Frequently asked questions about MIDI

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Should I be using a Macintosh computer or a PC to sequence music?

A question that is highly debated within the music and recording world has always been "What's better…a PC or MAC for music?"

Its an endless debate that probably won't get resolved in the near future, but when making your choice on which platform to run your sequencers on, it should all come down to your personal preference and budget. If you're comfortable using a MAC for other tasks, then why bother to learn to use a PC? On the other hand, if you're comfortable using a PC, and it suits what you do well, then why switch to a MAC? Macintosh is, however, the industry standard for music production (lots of people use them), but in most cases, the same MIDI software that is available for the MAC is available for the PC. However, it's also important to remember compatibility issues when choosing between a MAC and a PC. If you're collaborating with numerous other musicians, find out what platforms they're using. Remember that in most cases, you'll want to be able to transfer your MIDI sequences and such back and fourth with ease to and from other musician's computers. So if they've all got MACs, and you will be needing to transfer information back and fourth between the MACs, a PC might not be the wisest choice. Of course, in a perfect world, everyone could have both a MAC and a PC…

.back to midi faq.

What is MIDI?
How do I make a MIDIFILE?
How do I connect a MIDI keyboard to my computer?
What is a MIDI Interface, where can I get one, and how much do they cost?
What is a sequencer, and why should I use one?
What are the different sequencers, and what are the differences between them?
Should I be using a Macintosh computer or a PC to sequence music?
Are there any software packages available for printing out notation of my music or midifiles?
Can I convert a MIDIFILE to a WAV file?
Can I convert a WAV file to a MIDIFILE?
Help! I'm hearing 'double notes' when I play something on my keyboard into the sequencer!
What does 'multitimbral' mean?
What is 'polyphony'?
What is the difference between a sampler and a synth?
How do I make a midifile play on my website?

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