If you are a Whether you’re a modular synth nerd or the bassist in a troglodyte doom metal band, the chances that you’ve come across a device that uses MIDI are almost 100 percent at this point. The communication protocol is more than 40 years old, but it has barely changed since the heads of Roland, Oberheim and Sequential Circuits collaborated on a universal language that musical instruments can use to communicate with each other. Its low-tech nature is its greatest strength, making it a fast and reliable way to control a synthesizer or a set of guitar pedals with almost no digital bandwidth. MIDI is great because it has barely evolved.
That has The craft industry of musical accessories that use MIDI to do amazing and wonderful things beyond just being interchangeable digital keyboards has evolved. Are you interested in adjusting filters and delay times with the swipe of your hand like a deranged director? There’s a MIDI device for that. Do you idolize U2’s The Edge and his ability to drastically change the tone of his guitar with the press of a foot? There’s a MIDI pedal for that. Would you rather not wander around a synth fortress like Keith Emerson just so you can access an organ and electric keyboard for that wedding gig on the horizon? There is a MIDI controller for that.
MIDI devices come in all shapes and sizes, and I’ve tried dozens in my decade-long search for a setup that’s intuitive, robust, and easy on my aching back. I’m into both guitar effects and amateur synth shenanigans, so a big preference is given to elements that can work in both worlds for a spartan setup. Some are inspiring and strange, while others are unattractive and utilitarian, but totally essential for ever-growing platforms with complicated paths and connections. My outlook for this whole setup may require a reevaluation once the upcoming MIDI 2.0 protocol takes off, but until then here’s a list of my most beloved MIDI gear that I work with on a daily basis.
Do you like creating and listening to audio? Be sure to check out our lists of the best DAWs, the best USB microphones, the best headphones, and the best bookshelf speakers.
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