Making Your MIDI Sequences Breathe. MUS 14A, Fall 2017, Department of Music

One way to make your MIDI sequences more realistic is to try to make them "breathe." By shaping your lines into phrases and adding pauses (breaths) you can achieve a more musical performance - especially if you don't record in real-time.

Sounds

No breath, constant tempo - Hmm, 37 sec. on one breath

You need Flash to listen to this

No breath with fermatas - 45 sec. Circular breathing?

You need Flash to listen to this

Breath/Phrasing added. More musical? Realistic? Should the "breath" be a bit longer?

You need Flash to listen to this

Breath, fermatas, with reverb. A more realistic sound?

You need Flash to listen to this

Graphics

Piano Roll View for first two excerpts - no breath/phrasing

Piano Roll View for last two excerpts - breaths/phrasing added

By the way, you've probably noticed that the trumpet sample used in these examples has a "warbly" vibrato. Does this vibrato make the sound more or less realistic to your ears?

Latest News

Sep. 11 — Welcome to Fall 2018. May it be a great semester!

Sep. 25 — The lab will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 to 2 pm and 3:30 to 5 pm if you'd like to come and work on your projects before or after class.

Oct. 30 — For now ACID XPress links under Free Software have been removed until valid ones can be found.

Oct. 30 — Lab hours have been expanded and revised: Monday 3:30 to 6; Tuesday/Thursday 12:30 to 2 and 3:30 to 5, Wednesday 3:30 to 6.

Nov. 29 — Our last class is scheduled for Dec. 6, our final session Dec. 18 at 1:50 pm. Through the week of Dec. 10 the lab will be open so you can work on your final projects and any other work you need to complete. All work must be submitted by Thursday, Dec. 20 at 3:00 pm.

Introduction to Music Technology