How MIDI Is Used Today
In some ways, MIDI hasn't changed at all. There are still legions of keyboard players who use computers and their sequencer software programs to build multitrack arrangements. Composers still use MIDI to play back performances.
In the last few years, samplers and virtual instruments have changed what is possible to produce in a home studio. The sound quality of the modern samplers and virtual instruments are astounding to say the least. With early MIDI synthesizers, it was easy to tell that the instruments were not real. Nowadays, with the quality of samplers and virtual instruments, it's getting hard to tell what's real and what's not!
Samplers and virtual instruments are all MIDI-controlled. So to really take advantage of them, you have to have some way of interfacing with MIDI. This doesn't mean that keyboard players are the only ones who get to enjoy this!
Many of the virtual instruments and samplers require only one or two notes to activate great loops and sounds; so being able to play a keyboard well is not required. And since MIDI can be recorded one note at a time and edited together later, anyone can get in on the fun. You don't need to play fast, or even play in time! Even the one-finger piano player can get into the MIDI world.
Guitar players can use guitar synthesizers to access the exciting world of MIDI. Brian Moore Guitars manufactures the iGuitar, which is a traditional guitar with a built-in thirteen-pin MIDI pickup inside the guitar. Simply attach the guitar to a converter box and your guitar playing is instantly converted to MIDI. Guitarists can finally easily sequence, play soft synths, and produce notation.
For the more adventurous guitarist, there is an instrument called the Ztar, a keyboard with keys in the shape of a guitar neck, which is played like a guitar but it has no strings, only buttons.
For those who play a little keyboard…you might benefit from a “little” keyboard. Many companies manufacture small desktop keyboard controllers (shown in FIGURE 7-2). These controllers contain no sounds; they transmit only MIDI messages to the computer. The products are very affordable (many around $125) and only contain two to three octaves of keys. It's a great way to utilize MIDI in your setup. You can, of course, purchase larger keyboard controllers for extended range.
FIGURE 7-2
Small MIDI controller
