Velocity in MIDI??

jbow


I am watching the G3 videos and am on the MIDI editing part. It is talking about adjusting the note velocity, maybe it was explained and I missied it but I need a "for dummies" explaination not of what it does technically but what the result is.
I looked in the X1 manual, page 222, and it explains that the velocity is "how fast the key was struck when the MIDI note was recorded".
Does this have to do with how hard it was hit, meaning it is louder or is it a speed thing like the difference between SS and class A tube amps where the rectifier tube produces a "lag" and the SS is more immediate.
So, I understand the explaination but I don't know wht the result will be for slower or faster velocity. I can make some assumptions but I learned to not assume things long ago, when I did, was wrong, and the boss told me that when I assume something, I make an "ass (out of ) u (and) me".
 
So... thanks for helping a dummie!
 
Julien

Velocity is just as you would expect, the speed at which the key is traveling when it bottoms - or at whatever point in the stroke a given keyboard design measures it. The force that it takes to achieve that speed is different for different keyboards, but it's the speed that is measured, and transmitted as velocity. Some keyboards also generate aftertouch controllers based on key or channel (average of all keys) "pressure" (more correctly "force") applied to the key after it bottoms, but that has no effect on what velocity is sent with the note event. Attack time of the sound may or may not be affected by velocity. That's up to the synth engineer and patch programmer. As is whether the volume increase or the timbre changes. The MIDI spec does not dictate how an instrument should respond to velocity, but it's most common to get a loudness increase and a brighter timbre with increasing velocity, as is the case with most real-world instruments.

 
So if I go into the piano roll view and I adjust the velocity to the max on all midi notes in a clip. it will sound like I am pounding the keys?? and if I back it way down it will sound like I am playing very softly, maybe muted or what?
 

BTW, Brundlefly. I lived in Manitou Springs for a few months in the early 70s, lived in Co Spgs on Wihemina ave or something like that before Manitou... great place, wild times (high times). I hitch hiked out there from GA and back. I assume it is sti nice out there.

Hey Brundlefly... Not to hijack this thread, but did you want that account that you initiated over at the DigiFreq forums? It needs to be activated. Or should I just remove it? Did you receive the activation email? Thanks, Scott

Re: Aftertouch - since you're a guitarist, think of aftertouch as what your left hand would do after you've plucked a string. While keeping your finger in place (to maintain the pitch and keep the note sustaining) you might create vibrato or bend the string. Aftertouch allows for that to happen in the synth keyboard world. After the note has been turned "on" with a Note On event and a velocity value of 1 or more, aka you press a key, you can further affect the note via aftertouch, assuming the synth patch responds to aftertouch. For example, a guitar patch would likely add vibrato or bend with aftertouch whereas a drum sample might not respond at all. Creative programmers can devise all manner of uses for aftertouch depending on the initial patch/sound they're working with.

jbow


there was some of almost everything in the fridge... all of it illegal. I guess nearly 40 years later it is ok to mention it... I am happy to be alive and free!!
 

Julien
 

jbow


No, I don't remember but I shared a basement apartment with Tom Duffy (Tom is half Japanese half caucasian) and a neighbor was Duane Freeman. Duane was an artist who worked with wood carving. I've often wondered what became of Tom. It was so long ago... it is almost like a dream.
Another friend was Paul Willard. I don't know if any of those names ring a bell. Tom had a 1970 or 71 Charger... I was driving his Charger one night up a long hill near the HS with several tabs of "Purple microdot" in my head.. I kicked it, was flying up the hill and all the lights on the car went out, laff. IIRC, there was a long curve up near the top of the hill... but it was a long time ago. I'm lucky I didn't get in real trouble in Colorado... there was some of almost everything in the fridge... all of it illegal. I guess nearly 40 years later it is ok to mention it... I am happy to be alive and free!!
 
I do remember the road or ave (Willimette, if that was it) didn't run into Co blvd but if it had continued on it would have crossed it. I guess it ran N/S and was out about halfway between downtown and Manitou Spgs.
 
Edit: I looked at a map and I think this is where I lived.  Well, that map link didn't work but it is, I think, Wilhemia Ave. It runs W. Uintah and N. 28th, it is close to Willimette.
Julien