In this lesson we're going to explore MIDI more deeply.

And we're going to use software instruments,

like samplers and synthesizers and there's an important difference between these two.

We've already explored how midi works by playing our MIDI controller and

recording some sounds into Pro Tools.

But it does go a little bit deeper than that.

For example, playing the MIDI keyboard doesn't only register the note

that you played, but also the velocity which is how hard you played it,

when you started playing it, and when you stop playing it.

Even though we're using MIDI for a musical purpose, MIDI itself is not sound.

We're using the data through our MIDI controller

to tell the computer what sounds we want to play, how hard, and when.

So let's talk about the difference between synthesizers and samplers.

First, synthesizers are instruments that you can use for

more electronic sounds in your production.

And synthesizers generate sound themselves through what are called oscillators.

Samplers playback prerecorded sounds and they're mostly used when you want to have

a realistic sound, but don't necessarily have the player to do it.

So, for example, a drum machine is a type of sampler.

If you don't have a drum kit to record,

you can use a sampler to create something that sounds realistic.

So let's review.

Synthesizers generate their own sound through oscillators and

they're mostly used for electronic textures.

Samplers play back pre-recorded sounds and

they're mostly used to recreate the sound of live acoustic instruments.

Let's get started.

If you're using ProTools in the demo version or you have the full version,

open up a new session from the template we created during the last lesson.

If you're using Pro Tools first, just create a new session with the parameters

that we discussed from the first lesson.

[MUSIC]

Introduction to On-Board Software Instruments