Dan McAvinchey is a composer/guitarist living in Raleigh, NC.
He believes every musician or composer has the power to release their own record.
His latest CD release on Guitar Nine Records is entitled "Guitar Haus".
Please direct all comments and suggestions for future columns to Dan McAvinchey.
© Dan McAvinchey
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Understanding and Applying the MIDI Interface
MIDI, the Musical Instrument Digital Interface, can give the home or project studio owner the ability to be more creative, permits computer control over tape decks, sound modules, and drum machines, and allows composers to write music that no human could ever perform. Not bad for a communications protocol originally invented to allow one synthesizer to control another!
If you didn't grow up following the MIDI revolution, you may be confused about how to best learn about what MIDI can do for you. Following are reviews of several excellent books concentrating on the MIDI interface, and how to best exploit the advantages of MIDI. Good luck!
Note: All books reviewed may be purchased through our association with Amazon.com Books -- simply click on the book cover to order.
General MIDI
By: Stanley Jungleib
A book/disk package covering all phases of General MIDI (GM) and related practices such as Roland General Standard and Microsoft base- level and extended modes. Jungleib is a recognized MIDI pioneer and his guide offers equipment and manufacturer listings, synthesizer parameter tables, complete specifications of GM instruments, plus a MIDI implementation chart explaining every function of every MIDI message to GM instruments as receivers, and from GM sequencers as transmitters. Contains basic and advanced questions as well as chapters on 'What MIDI Is', 'The GM Synthesizer' and 'Sequencing'. The accompanying disk contains examples, MIDI files, and utility files. A-R Editions, ©1995, 230 pp.
Making Music With Your Computer
By: David Trubitt
If you are a musician searching for the right computer, Making Music With Your Computer will show you how to get started. It looks at the ways computers contribute to the music-making process, then demystifies the bridge between the components: MIDI. It shows how to choose the right computer and equipment for your needs and features the most popular types of software, including programs for recording and printing your music. It also explains digital audio, hard-disk recording, and music in multimedia applications. Additional tips on how to get software support and a glossary of terms, you'll be well supported to use the powerful computer for music. Hal Leonard Publishing, ©1993, 128 pp.
Handbook of MIDI Sequencing
By: Dave Clackett
If you need a way to get better results from your sequencer, you need this book. Clackett, a leading MIDI song file producer for Hands On MIDI Software, lists the hardware and software you need to set up a sequencing system, and introduces the basics of sequencing and music notation. There are sections on synchronizing to tape, standard MIDI files, copyright, transcribing from record, and a chapter on using MIDI files live. With a help section, a glossary and appendices on General MIDI data, it's a book any MIDI musician should seriously consider owning. PC Publications, ©1996, 244 pp.
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Additional Columns by Dan McAvinchey
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- And 3 more in the The Essentials series, view the index
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