Connecting a MIDI keyboard to your Linux system
MAKING MUSIC
A MIDI keyboard is a useful extension to any audio workstation. Learn how to connect a MIDI instrument to your Linux sound studio through a MIDI interface device.
Linux is growing increasingly competitive as an environment for composing and playing electronic music. One important feature of the New Music scene is an electronic keyboard that outputs digital information in MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) format. The MIDI protocol supports communication between electronic musical instruments and computers. MIDI does not transfer sounds, but sound descriptions, such as “play a C-sharp on a grand piano as a quarter note at 80 beats per minute.” This approach makes it easier to encode sound events in a far more compact way than would be possible with real sound data streams. At the same time, you can use any suitable MIDI sequencer and a MIDI keyboard to load melodies directly into your computer, where you can then change the notes and beat, transpose the key, or use different instrument sounds for the arrangement.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.
-
Debian 13.0 Officially Released
After two years of development, the latest iteration of Debian is now available with plenty of under-the-hood improvements.
-
Upcoming Changes for MXLinux
MXLinux 25 has plenty in store to please all types of users.
-
A New Linux AI Assistant in Town
Newelle, a Linux AI assistant, works with different LLMs and includes document parsing and profiles.
-
Linux Kernel 6.16 Released with Minor Fixes
The latest Linux kernel doesn't really include any big-ticket features, just a lot of lines of code.
-
EU Sovereign Tech Fund Gains Traction
OpenForum Europe recently released a report regarding a sovereign tech fund with backing from several significant entities.
-
FreeBSD Promises a Full Desktop Installer
FreeBSD has lacked an option to include a full desktop environment during installation.
-
Linux Hits an Important Milestone
If you pay attention to the news in the Linux-sphere, you've probably heard that the open source operating system recently crashed through a ceiling no one thought possible.
-
Plasma Bigscreen Returns
A developer discovered that the Plasma Bigscreen feature had been sitting untouched, so he decided to do something about it.
-
CachyOS Now Lets Users Choose Their Shell
Imagine getting the opportunity to select which shell you want during the installation of your favorite Linux distribution. That's now a thing.