Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [midi]

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol used to allow music hardware, software and other equipment to communicate with each other.

MIDI is a widely-used protocol which can transmit note, controller, program, timing and vendor/hardware musical instrument specific (so called system exclusive/SysEx) information. The MIDI protocol can be used to allow your software to communicate with other MIDI-compatible software or hardware.

Some useful resources on the MIDI protocol:

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Are there any MIDI extensions that allow quarter tones?

It'd be nice to be able to use MIDI for more diverse music than just that based on western scales. Are there any MIDI extensions that support quater tones, or other sub-semi-tone pitch divisions? I know things can be done with pitch bend automation,…
naught101
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MIDI: How do I refer to (and search for) software that will play audio from a MIDI piano?

I have a MIDI digital piano that connects to a computer via USB (it also has a normal MIDI out port too) and I'd like to browse for software that lets me play music through my computer's speakers. I want to look through the options (including…
Corey Knight
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What is the rationale of electronic keyboards having the voices that they do?

It inevitably starts with a piano voice, then electric piano voices. Chromatically pitched percussion, guitars, strings, and so on, ending with drums. Even the most limited of keyboards have this layout in a highly diminished form. I am aware that…
JohnnyApplesauce
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In Lilypond, silence parts of midi output

I need to engrave a choir piece, where some voices have unpitched parts, like whispered, spoken or screamed words. I want to engrave this using cross-headed notes, like in the following piece of music: \version "2.18.2" myMusic = { \relative c'…
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Transcribing a Standard MIDI File to sheet music

I have a couple of nice guitar midi files that I would like the scores for; is there any software out there that can do this sort of conversion, and output it as a PDF file? Thanks
Isaac Verbenski
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Is there such a thing as a silent drum set?

One can learn to play the piano on an electronic or midi keyboard with closed headphones without waking up the roommate. Is there anything equivalent for drumming? Some sort of nearly silent drum pad or percussion set with midi out?
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Cheap way to make sound from a MIDI keyboard, without PC

I have a USB MIDI keyboard which is totally useless when not plugged in into a PC and playing a digital instrument. Is there a cheap way, for example some type of box which has predefined sounds, synthesizers, pianos etc on it and a box integrated…
JustGoscha
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Why were sound effects like the gunshot included in the General MIDI (GM) standard?

I recently learned about the general MIDI standard and one thing that I cannot understand is the last sound effect is always a gunshot. Most of the other effects like applause, telephone ring, and bird tweets make sense and I've heard in several…
Dom
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Is the polyphony limit on a Digital piano tied to the sound engine?

I don't want to end up paying more for a digital piano for a higher polyphonic capability if I don't need it. I was wondering if the polyphony limit on digital pianos is tied to the sound engines they possess, or to the actual physical key presses…
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What's the purpose of the key signature information in a MIDI file?

My understanding is that MIDI files use fixed numbers/names for all notes, as shown e.g. in this chart. At the same time, MIDI has a "key signature" meta-event. What's the purpose of the key signature information? Isn't it unnecessary?
Ghopper21
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Why is MIDI gain based on a factor of 40?

Many documents state that the MIDI standard gain is 40 * log10(CC7/127). I've found only one person asking why, with no replies. This document says that voltage (amplitude) gain is a factor of 20, not 40. So why a factor of 40? What is the theory…
Anonymous
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Synthesizer: why playing a second time the same note shut down the first one?

When playing on synthesizers, usually when playing a second time the same note, even if the release phase is very long or the sustain pedal is pressed, the first note is shut down. Put in another way,…
Tom
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What is `Roland's pitch` and `Yamaha's pitch`? and How to convert notes to them?

I have an assign that convert this sheet to 'Roland's pitch' and 'Yamaha's pitch'. I have no idea about what is Roland's pitch and Yamaha's pitch, neither how to do it. Please let me know. using this image.
Aiden
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How to use my mac and MIDI keyboard as a simple always-on piano

I know how to use my MIDI keyboard in GarageBand for instance and play it with different instruments etc. But what I want is to be able to play a few notes here and there even when I'm in the middle of doing something completely different. I.E. I…
user9040
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Mac vs PC for music production

I'm a musician and occasional composer, and a Windows PC user. I've heard a lot of times about benefits of using a Mac for these purposes. But I wonder: what are these "benefits"?
Eric Daniel Pennachini
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