Our first goal is to understand how MIDI works, what MIDI messages are, how they are transmitted, and the configuration of a basic MIDI system. The links below will help explain these items. The important thing to remember is that each article is authored by a different person. This can lead to some confusion as MIDI terminology is still evolving and authors may use the terms in slightly different ways. You will benefit the most by trying to identify commonalities between the articles by working from the general to the specific.

 Each person will pick one article to briefly discuss in class. There will be some overlap so try to identify elements unique to your article. Everyone needs to read or skim the articles. Most of them are not very long and some are extremely well organized. Begin by going to the MIDI tutorial page. The order suggested works through all of the articles systematically. You will need to pick one other article from the MIDI tutorial page to present. 

The goal of this assignment is to gain some practical experience dealing with MIDI rhythms and note durations. The rhythmic component is mathematical: most MIDI sequences divide a quarter note into either 480 or 240 equal subdivisions (often called partitions in sequencing lingo). Therefore:

Performer® and Cakewalk® Values
Quarter note  = 480 
Eighth note  = 240
Sixteenth note = 120
Thirty-Second note  = 60

MasterTrack Pro® Values
Quarter note  = 240 
Eighth note  = 120
Sixteenth note = 60
Thirty-Second note  = 30

These are duple divisions of the beat, therefore triple becomes:

Performer® and Cakewalk® Values
 Quarter note  = 480 
 Eighth note  = 160 (3X160=480)
 Sixteenth note =   80 (6X   80=480)

MasterTrack Pro® Values
Quarter note  = 240 
Eighth note  = 80
Sixteenth note = 40

This presents no problem when viewing data which has been entered by step-recording or edited with quantization techniques. However, information entered in real time will be harder to decipher. We can assign middle C to c2 to avoid ledger lines.

Assignment: The two handouts give the Event Window information for two different pieces. Each piece has two parts (Duo 1: Tracks 1 and 2; and, Duo 2: Tracks 1 and 2) Your mission is to create a notated rendering of both pieces. Since we have not covered Finale it is fine to write these out by hand. Please notice that one piece has been entered precisely, using step editing, while the other has been played in real time. Pieces played in real time do not always (rarely) match up to the beat. They sounds more natural, but are harder to edit. Be prepared to add and subtract from the event location to arrive at the intended rhythmic point (e.g. C3 1/01/009 should be rounded to back to measure 1, beat one for notational purposes). The note's duration can also help you, pitches that overlap are legato. It is interesting to look at performances in MIDI to see why something sounds legato, staccato, etc... numerically. 
 
 

Now that you are armed with all this information, it is time to sequence your first song. Lento #88 is a practice piece and all you need to do is enter the notes and performance data. 

• Begin by opening Mastertracks and saving a new file named Lento #88 (or something similar). Next, set the count-off (count) on the transport control for a full measure- This helps you begin in time. Read the manual for count-off operations.
• Next set the tempo for the speed you want for recording.
• Select track #1 by clicking the red dot in the "R" column. I would suggest just doing the right hand alone unless you are an accomplished player with a lot of patience.
• Click the record button and wait for beat 1.
• Repeat the same process for the other track.
• A word of advice: make sure the keyboard is "on" and the volume is turned to an audible level.
• The only thing I want you to add that is not on the score is a ritard at the end. You will need to observe all other performance indications (cres., legato, etc...) Crescendos can be done in the velocity window and tempo alterations are best done with tempo and/or conductor tools.

You should now be ready for your sequencing project. Your project needs to be a piece you want to perform. We can use this later as the performance for the Hard-disk recording project. Please pick a piece you like...Non-pianists can sequence the piano accompaniment for a duo (Voice/Flute/Violin/Trumpet etc...). Pianists could do something for 4 hands and sequence the other two hands. 

This technology is simply amazing! Now vocalist, flutists, violinists, etc... can all have their accompaniments in their studio for students to play with, or for use at low budget gigs. Make no mistake, live  accompaniment is always the best, but not always available or affordable. With sequences you can transpose the part at the drop of a hat and then drag the standard MIDI file into Finale® and print the parts! You can also take the accompaniment, divide it into different tracks, and orchestrate it any way you like- and yes, print the parts.