ABSTRACT
This chapter covers three aspects of electronic sound production that are usually taken for granted: MIDI, the reduction of unwanted noise, and the compression of the audio signal. The search for a method of controlling the output of synthesizers with MIDI signals grew directly from the pioneering work of Don Buchla and Bob Moog in the 1960s. The original specification for MIDI was the result of collaboration between competitors in an explosive market for commercial synthesizers. MIDI can connect standalone electronic musical instruments and permit one instrument to control the sounds being made on several others. MIDI succeeded in providing genuine compatibility among different instruments and the computer, and this led to explosive growth in the making of software and hardware for the music industry. MIDI communicates the values of notes played on the keyboard, including the pitch, amplitude, and duration.
