Understand MIDI and synth terms with clear guides to signal control, sound design, virtual instruments, and production workflows.
MIDI is a technical standard that enables electronic musical instruments, computers, and other equipment to communicate performance data. It transmits information such as note on/off, velocity, and control changes rather than audio signals, allowing flexible composition, editing, and playback.
Quantization is a digital process that aligns musical events to a rhythmic grid, correcting timing inconsistencies in MIDI and audio recordings. It is a core tool in modern music production, allowing tighter grooves while offering options to preserve a human feel.
Automation in audio production is the technique of recording and recalling changes to mix parameters such as volume, pan, and effects over time, enabling precise, repeatable adjustments throughout a track.
A sampler is an electronic device or software that records, stores, and plays back audio snippets, known as samples. It allows musicians and producers to incorporate recorded sounds into new musical contexts, ranging from drum hits to full melodic phrases.
A sequencer is a hardware or software tool that records, edits, and plays back musical information, typically using MIDI or audio data. It enables composers and producers to arrange notes, rhythms, and control changes in a precise, repeatable format, forming the backbone of many electronic and contemporary music productions.
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument that generates or manipulates audio signals to create a wide range of sounds. In music production it serves as a primary source of timbres, textures, and effects, shaping the sonic character of contemporary recordings across genres.
Velocity in MIDI is a numerical value that indicates how quickly or forcefully a note is played, influencing the resulting sound’s volume, timbre, and articulation.
A VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plugin is a software module that runs inside a digital audio workstation to provide virtual instruments, effects, or utilities. It enables musicians and producers to expand the sonic palette of a DAW without external hardware.