Working with MIDI in psytrance production

Almost every psytrance track is built on MIDI. The bass, the leads, the arpeggios and most of the movement in the sound come from notes and control data you can edit at any time. Here is what MIDI does and how to use it well.

What MIDI is

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol that sends information about notes, not audio. When you press a key on a controller, it tells your DAW or synth which note was played, how hard (velocity) and for how long. The instrument then makes the sound.

That makes MIDI flexible. You can change the timing, pitch and velocity of any note without recording anything again. If a melody doesn't work, you move a few notes instead of starting over. MIDI also carries control data, so the same signal can move the filter cutoff, resonance or modulation of a synth while you play.

Choosing a controller

There are three main types: keyboard controllers for melodies and chords, pad controllers for triggering samples and programming beats, and control surfaces full of knobs and faders. Many devices combine these.

• Size: 61 keys or more give you room for chords and bass parts. A 25- or 49-key controller with octave shift is enough for most psytrance work and fits on a small desk.
• Velocity and aftertouch: velocity-sensitive keys and pads respond to how hard you play. Aftertouch lets you modulate a sound after the key is down, useful for expressive leads.
• Knobs and faders: assignable controls let you tweak cutoff, resonance and effects by hand, which is often faster than drawing automation.
• Software and compatibility: check that the controller works with your DAW. Bundled software can be a bonus.
• Build quality: sturdy keys and pads matter if you play live or use the controller every day.

Programming sequences

Start with a simple idea, a short motif or a chord progression, and play or draw it into the piano roll. Try it in different octaves: a higher octave opens up space, a lower harmony adds weight. Then edit timing and velocity note by note.

Quantization snaps notes to the grid, which gives psytrance its tight, driving feel. Fully quantized parts can sound mechanical, though, so add a little swing or humanization where it suits the part, and vary velocities to give a line some life. Pads and chords sit under the main melody and should support it, not cover it.

MIDI effects and automation

MIDI effects change the note data before it reaches the instrument. An arpeggiator turns a held chord into a sequence of single notes, the source of many fast, rolling psytrance patterns. Play with rate, swing and note length. A chord generator turns one note into a full chord, and its inversion settings give you different voicings.

Automation brings change over time. A rising filter cutoff builds tension in a breakdown, more reverb opens up space, a slow curve into a drop builds anticipation. Every automation move should have a purpose in the arrangement. Some producers keep separate MIDI lanes just for control data so the note tracks stay clean.

MIDI and virtual instruments

Set up one track per instrument in your DAW and make sure the controller's MIDI reaches the right one. Synths such as Serum, Massive and Sylenth1 are widely used in psytrance for basses, leads and pads. Presets are a fine starting point, but learn to adjust the oscillators, for example saw and square waves for a thick sound, and use a low-pass filter to tame the top end.

Layer several instruments for a fuller sound, for example a bright lead over a darker pad, and balance them with volume and panning. Use LFOs and other modulation sources on pitch, cutoff or effect levels so sounds keep moving. Reverb, delay and distortion on the instrument tracks shape the character further, and delay times synced to the tempo create rhythmic echoes that interlock with your sequences.

MIDI can also drive hardware synths and drum machines. A hybrid setup that sends MIDI to both software and hardware combines analog character with the precision of the computer, as long as you keep your routing organised.