What Does MIDI Stand for?

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Part of the video series: Music Information

Summary: MIDI stands for musical instrument digital interface and is the language used by audio devices to communicate. Find out how MIDI sounds are used for digital electronic instruments, such as electronic drum sets and keyboards, with information from a professional drummer in this free video on electronic music.

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By David Pakman
eHow Presenter

Contact: www.midweekpolitics.com

David Pakman is a longtime drummer trained in rock, funk, jazz, blues and music theory, and is also a casual piano/keyboard player. He has played with two alternative/modern rock bands...read more

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"What does MIDI stand for? MIDI stands for musical instrument digital interface. And what it is, that's basically a language for various types of audio devices. Including sound cards, computers, computer software. And digital electronic instruments like this drum set. To talk to each other. MIDI is a standard that was developed in the early eighties. And it's used for all sorts of music recording. And basically this entire drum set works on MIDI principles. So this, the sounds that are pre-programed here. Those are all MIDI sounds. And the output that comes out of this electronic drum set. Is in MIDI. So if I have a MIDI player or if I have a MIDI keyboard. I can get these exact same sounds. Just by pressing a key on the key board. In addition, you can have, you'll rarely will have lyrics with MIDI sounds. So most of the time, you can get instrumental. Stuff like that with MIDI. But you're not going to be able to really get voice with MIDI. Although there are some newer MIDI developments that let you get something that sounds like voice. Choruses and those types of noises. But usually any kind of lyrics or singing will not work with the MIDI format."