Take A Look At The Future Of MIDI From 1990
The BBC shared this video, from 1990, that offers a vintage look at MIDI and what it meant for the future of music-making.
MIDI was introduced in 1983, and was initially used as a standard for connecting hardware devices. But, as the video highlights, musicians were quickly connecting computers to hardware, via MIDI, which would lead to decades of innovation in how music is recorded, arranged and performed.
Video Summary:
“Kate Bellingham explores the exciting possibilities afforded to electronic music fans by MIDI – Musical Instrument Digital Interface – which can connect together a whole host of electronic instruments and audio devices through a computer.
MIDI enables a single person to play, record and edit entire musical compositions. Composer Clive Williamson is an avid user of the technology, and demonstrates his setup – a synthesiser hooked up to an Atari ST computer running the Notator sequencing software. With a bit of arm-twisting, Chris is able to convince Kate and Techno co-presenter Mat Irvine to pick up an oboe and guitar and accompany him for a live performance.
Clip taken from Techno, originally broadcast on BBC Two, 5 March, 1990.”
