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In this series we've looked at some hardware and software which enables you to record and playback your music on your PC. The software recommendations such as Cubase and so on, are basically home recording packages which give you control over how you can make and record original or covers music (useful for backing tracks, gigs etc.), from your Home Studio. One of the fundamental tools which is the backbone of many music sequencer packages is called MIDI. The best thing about this is that it mostly operates in the background and does it all automatically for you.

But say you wanted to assign different sounds, tempo's or volumes to various tracks which you have recorded either live or even step-by-step thru using MIDI itself? The key to doing this and taking a further leap forward in your recording exploits is through a basic understanding and use of MIDI. A good grasp of these basics will enable you to take complete control over your songs and recordings, and can open up a whole new musical world to you.

What is MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) exactly, and how can we use it in our Home Recording set-up? It's a long and fascinating story why, but in a nutshell all the major players in the Biz have agreed on a standard communication system for instruments, which allows Musical Equipment from different manufacturers to talk to each other (musically speaking of course). This includes PC based software and real instruments such as keyboards etc. It's the common communication language of musical equipment.

• This called the General Midi Standard. You'll see GM written on a lot of musical equipment and this means it's compatible.

It's also a way of controlling and playing the sounds and effects of one instrument (or sound module), but using another playing instrument to drive it - eg Play a Guitar with a Midi equipped set-up but make it sound like a Church Organ.

With a MIDI based PC Software Sequencer program, you can record various program or sound settings such as volume, program (sound) changes and so on, just like real notes. Press playback and the MIDI track will make these parameter changes automatically on your Music gear as it moves thru the track (if everything is set up correctly - it's easy enough). So a keyboard or sound module that's playing a melody you have written, might change it's sound from say a Saxophone to a Piano at a certain point in the tune, get louder or softer, add vibrato, fade in a drum track ... all of which which you have complete control over.

The MIDI File

Perhaps the most well known MIDI term is the "MIDI file". This is basically a song which is put together and saved in .MID form. You can buy ready made MIDI files of complete songs and even albums. Or you can make your own MIDI files of original music or covers. These MIDI files or backing tracks can then be used for live gigs or in the studio. All MIDI files can be worked on and changed, tweaked or improved to suit! For example you might buy a MIDI file of a song which includes the vocal melody played on a Sax - you can take out this Vocal Sax piece and just use the file as a backing track which you can sing to.

Here'a quick demo to give you an idea of what's possible. This is a famous Jackon 5 song which I put together for a band as a backing track on commission. It's a programmed midi track with some backing vocals and a small guitar part added in.

Blame It On The Boogie Demo Backing Track

This is just a small example of how you can use simple but powerful MIDI commands in your home recording set-up. Btw many modern keyboards, PC software packages and sound modules have MIDI capabilities onboard, and it's pretty standard on most electronic based instruments today.

• As mentioned MIDI generally works away quietly in the background, but to take advantage of it I recommend that anyone running a home studio learn the basics - what about trying the strongly recommended Midi Files at Amazon to get a good grounding. If you would like to make your own MIDI backing tracks, we'll be looking at the best, easiest and quickest way to do this, also where to get good files and ready made tracks and so on in our next installment. Any MIDI or music related questions please post 'em on our new BellaOnline Musician's Forums - thanx.

Regards

David