MIDI differs to audio, as we have control over the notes and CC data. From your computer/device, you can adjust these expressions and articulations, and creatively change the way your phrase plays. The computer recognizes the change, and represents the legato or staccato articulations as CC data. MIDI is the information read by your computer, translating notes and CC (Control Change) data into music.įor example, you may play a legato phrase on your piano, then repeat it the second time with staccato notes. Now that you have connected your keyboard to your desired setup, it’s time to learn a little about MIDI. Take a look at the table below to understand what cables and adapters you’ll need to connect your digital piano to a smart device: You may notice a USB Type A port in your keyboard, but this cannot be used for transferring MIDI data, you can only insert a flash drive to save recordings onto using your keyboard’s internal sounds. Most modern keyboards feature a USB Type B port, while some older keyboards and pro-grade instruments use a MIDI connection (dedicated MIDI In/Out ports). You can also use them to control various music-making and learning apps (more on that in the following sections). When you press a key on your keyboard, a sustain pedal, or use any other controller that your instrument has, you generate MIDI messages that tell which key was pressed, how much pressure was used for it, how long a note was held, etc.Īll these messages can be sent to your computer and recorded as a MIDI file. Note: MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol that allows computers and electronic musical instruments to communicate with each other.

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