Short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, MIDI is a standard for digitally representing and transmitting sounds that was first developed in the 1980s. MIDI sound is played back through the hardware device or computer either through a synthesized audio sound or a waveform stored on the hardware device or computer. The quality of how MIDI sounds when played back by the hardware device or computer depends upon that device’s capability.

Many older computer sound cards have a MIDI port, as shown in the top-right picture. This port allows musical instrument devices to connect to the computer, such as a MIDI keyboard or a synthesizer. Before connecting any MIDI devices to the computer, you need to purchase a cable that takes the MIDI/Game port connection into the standard 5-pin DIN midi connector or a USB to MIDI converter. If have no MIDI port, you may purchase a USB to MIDI converter cable.

Accessory, Cable, Computer acronyms, Connection, Data cable, Line in, MPU-401, Music, Sound terms, Synthesizer, ZIPI

The file extension .mid is used to save a MIDI file.

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