Why use MIDI?

Ok, im tottaly new to MPCs so this may be a really stupid question to allot of people in here. I have a Midi keyboard, and I Use Reason 2.0 for my synthesizer needs. The thing i dont really uderstand is what is the point of using Midi for. The way i make my beats is after making a drumline off my mpc, i create keyboard riffs with whatever sound i tweaked from my synth. Once i find what i liked, i will record it with the digital input the mpc and chop it up and layer it out on the sequencer on the MPC. I dont even use any of the MIDI inputs/outputs? Am i missing something vital here, maybe something that will really give me an edge in producing my beats??

u can sync your mpc to your pc via midi so when u press play on reason your mpc will play at the same tempo ......but hey do what u do.....check out the manual I think their is some examples of setups


Word

when you start putitng songs together midi can be a life saver. FOr instance say I make a bassline with a midi track on my MPC, but latter on I find it takes up to much space in the mix. I can just dial in a new bass or clean up the bass on my keyboard to change it without having to play it over. Or you can tranpose notes if you find yourself to be off. Or my fav. WHen you do a track on your cheap keyboard when you go to the studio to track it out. You can use the midi notes in your MPC to take advantage of using a higher end keyboard to get better sounding keys over your song. Man I could go on and on.

I know you can sync the timing using Midi, however what do you mean like changing the bassline. Other than these thing, Whats the reall crutial reason why people use Midi. You said you could go on an on about midi....please do man....im so lost when it comes to midi. Is thier any place i can read up on this more to so see what the interface with the 2500 and an external device is used for??

Also, what do all the rest of you guys use Midi for.....jahrome?... Spirez?...

well its just not about instuments, when ur recording to pc, digi recorders ect., midi is a sync method if you choose. for spacesavers like me instead of boards i use sound modules (mpc4k, reason 3.0, 5080, triton rack, keystation and cubase sx). with out midi these components coudnt work together.

midi is too confusing for me, i stick with audio for now,

?U gotta Midi Production Center and dont use Midi

I for my part own a "Music Production Center"...

But anyway, here's some info on MIDI to read up:

http://www.borg.com/~jglatt/tutr/miditutr.htm

http://www.computermusic.co.uk/tutorial/midi/midi.asp

ive had my mpc for about 7 years now, and ive only got into midi'ing up keyboards within the last 6 months.

ive been midi'ing my digital recorder to the mpc for about 2 years now though, just so if i have to change the beat, sh*ts all synched up.

I rarely sample my synths/sound modules into my MPC. I do use the MPC to sequence those modules which I record directly into Nuendo via my digital mixers.

MIDI is just very flexible. I can easily change instruments I don't like...edit patches without affecting my sequences. ANd its very wasy to exchange MIDI sequence data.

One thing I like about MIDI, is that I can use MIDI files instead of sampling( or if I don't have access to a keyboardist). With many samples, you may not be able to isolate particular sounds well. In that case, you can download a standard MIDI file of a song you like..which will have all the parts of a song on different tracks. You can keep one or more tracks and build a song from it. I took a MIDI Piano loop of Big's Notorius Thugs..loaded it up in my MPC...assigned a synth patch to it...edited it..and created a banger.

[quote="newb1234"]I have a Midi keyboard, and I Use Reason 2.0 for my synthesizer needs. The thing i dont really uderstand is what is the point of using Midi for. quote]

You dont understand it - but if you are triggering Reason with your Keyboard you are already using it anit cha?

Midi is nice cause you can manipulate it in different ways than audio. Have a destructive play and you'll see what I mean.

Many people get their first taste of MIDI when using Reason...Reason is basically a bunch of MIDI commands that generate audio sounds (e.g. recording midi with the keyboard, which also triggers notes on playback). There isn't much degree of audio in Reason, until you export the sounds...But, that's besides the point...However, Reason is mostly MIDI...

MIDI is simple, but can become difficult. Now that I just got two extra MIDI modules (including the MPC that I just bought), things are getting confusing. The confusion arises when routing becomes the issue. The issue is tied with flexibility. Personally, I like being able to use a master keyboard to trigger as many modules as possible; record midi notes; and have the ability to playback those notes on any of my modules; but that sometimes requires rerouting (which is annoying).

You can get away with what you're doing, but I recommend using midi cables for added flexibility, since you'll be able to have two devices working together as one. You'll be able to play, record, edit melodies; and have the mpc playback what you've just made. In your case, where you're working with chords, you can get away it... But when composing things like melodies, which are more intricate, I think it's much better to have it recorded into reason, and have the mpc control reason to play the midi back. Believe me, it's a lot better... And all it's gonna cost you is a single midi cable.

Go here for some basic info on midi: http://www.borg.com/%7Ejglatt/tutr/miditutr.htm

djzero, why do you say that recording melodies in Reason is easier than using an MPC?

The majority of the time I prefer to record midi, edit it, and then playback to record the audio, which you can do with reason--to get the perfect timing, etc. (I'm not totally sure if the akai records and edit's midi like reason can for a keyboard. Forgive me if it does). I find with a program, too, like reason, it's really simple/easy for getting the essential ideas down, and then later using it to contribute elsewhere to something bigger and larger.