In The Studio P.T. 16!! - Posted on 2016-12-28 by Jermaine Gibbs

          In The Studio P.T. 16!! Once again I was in the studio with my mentor, we sat down and went over chapter 16 from the course curriculum. The topic was MIDI, and the main objectives were, What is MIDI, MIDI in Pro Tools, Virtual Instruments, Mix Assignment upload, also a MIDI Assignment. Now let us talk MIDI, MIDI is not an audio signal or voltage. MIDI is a simple set of binary values that allow a musical performance to be recreated by another instrument, and/or sequenced by a DAW running on your computer. We use the term sequencing when referring to capturing MIDI events because we need to remember that at no time is the MIDI language transmitting any type of audio signal. Note, a MIDI file (.mild) can be captured on one system and be played back on an entirely different system. Various aspects of the performance may be altered such as, the notes played, the velocity (how hard or soft the notes are struck), the feel or groove of the performances tempo, and much, much more. Sounds can be layered, creating rich musical textures that are impossible to play with by hand. Before MIDI, sound sources were dedicated instruments, such as guitars and pianos and the adaptation of electronics steadily along the way. MIDI in Pro Tools, MIDI events, one MIDI connection is capable transmitting 16 channels of MIDI data. MIDI information is captured and transformed into binary values called MIDI events. These MIDI events have a possible value between 0-127, with a overall value set at 128, because the 0 is considered the first value. MIDI Control Events, The majority of all data transmitted in a MIDI signal are that of MIDI control events. They represent the start and stop of each note played, the note number (or pitch), the velocity ( or volume of each note) and other MIDI continuous control events such as pitch bend and other modulations of the sound over time. MIDI Tracks in Pro Tools come in two different flavors: MIDI tracks, MIDI is sequenced ( or performed with a controller) and sent to an external piece of gear such as a hardware synthesizer. Instrument Tracks, MIDI is sequenced and routed internally to a software synthesizer. Note, in addition to the Mix and Edit Windows, Pro Tools also has the MIDI editor window. The MIDI Editor allows MIDI data to be input step by step in addition to allowing you to alter MIDI performances that are captured using a MIDI controller. Virtual instruments in Pro Tools, Xpand is a synthesizer/sample playback engine with 1000+ presets known as patches. Structure Free is a sample playback engine that allows you to sculpt and refine a wide dynamic range of sounds from ultra-realistic acoustic instruments to the most abstract soundscapes. Boom is a drum machine/step sequencer/pattern sequencer that stays in sync with Pro Tools. Boom may be used to trigger one shot samples, or loops by holding down a key on your MIDI controller. Mix assignment upload, we were asked to upload our mix assignment.  We must bounce down a stereo track to our mix assignment as an .mp3. Finally, we were also given a MIDI assignment, to create a MIDI Production in Pro Tools that is around 30 seconds in length, and must include: a drum track, a bass track, A pad, or some sort of harmonic accompaniment such as a piano, also a lead element.