Welcome to the computerized world of MIDI equipment—samplers, synthesizers, sampling keyboards, drum machines, and sequencers. Because other texts explain this equipment in detail, we’ll offer brief descriptions here.

Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) is a standard connection between electronic musical instruments and computers that allows them to communicate with each other.

Here are some things that MIDI lets you do:

•  Play a piano-style keyboard, drum pads, MIDI guitar, or breath controller to produce a sound like any instrument.

•  Record and play back a musical performance that is independent of the sound of that performance. You can hear your performance played by any musical instrument or synthesized ...

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