Digital audio and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) are important parts of music production that every musician should know. Let’s make these ideas simple and easy to understand!
Digital audio is sound that has been turned into numbers. These numbers can then be stored, changed, and played back on computers and digital devices.
You can think of it like taking a picture of sound. Just like a picture captures a moment, digital audio captures sounds at different times.
Sampling Rate: This tells us how many times a sound is sampled in one second. Some common sampling rates are 44.1 kHz (like CD quality) and 48 kHz (used for video sounds). If the sampling rate is higher, the audio quality is better, but it also takes up more space on your device.
Bit Depth: This shows how much difference in sound levels can be heard. A common bit depth for CDs is 16 bits. A higher bit depth, like 24 bits, allows for better sounds, making soft sounds easier to hear.
When you record your voice or an instrument on a computer, you’re turning the sound into digital audio. For example, if you record a guitar strum using a microphone, the computer takes samples of that sound and saves it as a digital audio file (like .wav or .mp3).
MIDI works a little differently! Instead of recording actual sounds, MIDI sends digital signals that stand for musical notes and how they are played.
Think of MIDI like a recipe that tells your computer what notes to play, how loud to make them, and what instruments to use.
Notes and Velocity: Each note played on a MIDI keyboard matches a specific pitch. Velocity is about how hard you press a key. This can change how loud the sound is and how it feels.
MIDI Instruments: Many music software programs have virtual instruments that respond to MIDI signals. For example, if you play a note on a MIDI keyboard, it can make a piano sound in your music program.
Here’s a way to use MIDI in music production: You could create a drum beat using a MIDI controller by choosing a drum kit sound in your software. Each time you hit a pad, it sends a signal to play that drum sound, helping you make cool rhythms.
In today’s music production, digital audio and MIDI can work really well together! You can record live instruments or singing as digital audio and then add MIDI tracks for virtual instruments. This creates full and exciting music.
By learning about digital audio and MIDI, you’re on your way to making your own music. So, grab your instrument or MIDI controller, and let’s start creating!
Digital audio and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) are important parts of music production that every musician should know. Let’s make these ideas simple and easy to understand!
Digital audio is sound that has been turned into numbers. These numbers can then be stored, changed, and played back on computers and digital devices.
You can think of it like taking a picture of sound. Just like a picture captures a moment, digital audio captures sounds at different times.
Sampling Rate: This tells us how many times a sound is sampled in one second. Some common sampling rates are 44.1 kHz (like CD quality) and 48 kHz (used for video sounds). If the sampling rate is higher, the audio quality is better, but it also takes up more space on your device.
Bit Depth: This shows how much difference in sound levels can be heard. A common bit depth for CDs is 16 bits. A higher bit depth, like 24 bits, allows for better sounds, making soft sounds easier to hear.
When you record your voice or an instrument on a computer, you’re turning the sound into digital audio. For example, if you record a guitar strum using a microphone, the computer takes samples of that sound and saves it as a digital audio file (like .wav or .mp3).
MIDI works a little differently! Instead of recording actual sounds, MIDI sends digital signals that stand for musical notes and how they are played.
Think of MIDI like a recipe that tells your computer what notes to play, how loud to make them, and what instruments to use.
Notes and Velocity: Each note played on a MIDI keyboard matches a specific pitch. Velocity is about how hard you press a key. This can change how loud the sound is and how it feels.
MIDI Instruments: Many music software programs have virtual instruments that respond to MIDI signals. For example, if you play a note on a MIDI keyboard, it can make a piano sound in your music program.
Here’s a way to use MIDI in music production: You could create a drum beat using a MIDI controller by choosing a drum kit sound in your software. Each time you hit a pad, it sends a signal to play that drum sound, helping you make cool rhythms.
In today’s music production, digital audio and MIDI can work really well together! You can record live instruments or singing as digital audio and then add MIDI tracks for virtual instruments. This creates full and exciting music.
By learning about digital audio and MIDI, you’re on your way to making your own music. So, grab your instrument or MIDI controller, and let’s start creating!