Midi: Musical Instrument Digital Interface

[last updated: 2026-08-28]
Audio file formats
Audacity
Sonic-pi
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• Protocol and equipment for controlling an electronic musical instrument using a computer.

• Requirements:
  • an electronic musical instrument,
    ie. a keyboard that emulates an acoustic piano:
    mine is a Concertmate 1100 (61 keys)
  • a computer:
    This first survey is targeted at using an rPi as the "computer".
  • an interface or adapter so the computer can 'talk' to the keyboard:
    This will be some kind of box or perhaps just a cable that connects the keyboard to the computer.
    This may be needed to translate the midi control signals from the computer's USB port to the midi protocol needed by the keyboard.
    • The computer end is usually a standard USB port.
    • The keyboard end varies by mfr/model:
      • If your keyboard has a "native midi" connector,
        then your interface/adapter will have a 5-pin DIN connector.
        this is the Roland Um-One mk2 from Sweetwater
        https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UMOneMk2--roland-um-one-mk2-usb-...
      • If your keyboard just has a USB port, then it may have a built-in translator,
        so all you need is a USB cable.
        The keyboard end of the cable may be USB-A, or perhaps USB-B.
  • Software:
    This is complicated by the great variety of options available. This description is just a token of things I've seen.
    • First thing needed is a "sequencer" to output the midi file to the keyboard...
      Sequencers are programs that keep track of what sound to play and when.
    • Jack:
      Not exactly sure what Jack is, though it appears to be a program/module in the kernel
      and some sequencers require it (eg. Qtractor).
      Also, Adafruit says it's not practical to run it on a rPi.
    • Sequencers:
      (go to:) Sonic-pi: included with rPi distro
      (link to:) MuseE
      Qtractor
      (link to:) Rosegarden
      (link to:) seq24 (works on rPi)
      seq42
      Radium
      (link to:) Non-sequencer (works on rPi, though does use Jack, so see above note)
      MidiEditor
      Musagi (works on rPi?)
      LMMS
    • Trackers:
      Again not sure exactly what these do, but some form is apparently needed
      to successfully use an rPi:
    • MilkyTracker:
      see: (link to:) Adafruit project
    • Other Stuff:
    • Music notation software - (go to:) MuseScore:
      (link to:) MuseScore
    • (link to:) Free Music Samples:

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