Production Glossary
MIDI
MIDI, also known as a Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is data that holds a index of messages that instructs an electronic device in how to create specific sounds. MIDI data is not an audio signal. The messages contained in MIDI are used to alter pitch, notation, and intensity, and to control vibrato, tempo, volume, and cues.The MIDI standard was created by Dave Smith in 1981, and by August of 1983 the MIDI Specification 1.0 was officially published. The advent of MIDI freed musicians from needing extra hardware such as synthesizers and multiple electronic pianos. Not long after its debut, computer-based hardware and sequencers were equipped with MIDI and its small sized files.
In order to better understand MIDI, here are a few examples of MIDI messages:
- Control change- With a value range from 0-127, the control change message announces when a controller has been depressed.
- Note on- This message indicates that a key or note was played and notes the velocity at which it was played.
- Polyphonic key pressure- This feature allows for the addition of effects, like vibrato, by identifying the point at which a note “bottoms out”.
