MIDI Part 1 - MIDI Signal Path

This is the first part of my series on MIDI. (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) In it we cover the basic idea of what MIDI is and how devices are connected together including how IN, OUT and THRU ports work, and the different types of MIDI connections.

[@hArtyTruffle]

Very informative. I learned midi back in the 80s but have completely forgotten everything I learned. Kids all grown with families of their own, so back to the music now. Thanks 👍🏼

[@williamspeed4209]

I concur.

[@rudyb.4928]

Took me 2 years to find you but this information and your technique has proven to be both timeless and priceless 💯👌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@BenStoneking]

This is very informative. I'll be watching the whole series. Thank you!

[@williamspeed4209]

Wow I will absorb these lessons as if my life depended upon them as I am rebuilding my (hybrid) studio after being on the road for over 2yrs, and midi is/will be a huge part of my setup. I Thank You In Advance

[@Toler8r]

This series is much appreciated. I, too, started on Windows 3.1 running Cakewalk, composed a ton way back in the day, and am now getting back into it. This refresher on MIDI basics is incredibly helpful and the information will be/is being applied to the use of the current Bandlabs version of Cakewalk. Thank you!

[@shiftedphase]

Great to hear you're getting into MIDI again! Glad I could be of use to you.

[@Toler8r]

Are you using the Bandlabs Cakewalk DAW these days? That’s what I’m using. So many new things to learn with virtual instruments.

[@ferenctulics9688]

Super easy to understand and informative. Great job! Thank you, brother!

[@michaelproctor8777]

I found this to be very interesting and well presented. I used MIDI back in the early 90's with and Atari running cubase and a couple of yamaha dx synths. It was good to go back, recap on some old knowledge and then learn some of the new tricks. Some things I had forgotten but came right back when watching this. I am going to follow this series, use what I have learnt and then put it to use with my new equipment and DAW. Thanks for putting this together

[@shiftedphase]

Glad that you found it interesting!

[@russellgeyer8379]

Thanks ! Very good info for the beginner.

[@andymellor9056]

As a Midi n00b trying to set up his first home Studio, this was very to the point. I like your teaching style too. 🤓

[@shiftedphase]

I'm glad it helped you!

[@TheRangeControl]

Thank you, this is AWESOME!!! I can't wait to send the rest of them!

[@smartcrow7630]

Fine job Sir! I think you are the only person who could explain MIDI "Thru" with competence and real knowledge. Now I get it! Oh, my brother, I had/have Cakewalk v1.0 (5.25 floppy) in 1989 running on a 1 Mhz IBM PC Desk Top. What I would give to have such a simple easy to use program that gets the job done as Cakewalk 1.0 did, again!!!!!! I am sad that Cakewalk no longer exists as we knew them. =KL=

[@shiftedphase]

I still use Cakewalk 3.0. You can still use an old PC or a virtual machine for that old stuff. :)

[@onesinglecircle]

I dipped in on your videos to figure out nrpns but then realized there was a lot I didn't know ... I'm now binge-watching them all (as the kids say). Thanks.

[@escarabajo_o]

Thank you for these great series!

[@blairswitchproject2347]

Great content, I’m grabbing some snacks and getting settled in to watch the whole series!

[@shiftedphase]

Awesome! Everything is better with snacks.

[@johnleiby8684]

Great tutorials - clear and beginner friendly - with no fluff. Thank you Andrew!

[@shiftedphase]

Thanks!

[@fishbulb52]

went through a bunch of videos til i found this one, THANK YOU

[@daveking-sandbox9263]

Great episode! Keep them coming!

[@videolabguy]

Very good! I had Cakewalk way back in the 90s. I had a synth I was trying to play. It had MIDI so of course I hooked it to the old 486 with its whopping 2 megs of ram and 40 meg hard drive. And sat there wondering what to do next. I recall getting lost in remap tables that would go round in circles. I had too many hobbies and dropped that one and the rest is history. I then took bass guitar lessons for two years. Again, I found myself with 48 hours a day devoted to hobbies on a planet with 24 hour days. Doh! I sure could have used this series back then.

