At the request of one of our fine Patron's, the following post will be used to answer any and every question you might have regarding MIDI.

To begin with, lets take a look at -what- MIDI actually is:

MIDI, by definition, is a series of instructions that are used to control various parameters on a MIDI aware device. This device could be a soft synth, sampler or even outboard gear.

For example, when you open your sequencer of choice and draw in notes, you are actually drawing in a MIDI parameter that tells the associated device to generate a sound at a specific register. Furthermore, if you record MIDI from a controller, your sequencer will store every single action that is entered during the recording process.

Important: MIDI is -not- music. MIDI is the instructions that make your device create music. Think of it as the programming language used to tell your VST "Make this sound now and do it with these values."

Some of these parameters are transparent to the untrained eye. For example, lets say I recorded a simple three note scale via my MIDI Controller. The associated MIDI Code might look something like this:

1.00.00 Note 1 On
1.00.01 Note 1 Velocity = 30
1.02.00 Note 1 Released
1.02.01 Note 1 Aftertouch = 10
1.02.30 Note 2 On
1.02.31 Note 2 Velocity = 30
1.03.00 Note 2 Released
1.03.01 Note 2 Aftertouch = 10
1.04.00 Note 3 On
1.04.01 Note 3 Velocity = 30
1.05.00 Note 3 Released
1.05.01 Note 3 Aftertouch = 10

As you can see by the above model, MIDI can only handle a -single- instruction at a time. Fortunately, since we're talking in factions of a second, it's the output ends up sounding like it's in real-time.

MIDI can also be used to control parameters such as a Filter Cutoff, Q Value, Volume Control, Etc. An example of this MIDI Data would look something like this:

1.00.00 Filter Cutoff = 100
1.00.10 Filter Cutoff = 98
1.00.20 Filter Cutoff = 90
1.00.30 Filter Cutoff = 87
1.00.40 Filter Cutoff = 60
1.00.50 Filter Cutoff = 40
1.00.60 Filter Cutoff = 20
1.00.70 Filter Cutoff = 7

When played back, these values would cause the Filter Cutoff parameter to change to it's respective value over the time given.

All in all, MIDI is the digital glue that ties the user to their sequencer. It's not imperative that you use MIDI (There are many producers that use pure audio in their productions.) That said, if you plan to use any sort of soft synth... You -will- use MIDI.

With this basic outline in mind, feel free to post any articles / information / questions you might have in regards to this technology. Myself or any of the other members would be more than happy to answer your questions! =]

What do all the numbers mean? I'm guessing that it's a time count of some sort? How are the notes/beats quantized?

Also, what are all the binary and hex numbers that I see on MIDI messages? Here's an example: http://www.harmony-central.com/MIDI/Doc/table1.html

How relevant are they and how would one actually go about editing/manipulating them?

V.

You're correct... Those numbers are a time count. As far as quantization, you have to remember that all your doing when you quantize is tie a note to a relative position based of a time signature.

Soo... For instance:

Lets say I've got 4 quarter notes in a bar. We'll also assume that it takes 1 second to play one bar (This determined by performing some basic math on your Tempo). That would make each of my notes play for .25 seconds. Follow?

The MIDI for that might look something like this (My example isn't done to typical time so you can see what I'm saying a little easier):

1.00.00 Note 1 On
1.00.01 Note 1 Velocity = 30
1.00.24 Note 1 Released
1.00.25 Note 1 Aftertouch = 10
1.00.26 Note 2 On
1.02.27 Note 2 Velocity = 30
1.03.49 Note 2 Released
1.03.50 Note 2 Aftertouch = 10
1.04.51 Note 3 On
1.04.52 Note 3 Velocity = 30
1.05.74 Note 3 Released
1.05.75 Note 3 Aftertouch = 10
1.00.76 Note 1 On
1.00.77 Note 1 Velocity = 30
1.00.99 Note 1 Released
1.01.00 Note 1 Aftertouch = 10

It all breaks down to time and instructions... =)

As for the Binary / Hex Data in that document... All it's doing is showing the intro value (128 - 255) that identifies what the MIDI message is regarding.

IE:

11100000 / E0 / 224 = Chan 1 Pitch

So when the instructions are encapsulated and sent to the sequencer they might have a header of 11100000 to let the system know what the next value is referring too.

In all honesty... I can promise that you'll never have to work with the MIDI Data on that scale (Unless you plan on programming your own VST, Etc.)

Hope that helps. =)

So will MIDI solve my relationship problems....?

no. it can very well be the source of them though.

hahahha thats the truth

MIDI sends it's data out in numbers from 0-127. The numbers represent how far along the data is in its controlling range. So if you're using velocity to alter the Cutoff of a synth...an amount of 30 would represent a "knob" position of about 10 o'clock. 64 is smack dab in the middle. I'm not sure what the numbers on the left mean...i don't know what this example is suppose to represent. Im guessing it's a time clock of a sequence.

That's true when you're dealing with parameter values, like CCs and such... when looking at an actual 8-bit binary word in MIDI, however, not all of it is 0-127 range. If that were the case, you'd be able to hear stepping in the resolution of your parameter values. Sometimes certain bits or sets of bits represent other things, though, like the first bit in a word which represents "note on/note off". Its been a while since I studied all this though.