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Technical - Midi for idiot

24 Sep 02 - 06:59 AM (#790157)
Subject: Technical - Midi for idiot
From: Skipjack K8

So wedded am I to the tradition of acoustic music that I have let the electronic age completely pass me by. But now I suddenly want to get on the bus.

I have come across Midi in two different guises. One as jolly electronic tunes that I play along with on something called Cakewalk that Bill Sables gave me. The other was Phil Cunningham making piano noises come out of the bass end of his accordion. I asked him about it at half time, but it was something to do with wires and pedals, and leaving Violet at home.

Hopefully you are getting the picture of a very confused man struggling with the desire to have a piano fitted in his accordion, but without the first clue about what the hell Midi is.

Are there any websites that any kind soul can point me to that explain this stuff to electronic pygmies.

Skipjack


24 Sep 02 - 07:56 AM (#790181)
Subject: RE: Technical - Midi for idiot
From: Pied Piper

Hi Skipjack K8. MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It's a system that allowes electronic instruments to be controled by external devices, such as a computer or another electronic instrument. More precicely MIDI is a series of instructions that the makers of instruments have agreed will tell those devices what note to play at what volume and with what sound. So if you want to get your Accordion to play piano sounds you need it to generate MIDI massages when you play a note. You then need an electronic instrument(keyboard or Sound module) to interprit the message and tern it into a piano sound. The difficult bit is getting the MIDI messages from your Accordion, if you could find a way of doing that then all you have to do is plug yourself into a sound module and of you go. To find out more about MIDI just enter it in your search engine; ther's lots out there. All the best PP


24 Sep 02 - 08:04 AM (#790185)
Subject: RE: Technical - Midi for idiot
From: GUEST

A google search for midi accordion brings up a lot of links, which may help.

A filter search here for MIDI also brings up a lot of more general information.

You'll need to do a bit of reading to find out what you want. Sorry, but there are too many variables and some underlying knowledge that is needed. I can't just give you a 'simple answer'

Happy reading!


24 Sep 02 - 08:14 AM (#790190)
Subject: RE: Technical - Midi for idiot
From: Skipjack K8

Bingo. Thank you, PP and Guest, I have found the very Q&A page I need. It was the underlying knoledge bit that was worrying me!

Ta very much, like.

Skipjack


24 Sep 02 - 09:09 AM (#790208)
Subject: RE: Technical - Midi for idiot
From: Noreen

...need to generate MIDI massages ...

you can do that too?


24 Sep 02 - 09:42 AM (#790227)
Subject: RE: Technical - Midi for idiot
From: wysiwyg

With the right instrument for INPUTS.

*G*

~S~


24 Sep 02 - 09:44 AM (#790230)
Subject: RE: Technical - Midi for idiot
From: Giac

LOL, Noreen. However, I prefer the hands-on sort, myself.

~;o)


24 Sep 02 - 12:02 PM (#790338)
Subject: RE: Technical - Midi for idiot
From: JohnInKansas

Many of the mudcat midi threads have already been linked as a search by Guest.

An off-site source I've found useful is MIDI Fanatic. Even if you don't find anything useful, you've gotta admire his sense of humor.

John