pieces also live in an unoccupied space, you write well when meditative and reflective. Throw a video out there perhaps of fishing from a wharf with your son...just using the music written by you and... typing out what gear your using and etc etc. That could be a once a month idea.
You have a great brand created mate. Best wishes. 👍🎹👍

[musicproductionnerd]

MIDI is such an amazing technology in music production. Loved your video man!

[crnkmnky]

0:13 🎶 I recognize that song from seeing Peter Gabriel working with his Fairlight on _The South Bank Show._ 📼

British culture programme with awesome animated intros. 😸

[henrik]

Who remember the good old days of steinberg pro 24, then later the very first version of cubase for Atari, ha ha.
I still use midi cables.
Back in 1991, i got my first atari st, korg m1, but at that time, i could’nt play s single note on a piano, so my familly send me to a pro piano teacher, where i took piano lessons for a couple of years.

[apreviousseagle]

My first MIDI card was a SB Pro with MPU-410 compatibility, and my MIDI synth was a Korg X5. The first game I ever got to play with this setup was Privateer. Hence I remember the Privateer soundtrack a LOT different than most others who have played this game.

[HOLLASOUNDS]

Yes Woody Midi is a must, by the way Midi and midi sequencing was based off of self playing pianos from the early 1900s. You would have a long roll off paper with the notes cut out just like a midi editor but physical to play a piano song. Midi sequencer is a digitised version of that.

[davidmartin]

Great video - you hit all the main points! Back in the 80s saving the MIDI events into MIDI file allowed you to save lots of songs on a floppy disk. It was just not possible for the home computers then to process or save digital audio directly due to constraints in CPU speed, RAM, and disk capacity. Back then an entire hard drive capacity was maybe 20Mb. The the most common misconception for beginners is that MIDI is just another audio sound format like wav or mp3. It isn't. It's a totally different animal. It's a specification first, and also an efficient file format to store the MIDI events for a song described by that specification.

[arcanics]

I always want to say "direct" rather than digital! Cool refresher vid!

[dykodesigns]

Yeah MIDI revolutionised everything, I think it also came at the right moment in time. The rise of powerfull enough home computers and digital synths and samplers. In 1982 Alan Parsons used a Fairlight on his albums, fast foreward to around 1985 he had moved on to an Atari ST with a couple of different synth’s connected via MIDI. I once read this in an interview and gave him more flexibility. MIDI was the catalyst to making a lot of things possible.

[theSun]

M.I.D.I. is a miracle of the music world in general!

[stratobuddy]

I wish I'd spent a bit extra on the Juno 6 to buy the version with midi. But it was very early days of midi and I didn't realise its usefulness in the future. I could now be using the Juno 6 as a midi controller for software sounds from my PC. As it is, it's not used at all.

[SkyCharger]

Some first generation midi-devices (like the MT32) actually allowed you to upload new instruments on the fly making them more akin to Amiga Modulators and the like.

[Zaskar]

The video made me think of my old Roland MT-32. Memories. I wonder where it's gone.

[godzil]

Couple of notes, MIDI is also a completely free and open standard unlike most in other industrial domains. Anyone can be part of the Midi group and get all the info by just registering

And why midi is still in use in the exact same form after 40 odd years? Because it was well though & designed and extensible enough that it could be used for things that wasn't though off back in the day.
Most "standard" CC (continuous controllers) numbers was decided after the creation of the protocole itself with the arrival of General Midi 1 that was the first real standardisation of program/patch and control number and agreed between all manufacturer.

That's why a 40-ish years old synth with midi IN/OUT can still be used with the latest released device with actual hardware midi DIN, and such a long and near perfect compatibility is not something that did happen often in most industries, especially when there are so many actors involved.

And most of all, thanks Woody for that video 😄

[musicbycandlelightmbc]

Hi ya Woody! Great vid. This could be off topic but let's see. I remember when connecting multiple keyboards or sound modules that we had to use a midi through power box. Like the MultiVoltage Quadra - Thru 1-in 4-out box splitter they have today. It's by MIDI Solutions . Anyway, the box is a low-tech way to send one MIDI output to four MIDI inputs. Just plug the MIDI output of your keyboard, guitar effects controller, or whatever MIDI-driven gear you're running into the Thru's input. Instantly, you've got four copies of your data to do with as you please. No batteries or a power supply needed.

I don't think MIDI will ever go away any time soon especially when they have introduced the MIDI 2.0 that takes everything to a whole new level of reciprocal midi communication between devices and DAWs.