NoteIt's Working with MIDI

NoteIt's Working with MIDI
This page will present ideas and examples of how to make working with MIDI files fun, as well as making the MIDI files more enjoyable.

Dynamics

Dynamics refers to the loudness or softness of a sound. Files which have a large dynamic ranges tend to have a greater impact. The dynamics are generally controlled by the velocity value of the keyboard and in a broader sense controllers 7 (volume) and 11(expression).

To hear the difference of a MIDI file with and without velocity information start the player. Care should be taken that dynamic range is not too large, especially with melody parts. To avoid this situation, a sequencer can be used to "compress" the velocities. For example all velocities below 80 will be brought to equal 80 and all velocities above 120 will be brought to 120. Through judicial use of compression lead voices will be easier to hear and follow.

In a broader sense controllers 7 and 11 can be used to control the dynamics of a MIDI file. Both controllers adjust the volume of the voice. For example , you may want a string pad to swell at a beginning of a sequence, instead of adjusting all the velocity values measure by measure, just set controller 7 at a low value and gradually increase the value to the desired level. Another application would be to fade the file out at the end.

Panning

Through the use of controller 10 and or sending panning information at the beginning of a sequence the full stereo field can be used in an artistic manner. The use of panning information does not have to be static: often having a part ping-pong from right to left in a quick or in a very gradual manner can ad interest to a tune .

Delay and Reverb

Most modern synths have on-board effects. Delay is usually assigned to controller 91 and reverb to 93. Adjusting these values at the beginning of a sequence can really make a large difference in MIDI files. Also remember that these values can be changed and adjusted as MIDI file plays . Value changes maybe necessary because a different instrumentation or be useful to create interest in the file. Other fine tuning of effects may also be controlled (for example feedback level), review your manual.

Continuous Controllers

Review your instrument's manual and see what continuous controllers can be used to control it. Depending on the synth tremendous changes can be made. For example the synth may respond to frequency cut-off and resonance, thereby radically changing a voices sound as the sequence plays! The attack, delay, sustain and release maybe adjustable. Pedal controls maybe edited. The final word here is to experiment! (No examples are included in this section because it is synth dependent).

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