[@shiftedphase]

I definitely know what you mean! I also started with Cakewalk back in the day. Kept doing music but eventually found myself building music electronics and have been at it full time since 2009. Been spending more time doing designs than actually making music but as you said there are only so many hours in the day. Lockdown has helped to set new work/life balance... trying to spend more time playing when I can pull myself away from the workbench. :)

[@allgonewrongful]

Brilliant. I've looked up midi, and this is the best resource I've found. Thank you.

[@ozcandurmusoglu]

Your videos helped me alot to learn about midi. Having two synth and looking for an opportunity to learn and suffering from limited info about connections, it helped me a lot. thank you

[@shiftedphase]

Glad I shed some light on it for you.

[@anastav6915]

Im gonna watch every single video of yours. Thank you so much for giving such a huge information and knowledge for free! You are so great at teaching!

[@ericsolis6868]

This was so helpful and the explanations of everything were perfect- thanks for taking the time to make this!

[@shiftedphase]

You're welcome! I'm glad you found it useful.

[@edenottignon3493]

So helpful. Thank you! Looking forward to seeing later episodes about 2.0 midi

[@shiftedphase]

I spent some time studying the specification, and even attended a paid course by one of the developers. But so far I haven't found MIDI 2.0 very relevant or useful for the kind of projects I'm doing. I won't present it until I have actually implemented it in a real project.

[@MSMusic511]

Nice videos and well explained. This topic benefits from a clear and thorough instructor like yourself 👍🏼

[@shiftedphase]

Thanks!

[@kevc6115]

Super helpful video. Thanks a million! The reason the cables are labelled as they are is simple. It is the standard routing for all audio connectivity. The out or output sends a signal "OUT" of the Controller to the DAW with the USB connector as the In or Input to the DAW. On the return the USB is the output from the DAW sending the signal to the Input on the Controller.

[@djfreekiedeek3599]

Totally awesome Ben. Looking for the entire series now.

[@shiftedphase]

Not sure who Ben is, but glad you like it!

[@stevenkaplan7040]

This is excellent. Thank you for sharing. Very grateful.

[@headbangerministries6845]

Just what I've been looking for.

[@woopwoop769]

Thank you 🙏🏼 Amazing work!

[@drummer4hire12]

Great presentation!!!! Very concise......Highly appreciated.

[@Capt-Cran]

Thank you for taking the time to share the videos ... very helpful ... finally!!

[@Capt-Cran]

And I started with Cakewalk 3.1 also ...

[@bsatyam]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Amazing! Thanks!

[@machiwoomiapoo]

Thank you Woody Piano Shack for introducing me to all these wonderful KZbinrs! Here's another excellent KZbinr I didn't know about yet. Well, now I'm subscribed and educated. Excellent job! Your fellow Synthesizer KZbinr, Sam from machiwoomiapoo channel. Take care and have a wonderful year!

[@languageacquire4279]

You are the best about this , thank and thank and thank you , for your pristine knowledge that give to the world of owns totally ignorants !

[@zebedeezimminy]

excellent coverage of this topic, using paper and pen to describe the topic rather than 'hand waving' bravo!!! I agree with you about the tendency to 'hide' the midi protocol inside the USB configurations, this has caused me a lot of problems with software heavy configurations and is part of the reason I was looking for information about how MIDI actually works. I had an ATARI ST with midi ports connected to a Casio CZ and Korg DDD-1 drum machine hours of fun when modems ran at 9600 baud ;-) Cheers

[@shiftedphase]

Nice! Sometimes the more direct approach to music making is more fun. I think it explains why small table-top and modular synths have become so popular too.

[@djnanneex]

This is great!! Thank you very much, great work !!

[@omnaraiya]

Just discovered your channel. Love your content. Hope to see more, especially in the realm of music electronics.

[@shiftedphase]

Thanks! I'm working on a new series.

[@daveking-sandbox9263]

FYI DIN stands for (Deutsche Industrie Norm). :-) I had my first synths here in Munich during the 70s. First we had only control voltage synths (using 0-5V) then around mid 80s the MIDI norm, for standardization (Roland/Korg+Yamaha) showed up with the DIN plug.

