How to Build a Home Recording Studio With MIDI

MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is the standard digital language used in music recording. It is very useful because it records more than just notes (like velocity information and timing) and does so with just a few kilobytes of memory. Using MIDI instruments and interface can truly enhance your home recording studio.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Acquire instruments that operate on MIDI. Most modern-day keyboards, sequencers and drum machines will use MIDI. Check with the merchant you buy from to make certain.

2. Install music software on your computer that will record MIDI devices. There are many MIDI related software programs, but Pro Tools is considered an industry standard. Pro Tools will only work with M-Audio and Digidesign hardware.

3. Connect your MIDI instruments to your computer. This could be difficult because few computers have MIDI ports. You may need to check electronics stores for a control interface with MIDI ports or a MIDI to USB adaptor.

4. Get a mixer that includes MIDI ports. This is another way to solve the problem of linking MIDI devices to your computer as well as all your other recording equipment.

5. Connect the MIDI in and out cables to the right ports. The plugs will look alike, but they should be marked as to which is "in" and which is "out."

6. Set your first instrument (likely the keyboard) to "MIDI Out Channel One" and your software to "MIDI In Channel One." Once you add more instruments, link them to the computer through the next channels.

7. Add all other necessary equipment like microphones, headphones and studio monitors. You should now be able to use your MIDI devices for recording music in your home studio.