MDS-8
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Section VI
A. WHAT IS MIDI?
The term MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. MIDI has been adopted
by the music industry as a standard means of communication between digital musical devices.
This enables devices of different types and manufacturers to communicate with ease. MIDI by
itself will not make a sound. It is not necessary to understand all of the technical aspects of
MIDI in order to take advantage of the benefits it offers. It is important to explore the potential
MIDI holds for musicians, as well as the various MIDI applications available today.
B. TYPES OF MIDI DEVICES
MIDI devices fall into two categories. The first category consists of musical instruments such as
organs and synthesizers, which transmit and receive MIDI data. The second category includes
controllers and processors, that, as their name implies, can transmit, receive, or manipulate MIDI
data but do not necessarily produce sound themselves. Sequencers, which are MIDI recording
devices, fall into this category. Although the technical nature of their recording and editing
processes differs from those of a tape recorder, many operate in similar fashion. Most are
equipped with record, playback, fast forward and reverse controls, that function in the same way
as their tape recorder counterparts.
C. TYPES OF MIDI DATA
There are several types of MIDI messages that can be sent from one device to another. The most
common is keying information, allowing one device to sense which keys have been played on
another device. This means an organ equipped with MIDI can send information to other MIDI
devices, e.g., synthesizers or sequencers, and can play those devices simultaneously or record
information to be played back later.
Allen organs incorporate a complete MIDI system allowing the transmission and reception of all
types of MIDI information (velocity keying, volume change, sustain, registrations, Crescendo
settings, and more). It is even possible to control several devices from one manual
simultaneously, or control a different device from each manual of the console.
D.
MIDI AS A PRACTICE TOOL
For the organist/choir director, the MIDI organ console and sequencer are valuable rehearsal
tools for both choral and organ works. Anthem accompaniments may be recorded in advance
and played back by the sequencer during choir rehearsal. The director, freed from the role of
accompanist, can focus entirely on directing the choir. The sequencer may even play the music
back at a slower tempo without affecting pitch, or at a lower pitch without affecting tempo,
features that are useful in rehearsing difficult choral passages. If a particular sequencer allows
multi-tracking, each vocal section’s part may be recorded on a different track, and then played
back individually, or in any combination, for increased flexibility.
Multi-tracking can also be used in teaching and learning new organ works. The teacher may
record each hand or pedal part on a different track, allowing the student to “mute”, or turn off,
any part being practiced while still being able to hear the sequencer play the rest of the
composition. The student’s ability to hear the piece in its entirety and to become aware of, from
the earliest stage of learning a composition, the interrelationship of its voices, is especially
valuable in learning contrapuntal works.
