MIDI topics
Improving MIDI playback
If you're stuck with the default Microsoft MIDI player you can be forgiven for thinking that MIDI just doesn't sound good enough to bother with. However you can dramatically improve MIDI playback quality in several ways, including the following:- Use an external keyboard
- Buy a separate soundcard which supports MIDI synthesis
- Install a software synthesizer to replace Microsoft's own.
Using a keyboard or digital piano
If
you already own a MIDI-capable keyboard or digital piano, and are
happy with how it sounds, it makes good sense to link it to your
computer for playing MIDI.
A MIDI-capable keyboard normally displays the "General MIDI" logo (see
illustration left), but if buying a new one check
that it is capable of both sending and receiving
MIDI data, since some
keyboards are made for computer input only. The normal connection will
be through MIDI-in and MIDI-out
ports on the keyboard, usually
running to the
MIDI/joystick port on the computer, though some modern keyboards are
designed to connect via USB - check the manufacturer's specifications. 
You
will need to buy a suitable cable for this: this should cost about
£15. Many music shops stock these, as well as some computer
outlets.
Connect the 15 pin male connector at one end of the cable to the joystick (or game port) connector on your soundcard (see the image on the left). On the back of your keyboard you will see two MIDI sockets (see image on the right). Connect the 5 pin "MIDI OUT" plug on the cable to the "MIDI IN" on your keyboard and the 5 pin "MIDI IN" plug to the "MIDI OUT" on your keyboard. In case you're wondering about the logic of this, take a quick look at the diagram:
MIDI-file data on your computer travels OUT from the computer (MIDI-OUT)
INTO the keyboard (MIDI-IN) for playback.
Similarly, when you play your keyboard, MIDI data is sent FROM the
keyboard (MIDI-OUT) TO your computer MIDI-IN.
All
that remains is to set up your computer to use this connection. Go to
your computer "Settings - Control Panel", click "Sounds and Multimedia"
and select the "audio"
tab. In MIDI preferences set the prefered device to "MIDI OUT",
"MPU-401" or "EXTERNAL MIDI". (See illustration.)
Your keyboard will now be the default
device used by your computer for MIDI playback.
Next page: fitting a new soundcard