How to Use a MIDI Keyboard to Trigger Computer Graphics

A MIDI keyboard can send commands to your computer, controlling images as well as sounds.

If you know how to use it, you can do almost anything with MIDI information. It can convert the notes you play to formal musical notation, but it can also trigger live computer graphics that react to the notes you play. There are several programs that can do this, some of which are expensive, professional software suites. You can also use a freeware program that runs using JavaScript, available at Midilive.org.

Things You'll Need

• MIDI keyboard
• MIDI-to-USB adapter
• Compression utility like WinRAR or WinZip

Instructions

1. Install the latest version of Java. Go to java.com/getjava and click the Free Download button. Follow the instructions for installing on a Mac or click Agree and Start Free Download. Save and run the installer

2. Connect the MIDI-to-USB Adaptor to your MIDI-keyboard in the appropriate MIDI-In and MIDI-Out ports. Plug the USB end into your computer and turn your keyboard on. For help installing drivers, consult your adapter's reference material.

3. Download and unzip the MidiLive shareware from http://www.midilive.org/download/midilive.zip. Extract the files somewhere on your hard drive using WinRAR or WinZip.

4. Open the file called "MIDI.live.jar" in the Application folder. This will launch the MIDI.live Java application.

5. Select your USB-MIDI adapter from the drop down menu in the upper left hand corner. It may already be selected. Test it by playing a note on your MIDI keyboard. The corresponding key should light up in the MIDILive interface.

6. Choose one of the default plugins from the "Vis Plugins" menu on the left. Check the box marked "active," then click "Select."

7. Customize the visualization in the Presets and Visualization panes. Select from your choice of camera speed, environment color and other options, depending on the plugin you've chosen. The visualization will appear in the separate Render Window. Double click it to go into full-screen mode.

8. Play! Based on the settings or presets used, the visualizer will react to the notes you play, as well as certain other MIDI parameters.

Tips & Warnings

• Check out the manual in the file "MIDI.live Quick User Guide.pdf" for more information on how to use the program.

• The MIDI Visualization software is not a synthesizer. It only creates graphics based off MIDI information. To hear the notes you're playing, plug your keyboard into speakers or headphones. Or, if your computer is fast enough, you can simultaneously use a virtual instrument program.

References

• MIDI.live
• Java

Resources

• MIDI.live: MIDI.live Project