Interested in making your own music? Writing songs, instrumental music, even symphonies? You can do it with your computer thanks to wonderful technology known as MIDI – Musical Instrument Digital Interface. No need to know how to read music, MIDI can be edited using easy-to-read graphs.MIDI allows you to connect musical keyboards and other devices to your computer and each other. They communicate to each other with MIDI – language specific for musical applications. With a MIDI keyboard connected to your computer, you can record music, edit it, orchestrate it and polish it into a professional product.
There is a MIDI connection built into most personal computers. The joystick port doubles as a MIDI interface and you can connect a standard MIDI cable to it. The MIDI cable has two connections – MIDI out and MIDI in. Connect computer’s MIDI out to keyboard’s MIDI in and computer’s MIDI in to keyboard’s MIDI out.
Next, you need some MIDI software try out connection. You can try a freeware product like JAZZ++ or a commercial product like Cubase. Many companies have demo products of their MIDI software, allowing you to try before you buy.
With MIDI software installed and running, play a few notes on your MIDI keyboard. They should be recorded into software and available for playback and editing. If nothing happens, you may need to make some changes in your BIOS setup. Reboot computer and check BIOS to make sure that MIDI port is activated. Check documentation of your motherboard for details.