How to Create MIDI File
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) enables electronic musical instruments like computers, keyboard controllers and other electronic device to communicate, synchronize and control with each other. It allows synthesizers, computers, sound cards, MIDI controllers, drum machines and samplers to control and coincide with one another. This industry-standard protocol is not capable of transmitting a media or an audio signal but it sends out event messages like the intensity and pitch of musical notes to control signals for such parameters as panning, volume and vibrato.
Materials Needed:- Noteworthy Composer
- Microsoft Windows Operating System
Step 1
To be able to create a MIDI file, you should make use of software like the NoteWorthy Composer. This software is capable of creating not just files with the .mid extension but also NWC files. The MIDI files that can be created in this application can be played back in any MIDI players or applications that can play MIDI files.
Step 2
To start of, launch the NoteWorthy Composer application and then click on the 'File' item and then point your mouse to the 'New' item and click it. Choose a template from the 'Song Templates' option. You will find several templates under the 'General' tab, including a vocal-accompaniment template and a piano template. You will find lots of percussion accompaniments under the 'Rhythm' tab, including Latin, dance, polka and metal. You can then click the 'OK' button once you have chosen the template that you want.
Step 3
Right-click on a staff and then choose 'Notation' and then click 'Time Signature.' Choose the appropriate amount of beats per measure as well as the beat value. You may also choose 'alla breve' or common time if necessary.
Step 4
Go back to the 'Notation' option. This time, choose 'Key Signature' by ticking on it on the list. Select the right key from the list or make your own user-defined signature. Then click the 'OK' button.
Step 5
Choose the right note duration from the toolbar. You may either click the right portion on the staff of utilize the arrow keys to move your cursor neither up nor down. Hit the 'Enter' key to generate your note. If you’d like to utilize a MIDI keyboard to key in your notes, connect your keyboard to your sound card’s MIDI port. But if you’d like NoteWorthy Composer to analyze the note lengths for you, a rhythm track to the score must be added. Hit the 'Record' button before playing your piece.
Step 6
You can add dynamics by clicking the 'Notation' item and then choosing the 'Dynamic' item from the menu or toolbar.
Step 7
Once done, save your file by clicking 'File' and then 'Save as…' to save your file in MIDI format.