Midi mockup
Encyclopedia
A MIDI mockup is an extensive demo
of a recording project built using samplers
to stand in for acoustic instruments.
These extensive demos are frequently used in projects requiring large budgets to record, such as film score
s. A MIDI mockup allows the director, or executive producer, to hear the compositions in a setting that approximates their final version, and thus to approve or alter the project before the budget has been committed to record the actual instruments.
MIDI mockups first came into wide use in the 1980s, when synthesizer
and sampler technology developed to the point where it could create approximate replicas of acoustic instruments. Large film-scoring studios would build systems with dozens of sound module
s, all linked to a single sequencer
that would play back the MIDI version of the score.
With the development of faster computers, and better software environments for sampling and MIDI editing, most MIDI mockups today are done with software synthesizer
s. The replication of acoustic instruments has progressed steadily, to the point where MIDI mockups are occasionally included in the final score on films where time or money has run out
MIDI mockup in the past relied upon hardware ROM samplers which stored the audio content. The audio content within ROM samplers consists of audio samples which were rather short in nature to save space. Because of that limitation, longer notes were usually looped to allow the composer access to unlimited note lengths. The caveat of this scheme was that the loop point by nature created an artifact which reduced mockup realism. (This has since been remedied in later generation sample libraries by the introduction of more advanced algorithms that find seamless loop points. This coupled by the more widespread use of release samples (when the key is released, a sample tail will sound) led dramatically to improved realism in MIDI mockup cues.)
MIDI mockup today mainly relies upon direct from disk (DFD) streaming from powerful computers widely known as slave sample streamers. In use, the computer would usually store short starter notes from RAM and the rest would be streamed from the hard drive. DFD allowed sample developers companies to record notes of unprecedented length which was a significant improvement over ROM sampling.
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
of a recording project built using samplers
Sampler (musical instrument)
A sampler is an electronic musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer but, instead of generating sounds, it uses recordings of sounds that are loaded or recorded into it by the user and then played back by means of a keyboard, sequencer or other triggering device to perform or...
to stand in for acoustic instruments.
These extensive demos are frequently used in projects requiring large budgets to record, such as film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s. A MIDI mockup allows the director, or executive producer, to hear the compositions in a setting that approximates their final version, and thus to approve or alter the project before the budget has been committed to record the actual instruments.
MIDI mockups first came into wide use in the 1980s, when synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
and sampler technology developed to the point where it could create approximate replicas of acoustic instruments. Large film-scoring studios would build systems with dozens of sound module
Sound module
A sound module is an electronic musical instrument without a human-playable interface such as a keyboard, for example. Sound modules have to be "played" using an externally connected device...
s, all linked to a single sequencer
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
that would play back the MIDI version of the score.
With the development of faster computers, and better software environments for sampling and MIDI editing, most MIDI mockups today are done with software synthesizer
Software synthesizer
A software synthesizer, also known as a softsynth is a computer program or plug-in for digital audio generation. Computer software which can create sounds or music is not new, but advances in processing speed are allowing softsynths to accomplish the same tasks that previously required dedicated...
s. The replication of acoustic instruments has progressed steadily, to the point where MIDI mockups are occasionally included in the final score on films where time or money has run out
MIDI mockup in the past relied upon hardware ROM samplers which stored the audio content. The audio content within ROM samplers consists of audio samples which were rather short in nature to save space. Because of that limitation, longer notes were usually looped to allow the composer access to unlimited note lengths. The caveat of this scheme was that the loop point by nature created an artifact which reduced mockup realism. (This has since been remedied in later generation sample libraries by the introduction of more advanced algorithms that find seamless loop points. This coupled by the more widespread use of release samples (when the key is released, a sample tail will sound) led dramatically to improved realism in MIDI mockup cues.)
MIDI mockup today mainly relies upon direct from disk (DFD) streaming from powerful computers widely known as slave sample streamers. In use, the computer would usually store short starter notes from RAM and the rest would be streamed from the hard drive. DFD allowed sample developers companies to record notes of unprecedented length which was a significant improvement over ROM sampling.