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Though the science behind MIDI isn't essential to know before you start scoring, I feel there are a few things which are important to know just to comprehend how and why things work the way they do in our working environment. You might have heard people talking of 'midi-instruments'. However, MIDI isn't really an instrument. MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, which means its a method to allow musical instruments communicate over digital networks... or in easier terms, so that you can make instruments go electronic.
MIDI has played a big role in the film scoring environment, particularly because it means more sounds can be integrated into the score. Additionally, when scores are prepared in the MIDI environment, it allows composers to demonstrate to directors what the music will sound like before the music is recorded. Most of all though, it opens up the possibility of gaining valuable scoring experience without the huge costs of hiring live musicians (which means you and I get to have a lot of fun experimenting too!!!).
MIDI data is often transmitted through a cable consisting of 5 smaller wires. Again I won't bore you with the functions of the cables, but what is important to know is that the standards set by this cabling system means that you can have 16 data channels running at the same time (or in simple terms... you can have 16 instruments assigned per midi channel). Along all these data channels you can have 128 combinations of information passing through each channel, which will explain why most MIDI 'instruments' are divided into 'banks' grouped by 128 sounds at a time, that you can call upon to store and use data.
The figure '128' is actually quite important to us, because all midi data can be broken down into 128 parts going from 0-127 (MIDI starts counting at 0 rather than 1). That means for functions such as volume, portamento, velocity etc. there can be 128 different levels. In musical terms when applied to volume, 0 = no volume and 127 = fff. So, when it comes to actual 'number values' to the volume control, the following would be fairly accurate:
- MIDI Volume Value: 15 = ppp
- MIDI Volume Value: 31 = pp
- MIDI Volume Value: 47 = p
- MIDI Volume Value: 63 = mp
- MIDI Volume Value: 79 = mf
- MIDI Volume Value: 95 = f
- MIDI Volume Value: 111 = ff
- MIDI Volume Value: 127 = fff
When you work with sequencers you will open edit windows where you will see MIDI data values. The most common of these are: #1 = Modulation Wheel (that's the one next to your pitch bend wheel if you have 2 wheels there), #4 = Foot Controller, #7 = Main Volume, #10 = Pan, #65 = Portamento (pitch bend), #66 = Sostenuto (sustain pedal) and #67 = Soft Pedal. These aren't essential to know, but very helpful if you're trying to work out to what your edit window is referring.
With the advances of technology, we now have MIDI controllers which have lots of buttons, knobs and sliders that can all be assigned their own MIDI function which are assignable within the sequencing software. This is enormously helpful for pre-recording mixing, and if you want to give crescendos or diminuedos that you couldn't otherwise achieve. If your keyboard has such functions but you've not yet worked out how to do it, here's a quick example in Digital Performer 5. If you're not using DP5 you should be able to see similar methods of doing it within your own sequencing software.
Step 1
Select your 'MIXER' mode:
Step 2
Go to the mixer mini menu and select "Attach MIDI Controller":
Step 3
Click on the slider on your screen that you wish to be controlled. In this case I want the 3rd fader to be controlled. You will notice a red box will start flashing around the element you want to be controlled.
Step 4
With the red box flashing, slide the slider on your MIDI keyboard or controller and you will see that the red flashing box has now become a green flashing box. This means that your assignment has been successful. Now click anywhere outside of the mixer and you're good to go!
Should you wish to unassign a MIDI controller, simply follow the same steps as above only this time select "Clear MIDI Controller" from the mixer's mini menu.
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