The Midi Files

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Summary: Tony Boerboom of Network Product Business in the UK says:
Review: " This is the best book I could find on MIDI programming. Easy to read as a non-MIDI expert, good balance of theory and pragmatic examples, wonderful!"

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Summary: Thank you for publishing this book!
Review: I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for publishing this book, "The Midi Files", by Rob Young. I'm just past 40 years of age. I've been working with computers my whole life. I've been a musician longer than that. But I only recently took the plunge into Midi. And it was hopeless. I couldn't make head or tails out of the documentation that came with either the synthesiser or the sequencer. I have always been able to pick things up on my own, with the help of the manuals. It wasn't happening. I was really getting down about it.

But then I remembered I'd bought this book.And man, what a book.It is such a good book I can hardly believe it. It really saved my life. Not only does Mr. Young show a great understanding, technically, of the MIDI standard and its various interpretations in hardware and software, and of the pitfalls that we new MIDI exploresrs will be faced with. But he does it all with such amazing musical sense too.

So I don't know what else to say. Thanks. From my heart. This foray into the MIDI world really means alot to me. I've been thinking about it and planning on it for a long time. I've been needing and wanting to get back to music, especial composition, and this was how I was going to do it. When I finally went for it, and then it was going so badly, I was really down on myself. I felt stupid. I thought maybe I was too old for this. But then this book, this one simple book, changed everything. It finally helped me to unlock the door. I still have a long way to go. But at least I'm developing. I'm so appreciative, it's hard to express it. But I hope I have done so, in some small way.

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Summary: If you are seriously into MIDI, then get this book !
Review: I was amazed to see how thorough this book is on MIDI. There is a good introduction section, but there are lots of those types of books. What differentiates this book from other titles is the author's practical approach to working with MIDI, including a number of .mid examples you can listen to while reading the book (very professional sound). The tutorial is very thorough, and although I have not completed it yet, appears to be well structured.

A must for any MIDI aficiando !

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Summary: It takes away the mystery
Review: If you are in to making your own music and have anything to do with MIDI, you need this book (in addition to Yamaha's Sound Reinforcement Handbook and QUE's Upgrading and Repairing PCs,if using a PC.)

It gives easy-to-understand information and really explains how to improve what you are doing with your sequencer. The only thing I wish it had was more examples and info on possible gear setups and different master/slave configurations. (I have 4 modules, and am always looking for the best way to set up my system.) Nevertheless, the book has great tips about setting up your sequencer, and practical advise that will help anyone who really doesn't understand MIDI to gain a solid understanding. Since reading this, I am not as intimidated by some of my sequencer's options (event menu)and have been able to really understand what is going on with my MIDI.

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Summary: Not The Best, and Smells Strange!
Review: If you want to get /one/ book on MIDI, get Braut's /The Musician's Guide to MIDI/ (which is excellent). THEN maybe get /The MIDI files/, if you feel like getting a second book. Okay, /The MIDI Files/ is not as complete as Braut's book, but Young's more colloquial style might make for a better read.

One bit of warning about /The MIDI Files/: It smells strange! I don't know if it was just this printing or what, but the strange slick paper this's printed on has a really funky chemical smell, like /Wired/ sometimes has, or kinda like an overheating color copier. It wasn't /really/ strong and noxious, but always just detectable, and frankly distracting.

Rating:
Summary: Not The Best, and Smells Strange!
Review: If you want to get /one/ book on MIDI, get Braut's /The Musician's Guide to MIDI/ (which is excellent). THEN maybe get /The MIDI files/, if you feel like getting a second book. Okay, /The MIDI Files/ is not as complete as Braut's book, but Young's more colloquial style might make for a better read.

One bit of warning about /The MIDI Files/: It smells strange! I don't know if it was just this printing or what, but the strange slick paper this's printed on has a really funky chemical smell, like /Wired/ sometimes has, or kinda like an overheating color copier. It wasn't /really/ strong and noxious, but always just detectable, and frankly distracting.

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Summary: Very nice reference
Review: This book can make you understand the whole MIDI technology pretty well. It tells you how MIDI works, how to set your system (the basics of course, the rest is up to your imagination), how to start sequencing and how edit all the material you've just recorded, including basic binary, hexadecimal and SysEx subjects. All this with .mid files included so you can check the examples out.

Great source for basic-intermediate folks.

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Summary: Practical help and little waffle
Review: This book is a very practical text which is suited to both absolute beginners and those who have done some basic midi work. For example, it gives a clear explanation of how to work out sysex checksums, which few other books do - invaluable for those just getting into sysex programming with less than average math skills. The tips and tricks sections is on a par with the other two main books in this area and will certainly give newcomers many ideas to play with using their sequencer.

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Summary: Looking for PRO MIDI sound?
Review: You've read about how MIDI works. You've made a General MIDI or two. Sounds okay, but... not as good as some you've heard... sounds that are bolder, brassier, cleaner, more punch. How do they do that? Learn from this book and you'll be they. Rob Young is a MIDI pro. He shares HUNDREDs of tips from years of experience, in an easy-going style that belies his expertise. Technical detail? Enough for starters. How to make instruments (bass, sax, drums) play more like the real thing. Stuff you'll skim through the first time, then come back to appreciate again and again. CC's? SYSEX? Detailed with care. Many example screens from a typical modern sequencer are included as illustrations. Tucked inside the back cover: a floppy with 50+ example files in GM format (playable in any sequencer) so you can *hear* the techniques and *see* how it's done. The tunes are too elevator for my tastes (ultra-commercial and non-experimental), but the methods apply to all genres. Oh and, uh... keep it under your synth, okay?