[@shiftedphase]

Yup, but I didn't really think it's important to mention. It probably felt futuristic back in the day... now it's hard to make it fit into a modern design. :)

[@glitchgatsby4290]

I knew this was the right video series when I saw the DT Oscilloscopes on your shelf

[@paulofigueiredo1479]

Great job. I was looking for this. Thank you.

[@AugustWillDecay1978]

Thank you so much for these videos, onto the part 2....

[@Herbuel]

Clear and complete. Thank you so much! 😊

[@pgtips4240]

Brilliant video!! Thanks so much for teaching this, it's so helpful to me.🙂🙂🙂

[@shiftedphase]

Hope you understand MIDI better now. :)

[@monsterjazzlicks]

I look forward to viewing this series....

[@AlienHomesick]

You describe it all super well, thank you so much!

[@shiftedphase]

Glad you liked my video!

[@mauriyamayamauri8148]

excellent material! Thank you!

[@lorenzocarrera9826]

exactly what i was needing, thanks !!

[@shiftedphase]

Glad it helped!

[@antonioisraelvargasvalderr4399]

super cool video!!!!

[@scottchilds5726]

You are the boss man, thank you my friend.

[@patriciaoudart1508]

I'm going to look all episodes, fine!🙏🧡💚

[@sargamists]

Learned something new. Thank you

[@enriquesuarez2214]

Thanks for all the info!

[@Kebekwoodcraft7375]

I just got a Kawai K4 add I need to install patches this is why I got here to learn about midi So far what I catch on is the USB in go to out and out to in I will try this before I threw it in the garbage!

[@Scherbakov]

This video is useful for me! Thank you!

[@shiftedphase]

Glad to hear that!

[@richarddixon5657]

Just starting out in dawless music making and was looking for a guy like this to explain midi and the terminology used. So thank you for taking the time to do this. I think I’m following your explanation. What I’m after is having my drum machine control the tempo of my synths, because I’m trying to add a live element to my Djing. I’m using vinyl and traktor through a xone 96. I beat match the tr8 to vinyl by ear but need the rest to sync up by them selves. I think this is what’s going on in my system so far clock out from traktor into mixer sound card then out to tr8’s in then out going to volca base. But just bought a korg monologue and have a Roland efx303 groove efx and sequencer that I’d like to try and control volca base with. Any advice welcome. 🤓 Going to watch the rest of your videos now. Thanks again...

[@shiftedphase]

If you have one clock source and just want to sync them all up, you might want a MIDI THRU box of some kind... this can make cabling easier.

[@richarddixon5657]

@@shiftedphase thanks, I’ll look into it.

[@tkmondavi5716]

Very informative. Thanks

[@k_tech69]

Nice explanation 👍🏻

[@Mehdi.Borousan]

Really really helpful, thanks a lot :)

[@beaufighter245]

Thank you. Really helpful as struggling to link up my devices with keyboard.

[@shiftedphase]

Glad it helped you!

[@ganghyeonryu8297]

Very useful for me. Thanks!

[@digitalvamp]

Great video thanks!

[@ek999]

Always good to see a fellow leftie!

[@TheWarrior221]

This is very nice dude! Congrats

[@shiftedphase]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!

[@TheWarrior221]

@@shiftedphase I´ve just found out about your Radiator proyect, it´s really awesome dude! Keep up the good work

[@shiftedphase]

@@TheWarrior221 Thanks! It was a lot of work but the results will show very soon as we are starting to ship next week!

[@TheWarrior221]

@@shiftedphase wish u the best of luck!

[@DrBenOne]

That was really great Andrew, very informative and a top presentation. I really appreciate the time and thought you've taken to explain this complex topic. I've been using DAWs, midi controllers, virtual instruments and electric guitars for quite a few years and now adding synths and drum machines to the mix. Getting to understand what midi does, connecting devices, syncing devices and all that stuff is essential to ensure a fruitful and enjoyable experience. You've certainly grown my understanding today and and over the next few days when I revisit your vid. One question, what do you cook in those really small microwave ovens you have?

