How to Play a MIDI Note Number in Python

Playing a MIDI note number is a straightforward process that can be achieved with ease using Python. In this article, we will explore how to do it.

The first thing you need to understand is the structure of a MIDI message. A MIDI message consists of four parts: time, velocity, channel, and note_on/off. The 'time' parameter tells us the waiting time between the last and current operation. The 'velocity' parameter determines how fast to strike the key, with higher values indicating a louder sound.

The standard MIDI system supports 16 channels simultaneously. This means you can play multiple notes on different channels at the same time. The 'channel' parameter specifies which channel to send the sound to.

There are two types of note messages: note_off and note_on. The 'note_off' message tells the key to be released, while the 'note_on' message tells the key to be pressed or released if the velocity is set to 0.

Let's take a closer look at the third track (track 2). This track contains similar information as the second track (track 1), with a few meta messages and a major part that specifies which note to play and how to play it at what time.

In Python, you can use libraries such as MIDIUtil or PyMIDI to send MIDI messages. Here's an example of how you might do this:

```

import midiutil

# Create a new MIDI file

mid = midiutil.MidiFile(1)

# Add a track

track = mid.tracks.append(midiutil.MidiTrack())

# Set the channel for the track

channel = 0

# Define the note to be played

note = 60

velocity = 100

time = 0

# Play the note

track.append(midiutil.NoteOnEvent(tick=time, note=note, velocity=velocity))

# Wait a little bit before playing the next note

time += 10

# Play the next note

track.append(midiutil.NoteOffEvent(tick=time, note=note, velocity=0))

```

This code creates a new MIDI file and adds a track to it. It then sets the channel for the track and defines the note to be played. The note is played using the `NoteOnEvent` class from the MIDIUtil library.

In conclusion, playing a MIDI note number in Python is a simple process that can be achieved with ease using libraries such as MIDIUtil or PyMIDI. By understanding the structure of a MIDI message and how to use it to send notes to different channels, you can create complex and interesting musical compositions.

Play a midi note number python