Tag: MIDI

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MIDI Fighter 3D – Compact MIDI Controller

midiFighterI came across this cool little MIDI controller and thought I would share it with you all. It’s called the MIDI Fighter 3D.

FEATURES
  • Accurate, detailed precision on all axis
  • Full motion tracking of tilt, pan, and rotation.
  • Map accelerometer data to any midi-compatible effect or software
  • Traktor Pro, Ableton Live and Serato Scratch official mappings
  • Customizable, animated LED color rings

The general sense I get is that the MIDI Fighter 3D is designed for live performances, but I can see how it couldn’t be useful in recording applications as well.

What do you think? Ever tried it?
Share your experiences with us.

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The History of MIDI – “Hey, remember the 80’s”?

History of MIDIHere’s a couple of cool videos if you’re interested in learning, or in some cases “reliving” many of the key events and technology that made MIDI a standard in the musical world.

30th Anniversary of MIDI

Computer Music History – Apple Computer and Midi Interface (1987)

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Looptimus MIDI Controller, Great Looking New Kickstarter Project

UPDATE: The Looptimus is now in production and can be purchased here.

Looptimus USB MIDI Foot Controller Stomp boxes and foot pedals are standard gear for guitarists all over the world.  But for some reason that trend hasn’t caught on yet for keyboardists and computer musicians. Perhaps this little box will change that.

It’s called the Looptimus USB MIDI Foot Controller, and looks like it could add some pretty cool real-time functionality to live performance software. Designed to integrate with your computer through a USB MIDI interface this little box is configurable to navigate through sections of songs, start/stop, rearrange live sets, and much more I’m sure.

The Kickstarter project is going on NOW (Sept.10.2013), and they could use your support. Link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/loopcommunity/looptimus-usb-midi-foot-controller  This looks like a great new tool. If you do any LIVE performances with software, or you just want to help out a good cause, consider supporting this new venture.

FEATURES:

  • 20 Banks, A – F for each Bank
  • All-Access Bank for quick switching
  • 16 MIDI Channel Options
  • 1 Dedicated STOP button (single MIDI note)
  • 9 Rock-Solid, Momentary switches
  • USB MIDI connection
  • Expression Pedal Jack (for Roland Rv-5 or equivalent)
  • 3 Digit LED Display
  • USB Bus Powered!
  • 9v optional power jack
  • Aluminum Enclosure, Black powder coated
  • 6 ft. USB Cable included
  • 8×5″ x 5″ x 1.5″

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Create Bass Lines from Drum Tracks (MIDI Tutorial)

I posted a new YouTube tutorial online. Check it out.

Have you ever wondered how to make a great bass line from scratch? Here’s one suggestion. This technique will allow you to create a great sounding bass line to go behind your song using nothing but a MIDI editor and a drum track.

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Why MIDI is Better Than Audio Loops

Why MIDI is Better Than Audio Loops…

Here are a few good reasons.  And if you see any I’ve missed, let me know in the comments below.

MIDI
AUDIO LOOPS
User Editable
Yes
No
Pitch Transpose
Unlimited
Very Limited Range
Tempo Variation
Unlimited
Very Limited Range
Edit a single note in the pattern
Yes
No
Ability to change instrumentation
Yes
No
File Size
Tiny
Large
Device Compatibility
Wide Range
No
Software Compatibility
Wide Range
Somewhat Limited

To be fair though, there are some advantages to using sound loops though.  The primary benefit is that they are essentially ready ‘out of the box’. If you have software that can accept them, you simply plug them in and away you go. You don’t have to set up a sound source first.

But having said that, I will always love MIDI above all other forms of recording because of its HUGE flexibility.

MIDI ROCKS!

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Axis 64 Midi Controller

OK, I’m all for innovation and changing the way we do things for the better. So in the spirit of experimentation I thought I would post this cool MIDI controller I found online.

This guy, Peter Davies, redesigned the musical keyboard arranging the keys based on harmonic table.

Take a look. It’s pretty cool looking.

My initial thoughts are… what about velocity sensitivity and after touch. But these are issues that I’m sure could be addressed easily enough.

Let me know what you think of this device.
Do you like it?
Have you used it?
What are the drawbacks or benefits?

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MIDI Crossword Puzzle

MIDI Crossword Puzzle
MIDI Crossword Puzzle

Download Here:
(PDF) MIDI Crossword Puzzle Download

Here’s a challenge for all you MIDI fans out there.   Download this crossword puzzle and give it a shot.  If you are able to actually complete it, comment below and let me know that you did it.  I’ll be interested to see if you think it is difficult or easy. Certainly some of the clues are easier than others. But some are pretty hard.

If you guys like it, I’ll try to come up with more fun stuff like this in the future.

I’ll post the answer sheet once I’ve heard from some of you about it. Perhaps in a week or so. Or maybe sooner if there’s a demand for it.

So don’t wait! Comment below once you’ve tried it.

Happy Crosswording!

P.S. Go ahead and post this to your Facebook or Twitter.  Or email it to friends who might be interested.  Test their knowledge and see if they can finish it without your help.