Dan McAvinchey is a composer/guitarist living in Raleigh, NC.
He believes every musician or composer has the power to release their own record.
His latest CD release on Guitar Nine Records is entitled "Guitar Haus".
Please direct all comments and suggestions for future columns to Dan McAvinchey.
© Dan McAvinchey
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Click here for a printer-friendly version of "MIDI Resources".
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Understanding and Applying the MIDI Interface
MIDI, the Musical Instrument Digital Interface, can give the home or project studio owner the ability to be more creative, permits computer control over tape decks, sound modules, and drum machines, and allows composers to write music that no human could ever perform. Not bad for a communications protocol originally invented to allow one synthesizer to control another!
If you didn't grow up following the MIDI revolution, you may be confused about how to best learn about what MIDI can do for you. Following are reviews of several excellent books concentrating on the MIDI interface, and how to best exploit the advantages of MIDI. Good luck!
Note: All books reviewed may be purchased through our association with Amazon.com Books -- simply click on the book cover to order.
Advanced MIDI Users Guide
By: R. A. Penfold
Most MIDI users do no more than scratch the surface of MIDI's potential. But dare to dig a bit deeper and you'll find a whole new world of creative possibilities. With the Advanced MIDI User's Guide, you'll learn how to optimize your MIDI system to give the best results for your particular setup, you'll find out how switchers and mergers can add sophistication to your setup and how they can be used in a MIDI system at live gigs. Want to incorporate a multitrack tape recorder into your MIDI system? No problem - there's a section on synchronizers, SMPTE and MIDI time code. And all you retro fans will find out how to use your MIDI system with that dusty old analogue synthesizer! You'll find out how to improvise a simple MIDI tester to help troubleshoot problem systems, and how to use SysEx messages to access some of the more esoteric features of your system. Cimino Publishing Group, ©1996, 184 pp.
What's MIDI? Making Musical Instruments Work Together
By: Jon F. Eiche
A great little five-dollar guide to get you started learning about MIDI. This book explains the basics of MIDI using the simplest, clearest terms possible. All essential details about the MIDI interface are covered. Hal Leonard Publishing, ©1991, 64 pp.
MIDI Survival Guide
By: Vic Lennard
If you've got twelve bucks, then check out the MIDI Survival Guide. This book's got no math and no MIDI theory, but beginners and pros alike can get practical advice on starting up, setting up and completing a working MIDI system. Contains information on connecting synthesizers, sound modules, sequencers and drum machines; how to budget; using switch, thru and merge boxes; General MIDI and more. PC Publications, ©1993 104 pp.
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MIDI Resources [Page: 1 2 3 4] |
Additional Columns by Dan McAvinchey
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- And 3 more in the The Essentials series, view the index
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Vol. 17, No. 2: Feb.-Mar. 2012