[@shualiko]

Nicely done ✅ thanks 🙏

[@Redbelo]

I am on the first video , thank you soo much soo far man, very useful info , going to your next video ,

[@KadisSegad]

Please just the facts of the topic, the only reason we’re here! But thank you all the same!:)

[@shiftedphase]

Sorry if I'm long-winded. I just make the videos I would want my younger self to find.

[@carlbdfrd]

Thank you, It was very helpful

[@grausound]

Excellent video

[@RodrigoRodriguez-ru6gc]

great tutorials !!!thx for the info)i would like to know if the connections might change with a keyboard that have as well USB connection(I have a arturia keystep with volca bass)

[@shiftedphase]

USB MIDI is just MIDI over a special USB protocol but is the same messages as regular MIDI. But I don't really understand your question.

[@ThefamousMrcroissant]

Appreciated. Very well put together and elaborate. A bit too elaborate for my personal tastes(too many pictures for rather trivial concepts) but that's always better than too abstract.

[@shiftedphase]

Glad it helped you. But it's hard to know the level of understanding of people watching the video. Perhaps like me you are very good at imagining technical concepts. This is very difficult for some people so I hope at least one of my analogies / images will "click" with everyone. :)

[@ThefamousMrcroissant]

@@shiftedphase Might be, it's what I studied after all. Also yea I understand, I'm merely giving feedback from my perspective here. The videos are great either way. Being more elaborate equals being more inclusive in this case.

[@jmsiener]

Hype for part 2

[@twiglet2214]

Excellent thank you - learnt a lot !

[@jeromewelch7409]

thank you! I love the pen and paper it's awesome

[@ronsone8373]

Thanks for this Just what i need

[@tonycannatamusic]

Great videos!

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Great tutorial, thanks!

[@shiftedphase]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@CurtisCallawaychannel]

@shiftedphase you are really good at teaching- Great job !

[@shiftedphase]

I appreciate that!

[@myousickoflife]

Thank you! Much love

[@springsdoc1]

Great video. I'm having confusion about hooking up my equipment. Here's a list of what I have and the MIDI ports on each. Computer: Windows 10 -Software: Reaper (64 bit) DAW that is MIDI functional; FocusRite Control (for routing functions) Audio Interface: FocusRite 18i8: MIDI In and MIDI Out and USB (to computer) MIDI file storage (using 3-1/4" disks): Alesis DataDisk: MIDI In and MIDI Out/Thru Ensoniq SQ2 Midi keyboard (76 note keyboard): MIDI In and MIDI Out and MIDI Thru Drum Machine: Alesis SR-16: MIDI In and MIDI Out/Thru (the SR16 currently can't get sound out, but it still appears to function). I have another one coming on Wednesday to replace it (and hope I can get everything transferred over to it, either directly or from backup 3-1/4" disks with the Alesis DataDisk. I have had this stuff since the 80's.. lol SOOOOO.... the BIG question is: in what order do I hook all of this up? Is there an importance as to that? Thank you in advance of any help/advice you can give me. Chris Foster I might also mention that I have a cable by "iConnectivity mio" that has a USB connector on one end and splits off to a "MIDI Out" cable and a "MIDI In" cable. According to the manual that came with it, the "MIDI Out" cable connects to the "In" port of whatever equipment it's going to and the "MIDI In" cable connects to the "Out" port of whatever equipment it's going to. Where should I use this cable? I'm thinking the DataDisk to Computer USB, but what do I know... ;-)

[@shiftedphase]

It doesn't matter what order you plug stuff in. It's more important to write down the actual MIDI ports you used for each if you're using DIN MIDI devices, since your software can't detect them by name like with USB. As for where to use what cables and ports... it's really up to you.

[@springsdoc1]

@@shiftedphase awesome. Thanks for the quick response

[@luxtwice1840]

Hi, thank you for the great info, could you also do a video on how to use the hteory u mentioned with Volca Sample and Logic Pro x through Akai mpk? it's really challenging, because volca sample only has midi in. I plug the midi cable to my controller and the controller us plugged to the computer via usb. But I only hear 1 sound which is the fist sound of the volca. Also, this the volca sample has one midi channel for each sound, therefore 10.

