Essentials for Using MIDI
To get started with MIDI, you need three things. First, you need a device capable of sending out the MIDI messages, such as a guitar synthesizer, a keyboard, an electronic wind instrument/controller, and so on. Second, you need a hardware interface to get MIDI into the computer. You will probably want a computer so you can take advantage of MIDI's powerful editing ability. The higher-end “keyboard workstations” like the Kurzweil and Korg products have internal sequencers built into their keyboards; however, most users take advantage of a computer's flexibility and power. If you go with a computer, the third thing you will need is a computer program to perform the sequencing. All the major digital audio workstation programs (DAW) have integrated MIDI sequencing. (See Chapter 6.)
Interfaces
Computer MIDI interfaces are inexpensive and easy to use. They are available as part of PCI cards, USB, and Firewire interfaces. Many of the newer computer recording interfaces now include MIDI ports. The minimum you will need is one input and one output. You will need one input for each piece of gear you want to use. But don't worry — if you have a lot of MIDI gear, you can buy interfaces that handle eight or more inputs!
What a MIDI Cable Can Carry
One simple MIDI cable can transmit a lot of data! Most of the modern keyboards and sound modules are able to receive sixteen channels at once. That means you can have your sequencer send up to sixteen different tracks of MIDI to your keyboard and your keyboard will be able to play back all sixteen different tracks from just one MIDI cable.
Not every keyboard is capable of receiving and playing back multiple channels at one time, so if that's what you want, you need to look for a keyboard that is “multitimbrale.” A device is multitimbrale if it can play back more than one “timbre,” which is French for sound. Most modern products are multitimbrale.
