The MicroKorg functions as a MIDI controller.
MIDI, or "musical instrument digital interface," lets you send note and velocity data to your music production program in order to program and record melodies, beats and sound effects. Typical MIDI controllers take the form of a miniaturized piano keyboard. This provides an intuitive interface for sending note commands for traditional keyboard instruments, such synthesizer, piano and even xylophone. It provides a less intuitive, but equally functional interface for creating MIDI drum beats. The benefit of using the MIDI piano for drumming is that you can play with natural rhythm, rather than manually entering drum data into a step sequencer grid interface.
Instructions
1. Connect your MIDI controller to the computer. The type of cable required varies according to what type of controller you use, but it is typically a USB cable or, on newer models, a Firewire cable. Connect the cable to the relevant port on the computer.
2. Open your preferred music production software program, for example, Fruity Loops or Logic.
3. Open a session. Click "File" and select "Open New" for a blank session or "Open Recent" to open a work in progress.
4. Click "File" and select "New MIDI Track." This assigns your MIDI controller as the default input device, as opposed to a microphone or instrument cable.
5. Click "Instruments" and select a drum kit from the drop-down menu, for example, "808 kit" or "big band kit. Play around on the MIDI controller piano keyboard to familiarize yourself with the layout of the drums.
6. Click the "M" icon to mute any other instruments that you've recorded, so that you can hear the drum kit in isolation.
7. Double click where it says "120 BPM" and enter your preferred tempo setting. 120 beats per minute is the default tempo for digital audio production programs, such as Cubase and Logic. If you are not yet sure of your preferred tempo, press the "metronome" icon and hit "Play." Then play along with the click. If it is too slow, increase the tempo by 10 bpm until you find the right feel for your beat.
8. Click the "M" icon to unmute the backing instruments, so you can hear the full context of the drum mix as you play it.
9. Click the "R" icon on the channel strip to make the MIDI track record-ready. Click "Record" and play your drum beat. The computer interprets the notes you play as MIDI data and assigns the sound to the note after the "MIDI event." This means if you play a great beat but don't like the sound, you can change instruments after.
