MIDI
Electronic instrument standard
MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, a technical standard that allows electronic instruments, computers, and other devices to communicate.
MIDI doesn't transmit sound itself but rather instructions—which notes to play, how hard, how long: The keyboard sends MIDI data to the synthesizer.
Producers sequence entire compositions in MIDI before rendering audio. (Lowercase midi refers to medium length in fashion.)
Orders signals chronologically
- DAWAudio production software
- trackPath or monitored route
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
quantization · grid · recording · playback · loop · tempo · BPM · sync
Orders signals chronologically
- channelPassage for transmission
- messagesSent pieces of communication
- synchronizationAligning timing across systems
- velocityDirected rate of motion
clock · timecode · latency · bandwidth · polyphony · notes · controller · standard
sequencer
Orders signals chronologically
arrangement · quantization · grid · recording · playback · loop · tempo · BPM · sync · timeline
sequencer
Orders signals chronologically
- channelPassage for transmission
- messagesSent pieces of communication
- synchronizationAligning timing across systems
velocity · clock · timecode · latency · bandwidth · polyphony · notes · controller · standard · GM
synthesizer
Electronic sound-generating instrument
voice · polyphony · wavetable · FM · workstation · plugin · expander · keyboard · timbre · oscillator
interface
Shared connection point
- cableHeavy-duty woven line
- connectorThing that joins others
- adapterDevice enabling equipment compatibility
port · merger · splitter · controller · keyboard · fader · knob · hub · expander · module
- audiosound, headphones, audio track, volume control, sound recording
- standardsstandard, standards, norm, norms, criterion
- music productioncomposing, autotune, synthesizer, producing, arranging
- audio technologydigital audio, audio engineering, sound design, audio mixing, signal processing
- connectorscable, cables, connector, connectors, wires
- file formatspdf, PDF, JPEG, PNG, mp3
MIDImini
Small-scale version
mini-skirt · maxi · floor-length · ankle-length · short
MIDIaudio
Transmitted sound content
WAV · digital audio · waveform · MP3 · live recording
- midi skirtGarment ending mid-calf
- midi dressGarment hemmed mid-leg
- MIDI keyboardDigital music input device