MIDI is a standard for saving and transmitting musical information, similar to what you'd see on sheet music. It stores music not as an audio recording, but in terms of the notes being played (pitch,volume and duration) and the instruments on which they are being played (such as Grand Piano, guitar, violin).
Because MIDI stores information in terms of notes, you can edit music in staff notation using a MIDI editor, such as our product Music MasterWorks. The MIDI format can also store lyrics and special effect controllers. You can also edit music using the piano roll notation which is easier for beginners because it shows notes in relation to piano keys.
If you have a MIDI compatible musical instrument (such as a MIDI piano), you can also record from and play out to that instrument. This requires a special cable.
Here is a list of the standard MIDI instruments supported(your PC sound card may not support all these instruments):
Grand Piano
Bright Piano
Electric Piano
Honky Tonk Piano
Rhodes Piano
Chorused Piano
Harpsichord
Clavinet
Celesta
Glockenspiel
Music Box
Vibraphone
Marimba
Xylophone
Tubular Bells
Dulcimer
Hammond Organ
Percussion Organ
Rock Organ
Church Organ
Reed Organ
Accordion
Harmonica
Tango Accordion
Guitar (nylon)
Guitar (steel)
E Guitar (jazz)
E Guitar (clean)
E Guitar (muted)
Overdriven Guitar
Distortion Guitar
Guitar Harmonics
Acoustic Bass
Electric Bass fingered
Electric Bass picked
Fretless Bass
Slap Bass 1
Slap Bass 2
Synth Bass 1
Synth Bass 2
Violin
Viola
Cello
Contrabass
Tremolo Strings
Pizzicato Strings
Orchestral Harp
Timpani
String Ensemble 1
String Ensemble 2
Synth Strings 1
Synth Strings 2
Choir Aahs
Voice Oohs
Synth Voice
Orchestra Hit
Trumpet
Trombone
Tuba
Muted Trumpet
French Horn
Brass Section
Synth Brass 1
Synth Brass 2
Soprano Sax
Alto Sax
Tenor Sax
Baritone Sax
Oboe
English Horn
Bassoon
Clarinet
Piccolo
Flute
Recorder
Pan Flute
Blown Bottle
Shakuhachi
Whistle
Ocarina
Lead 1 (square)
Lead 2 (sawtooth)
Lead 3 (calliope)
Lead 4 (chiff)
Lead 5 (charang)
Lead 6 (voice)
Lead 7 (fifths)
Lead 8 (bass+lead)
Pad 1 (new age)
Pad 2 (warm)
Pad 3 (polysynth)
Pad 4 (choir)
Pad 5 (bowed)
Pad 6 (metallic)
Pad 7 (halo)
Pad 8 (sweep)
FX 1 (rain)
FX 2 (soundtrack)
FX 3 (crystal)
FX 4 (atmosphere)
FX 5 (brightness)
FX 6 (goblins)
FX 7 (echoes)
FX 8 (sci-fi)
Sitar
Banjo
Shamisen
Koto
Kalimba
Bagpipe
Fiddle
Shanai
Tinkle Bell
Agogo
Steel Drums
Woodblock
Taiko Drum
Melodic Tom
Synth Drum
Reverse Cymbal
Guitar Fret Noise
Breath Noise
Seashore
Bird Tweet
Telephone Ring
Helicopter
Applause
Gunshot
Here is a list of commonly supported percussion / drum instruments (percussion in MIDI is played out channel #10 and the pitch of the note determines the type of percussion instrument played - see 'Percussion' in the help file for more information on how to do this):
Pitch Percussion Instrument Played on channel 10
C#7 - Castanets
C7 - Sticks hit together
B6 - Bell A#6 - Shaker
A6 - Open Triangle
G#6 - Mute Triangle
G6 - Open Cuica (brazilian drum)
F#6 - Mute Cuica (brazilian drum)
F6 - Low Wood Block
E6 - High Wood Block
D#6 - Claves (high pitch wood sound)
D6 - Long Guiro (ratchet sound)
C#6 - Short Guiro (ratchet sound)
C6 - Long Whistle
B5 - Short Whistle
A#5 - Maracas (shaker)
A5 - Cabasa (shaker)
G#5 - Low Agogo Bell
G5 - High Agogo Bell
F#5 - Low Timbale (african/caribbean drum)
F5 - High Timbale (african/caribbean drum)
E5 - Low Conga Drum
D#5 - Open High Conga Drum
D5 - Mute High Conga Drum
C#5 - Low Bongo Drum
C5 - High Bongo Drum
B4 - Ride Cymbal 2
A#4 - Vibra Slap
A4 - Crash Cymbal 2
G#4 - Cowbell
G4 - Splash Cymbal
F#4 - Tambourine
F4 - Ride Bell
E4 - Chinese Cymbal
D#4 - Ride Cymbal 1
D4 - High Tom Drum
C#4 - Crash Cymbal 1
C4 - High-Mid Tom Drum
B3 - Low-Mid Tom Drum
A#3 - Open Hi-Hat
A3 - Low Tom Drum
G#3 - Pedal Hi-Hat
G3 - High Floor Tom Drum
F#3 - Closed Hi-Hat
F3 - Low Floor Tom Drum
E3 - Electric Snare Drum
D#3 - Hand Clap
D3 - Acoustic Snare Drum
C#3 - Side Stick
C3 - Bass Drum
In addition to MIDI, Music MasterWorks can also record audio wave files and insert them into your composition. It can also turn your voice (sung into your PC microphone) into notes automatically!