My Lonely World

[des0free]

I like this.  Especially the piano and backing vocals.  How does one typically go about doing MIDI programming?  I've never done that.  Would my lack of knowledge of music theory prohibit me from being able to do that?

[Johnbee]

How does one typically go about doing MIDI programming?  I've never done that.  Would my lack of knowledge of music theory prohibit me from being able to do that?

Thanks for the complement, Des.
Regarding your question, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard that allows digital instruments like keyboards and drum machines to communicate with each other.  The data exchanged is not audio, only data.  The data exchanged is four elements, Pitch, volume, velocity and duration.  Some think of it as the old "Player Piano" theory.  In fact, the MIDI editor used resembles and is referred to as a "Piano Roll". In the case of MIDI on modern day PC programs. the PC becomes the instrument with the use of (depending on the program) a library of sounds and the ability to incorporate the use of other sounds in the form of Plug ins (DAT files mostly).  Once the data is written by using a (music) keyboard, it can easily be edited and exchanged with other instruments of the like.
For instance, if you hit the wrong note you don't have to re record it.  You can just move the bad note on the editor to the right one with the mouse.  If you decide, after recording the part as a piano sound, that you'd rather have that part played as a string ensemble, you just switch the sequencer to have it play the string sound instead of the piano.  Also, many programs on the market today allow you to mix audio along with the MIDI tracks in the same project.  I hope I've given you an idea of MIDI without confusing you too much.

Insofar as knowing theory, I'd say that some basic musical knowledge is essential, like chord structure, meter and the like.  Somebody who doesn't know theory at all might do best with a program called "Band In A Box".  That does more to help you along if you're totally uneducated in music.

  JB

[Pamala]

very cool tune..love the brass and the panning at the end was icing on the cake!