[@shiftedphase]

I checked the Volca Sample MIDI implementation manual and it looks like you need to use a different channel for each of the 10 parts. That's kind of annoying. You need to set up 10 tracks, or use some other kind of MIDI filtering in Logic. I don't use Logic anymore so I can't really help you with that.

[@juliaasmr7380]

Awesome and thanks.

[@icq4t42]

Thanks a lot. I've been trying to find someone who can explain midi in a precise and clear manner. Released in 2017 so the information is going to be up to date.

[@shiftedphase]

Not much has changed, except how we think about using MIDI. It's still got potential far beyond how most of us are using it. :)

[@kyma1999x]

+Shifted Phase the most common issue is raster delays that midi has still todays...cannot be 'sample locked' to daw....but is easier to measure this time stamp issue and then slip the track/region after recorded in audio and align it to audio tracks, the problem could be only if one want to use it completely in realtime even during mixing. some people buy old samplers assuming they sound better than software...that is quite true, sound different...but if you later record them inside a computer using crappy audiocards the problem will still be there...so the only solution would be doing old school....sampler playing midi tracks on different channels via separate outputs and then into an analogue mixing console. but with modern interfaces timing issues could be a problem, knowing well midi protocol is important so these videos could be really helpful for people interested in this kind of usage.

[@shiftedphase]

You have some interesting points. I think whatever tool people feel "at one" with that gets them results they're after for music making is the right one. It's fascinating how "progress" can sometimes leave out unique qualities of older systems that potentially made them better for some uses. Just look at the retro computing scene!

[@kyma1999x]

+Shifted Phase yes it is....and the most strange and interesting point is.... i am completely sure if we talked maybe in 1972 to moog robert, or pearlman and stated "in 2017 your electronic stuff will sound better than the newbie" they probably called us fools....in 2017 we will probably on mars! and same with ppl who made akais or emu samplers of the nineties. but this is what actually happened, today moog had to reissue model d minimoog, and people still searching old stuff....but whereas retrocomputing is only nostalgic stuff because you can emulate 1:1 in modern pc so prefering a real nes or amiga is only a question of "feelings" because every pc or mac or smartphone can emulate 1:1 those hardwares, with old music gear is not always possibile neither digital or analogue. arturia or ni have minimoog emulations via vst but the real thing sounds really better and different, we are getting close but having a real model d or a vst version is still not the same (and we still have not considered the hardware feeling side.....) And then but this is imho....we gained so much more possibilities in terms of power compared to 20/30 years ago (every mac with logic can handle at least 96 tracks....) but music is not changed in better....when i listen to some electronics from 80s and 90s with samplers max 16 megabytes, old school midi and more primitive stuff compared to nowadays possibilities, I'm not perceiving it like dated or oldie, and never boring....what instead I feel in the most of modern productions.

[@Klocaine237]

Thank you so much for the info. Nice

[@shiftedphase]

Glad it was helpful!

[@roskoeusa]

Thank you. Very helpful

[@relaxingpianomusic6492]

Respect ❤

[@orcasea59]

Thanks for this sensible explanation. I have a question regarding daisy-chaining keyboard controllers to control software synths In a DAW. Would you use in/thru, in/thru & in/thru with the end controller providing the OUT return to the DAW so you have a complete in/out loop?

[@shiftedphase]

You can’t do it like that... the THRU will not mix in signals from the keyboard itself. It only passes signals from the IN port. If you want multiple controllers use a multi port MIDI interface to you computer.

[@ronaldrojas4575]

Excellent my brother thank you

[@shiftedphase]

Glad you liked it, but I'm an only child.

[@ronaldrojas4575]

Shiftedphase you got jokes

[@DanieleNasuti]

This is a very useful video for me!!! Just what I needed. Yet you gave me an hint and now I have a question :) Since I need to connect mymaster keyboard to PC and also the synth to PC, and sometimes control the synth by midi message from master keyboard, what is the fastest and better connection I should do? Is there a difference in latency if I connect by midi the masterkey to the synth or the masterkey to the PC and throug pc control the synth by playing the masterkey?

