Understanding MIDI

In order to use vocoders, we need to first know how to use Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI). MIDI is a way for software and electronic devices to pass music information from one device to another so that the new device knows what notes to play. In Chapter 3, Composing with the Piano Roll, we discussed how to record MIDI information to the piano roll. Once entered, notes in the piano roll act as MIDI information that can be passed between instrument plugins.

Passing MIDI information between plugins is useful in a few scenarios:

• Passing MIDI information is how you can communicate with hardware instrument devices. Hardware instruments use MIDI to give and receive information to and from your computer. If you want to play notes directly from FL Studio to or from your hardware device, you use MIDI. FL Studio has documentation and video tutorials to help connect your hardware MIDI devices at http://support.image-line.com/redirect/MIDI_Out.
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