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I need a crash course in midi(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)
Posted by: UY
Can anybody give me the basics on this?
I DL'd some software tonight that lets me use my pc keyboard as a midi controller. But when running Ntrack I cant get a a record signal no matter what I chose as the source.
Somebody explain to me the basic data path used in a midi system. I see it as midi device-to software in the pc-to the sound card record input (midi? line in? what you hear? audio?) - to Ntrack
Also, I went to Guitar Center here in Houston today...they said I needed not only a midi slave keyboard controller but also the software to make it happen as well..the software running about $300. Is there any other option?
Thanks
Posted by: bazie
getting a MIDI interface for my computer/piano just as soon as they come in a the local music store....if your still needing help in a week or two i might know more then
Posted by: Jagular
Hi UY
That's kind of a big chunk of a question. Let me see if I can tear it apart a little. For midi to work you need to have a controller (like a keyboard) where you play notes in. Note, you can ususally enter this data drectly into the sequencing program with a mouse & computer keyboard too if you can't play very well.
The midi information created by this is sent to a sequencing program (which is what I assume you downloaded?) that records the data. It records things like the pitch, duration, attack, velocity (volume kind of). In other words, all the things that make a note well....a note. 
In the sequencer you can usually manipulate the data recorded for that note like it's position (say if you play sloppy like me ), duration, pitch... you get the picture.
Then, to get that midi information to play audibly you need some sort of synthesizer. You can get this either by running the midi out from the sequencer to the midi in of the synthesizer. However, you need to supply bank and patch information (basically the sound you want the synthesizer to play) in the sequencer to instruct the synth what sounds to play. OR…you can use a software synth (that’s what I use now but I’ve done it both ways). The software synth works virtually the same way the physical synth does, just no wires . I suspect this is what the salesman was trying to sell you.
One thing to think about. I don’t know what soundcard you have, but if memory serves, Soundblaster (and I’m sure some others) type cards had midi playback functionality built in to them. They used general midi sounds (including drums) which…well…frankly sucked, but it might get you going until you decided to go another direction.
I don’t know if any of this helped…
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