[@kyma1999x]

in midi pratical use there are other types...for example the splitter box can connect a daw midi out and make several copies of midi driven faster than a daisy chain setup, but the three synth connected are receiving the same copy of midi out, so the number of channels and bandwith is essentially the same. but there is another way, the midi multiport interfaces like old opcode studio 128/64/256 or motu midi timepiece or avid midi/o....those boxes are connected to the same computer via usb or other interfaces (parallel, rs232 etc) and daw recognizes it like multiports...so i have midi out 1/2/3/4 and so on....in this way every port runs in parallel and has independent midi channels from each others and so more bandwith because every port is essentially a midi interface on its own. in past i used this way with atari and log3 to running notator logic and then with mac using opcode models, emagic and motu (still have one in studio) the nice thing was that old interfaces like log3 on atari or motu studio 128 had a parallel bus not serial so midi timing was really steady...i remember logic on atari...today is everything connected to a ultra speed serial bus....is fast enough to do the same but the parallel port was really an incredible reliable connection in those days when you had 7/8 modules connected running at the same time (maybe one or two samplers....some expander like wavestation and jv2080...and so on....) I remember well cakewalk from 12tones systems....now it's sonar...never liked it so much....I started at 12 years old with amiga 500 and quite nothing three years later got a kurzweil k2000 sampler and then an atari...nice moments! today midi is still used to control some analogue synth via usb and mostly to control vst instruments....but the magic of old midi studios with a rack full of expanders and samplers has gone....it is true also than two synthesiszers like integra and montage today can deliver whopping 384 polyphonic voices whereas an old sound module of nineties or late eightes was around 16/24 or 48....roland jv had 64 but with 4 oscillators was like having 16.. I remember well one of the most common "poor man" midi setup....roland u220, korg m3r and yamaha tx81z....and an atari 520 st running creator or miditracks st! today a montage alone gives you 128 sampled voices and 128 fm voices with 8 operator and 2 fx for every track plus reverb and delay master fx! wow....time changes..... :,)

[@shiftedphase]

Well class-compliant USB MIDI interfaces support up to 16 "cables" on the same endpoint... similar to what you're talking about from those oldschool units. I plan to do a video about USB MIDI where I will show how the protocol looks on the wire. It's a good example of "old stuff running over newer stuff" which is so common in technology.

[@brdane]

Would love to have an updated video going over MIDI 2.0 and comparing.

[@shiftedphase]

I'll try to get to it sometime.

[@brdane]

@@shiftedphase Awesome. Great video again, friend!

[@nancykling544]

Excellent,,

[@shiftedphase]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@manne3d]

How about hardware devices that has a software configurable midi out/thru port, is that also normally a electrical connection or will that go in via some microprocessor and introduce some latency?

[@shiftedphase]

Magnus Andersson It would depend on the hardware design. If it passes through a CPU there would be latency... but hopefully not very much.

[@indianexpressway123]

heaps good video, v succinct

[@shiftedphase]

Thanks!

[@tonyk4447]

I hope we got a teacher like you in college , and I am even in a music department 😭

[@shiftedphase]

You can hire me!

[@adamb4519]

Thank you Andrew! This is very good stuff to understand! I am struggling with getting a sound from my midi keyboard Roland KR-650 and I was looking for help in KZbin. Even though I follow the rules to connect this midi keyboard to my mac it still doesn't work. i was wondering if I am missing anything that you might know.

[@shiftedphase]

Thanks, I'm glad you like my videos! I can really only help to explain the underlying concepts.

[@schmook9965]

Great video! Looking forward to learning from the rest of the series. Have there been any significant changes to MIDI since you made this series?

[@shiftedphase]

MIDI "1.0" which is what this series covers is still the same and widely used. MIDI 2.0 was originally announced in early 2020 (first new standard in decades) and not widely adopted yet. I am still trying to find time to play with it and I plan to make a new series about it once I know if it's useful.

[@nykpower668]

tnx,informative indeed

[@chhabraramesh1]

Thanks for the information

[@ranzee]

Hi! I saw your vid on Woody's video, thought I'd subscribe and say hi :)