MIDI Basics: importing MIDI into Pro Tools and Finale

By Jason Johnston What is MIDI? MIDI is an acronym for "Music Instrument Digital Interface". It was developed in the 80's as a computer music language that electronic instruments could use to communicate to one another using a midi cable. Here's the KEY: MIDI only sends INFORMATION it does not send AUDIO. Basically computer instructions - Ones and Zeros, that's it. Today, USB devices still use MIDI instructions to tell the computer what to do. What can it do? MIDI is extremely flexible. With it you can: - Change tempo without affecting sound quality - Edit individual notes and sounds easily - Edit groups of notes (like transposing, shifting by a beat, etc) - Edit dynamic elements (velocity, hold, expression) - Quantize pushing the MIDI notes into time - Change sounds at the click of a button What can't it do? - It cannot be exported without first changing to a AUDIO file - It (still) cannot replicate some sounds well (human voice, acoustic guitar) although it is getting closer Using MIDI Files in Pro Tools to create a background track 1) Search and download a desired MIDI file (use Apple-click to download to a targeted folder) 2) Start a new session, named and filed appropriately 3) Use the "import MIDI to track" command from the File menu 4) From the File menu select "New Track" and create as many audio tracks as you have new MIDI tracks 5) On each AUDIO track assign a new desired software instrument in the "insert" area and rename the track 6) On each MIDI track assign the "out" in the i/o area to send to the desired software instrument audio track 7) Mix your new song and record a new lead vocal over the top if you want! 8) Bounce your background to disk by selecting File>bounce to disk a. File Type: (.wav) b. Format: Stereo Interleaved c. Resolution: 16 bit d. Sample Rate: 441000 9) Click "bounce" and in the next dialog box type a song name and where you would like it saved as a ".wav" file (playable in iTunes or for burning on a disk) Using MIDI Files in Finale to create a lead sheet and/or background 1) Search and download a desired MIDI file (use Apple-click to download to a targeted folder) 2) Launch Finale and click on "Open" under "Open Existing Music" 3) Select the MIDI file to open it 4) A dialogue box will open, make sure: a. Tracks become staves is selected b. All boxes under "Include" are clicked on c. "Create Percussion Staves" is selected d. Both the Key Signature and Time Signature are selected "using the file's" e. The rest should be automatic 5) Finale should show you multiple tracks of scored music, just like the MIDI file was recorded. Try hitting play and see what it sounds like, it should automatically assign instruments to each file. These are "General MIDI" instruments and won't sound as good as instruments in Cubase, Pro Tools or Garageband, but they are better than nothing! Here are a few links where you can search and download for MIDI files:

www.mididb.com
This music teacher has a good selection
Lots of MIDI files at www.vanbasco.com

Disclaimer: These MIDI files should only be used for educational and entertainment purposes - please abide by the copyright laws of your country!