About Web MIDI

The Web MIDI API connects your MIDI gear directly to your browser.
Your browser connects you to the rest of the world.

MIDI hardware support has been available for a long time in Windows, Mac OS, iOS and most computer/tablet/smart phone platforms through USB, WiFi and even Bluetooth interfaces. But until now, there has been no standard mechanism to use MIDI devices with a Web browser or browser-based Operating System.

The Web Audio Working Group of the W3C has designed the Web MIDI API to provide support for MIDI devices as a standard feature in Web browsers and operating systems across multiple hardware platforms.

Google has led the way to support the inclusion of MIDI in the Web platform, both contributing to the specification and by shipping the first implementation of the Web MIDI API (in Chrome v.43 for Windows, OSX, and Linux), continuing to demonstrate the company’s interest in helping musicians interact with music more easily using the Web.

Being able to connect to local MIDI hardware will increase the creation and distribution of music-making applications for PCs, tablets and smart phones. It also means that popular MIDI hardware can be used to control any kind of software in the browser (using physical buttons and knobs instead of on-screen sliders, for example).

For hardware device makers, instrument control panels and editor/librarians which previously needed to be produced in multiple versions can now be implemented once in HTML5, and consumers can run them on any Web device (tablet, computer, or smart phone) and even “live” over the Web.

And finally, since the browser is connected to the Internet, musicians can more easily share data and even connect music devices over a network.

USES and ADVANTAGES
Here’s why the Web MIDI API for Web browsers is the most significant advancement of MIDI since… MIDI itself

Works on all platforms and devices.
Anything with a web browser can run a Web MIDI app and use local MIDI hardware.
Works with your existing MIDI setup.
If your MIDI gear is connected to your computer, tablet or phone (by a cable or even wirelessly) that same connection will connect your MIDI gear to your Web MIDI enabled browser.
Updates are automatic.
No need to install new versions, the latest version is always available at the website URL.
Accessible anywhere.
Apps and data in “the Cloud” are available anywhere you have an internet connection.
It’s the Internet!
Browsers make it easy to connect you and your music to other people via social media and on-line MIDI communities.

Where will Web MIDI take us?

Web MIDI has the potential to be one of the most disruptive music technologies in a long time, maybe as disruptive as MIDI was originally back in 1983. Did Dave Smith and Ikutaro Kakehachi envision a world with 2,6 billion MIDI enabled smart phones. Definitely not!

Here is an interesting video of someone using a commercially available MIDI controller to play a browser based game. it just makes you think about all the possibilities in the future.

Here are some links to more Web MIDI resources.

BandLab: Music Starts Here

Develop your songs from inspiration to finished projects with our best-in-class Mix Editor. Pull from thousands of available beats and loops in our extensive library or connect an interface and record live audio.

https://www.bandlab.com/creation-features

Soundation — Make music online

Make music in your browser and collaborate with anyone on Soundation, a one-stop shop for audio samples, instruments, and effects.

https://soundation.com/

Soundtrap Press – Images & Videos

Soundtrap is the first cloud-based audio recording platform to work across all operating systems, enabling users to co-create music anywhere in the world. The company is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. Soundtrap provides an easy-to-use music and audio creation platform for all levels of musical interest and abilities and is being used by the K-12 through higher-education markets. On December 2017, Soundtrap was acquired by Spotify. For more information, visit http://www.soundtrap.com

https://press.soundtrap.com/presskits

Soundmondo

Social Sound Sharing with Web MIDI for Yamaha Synths

https://soundmondo.yamahasynth.com/

Noteflight – Online Music Notation Software

Noteflight® is an online music writing application that lets you create, view, print and hear music notation with professional quality, right in your web browser.

https://www.noteflight.com/login

Online piano lessons – Learn piano your way

Learn to play piano with online, interactive lessons and tutorials. Our in-depth courses will adapt and give you feedback. Play your first melody in minutes.

https://www.skoove.com/en

Play Drums Online – online rhythm game

Play drums online is an online rhythm game where you can learn to play along with the best songs. Set a new high score or practice your drum skills with your favorite artists and songs.

https://www.playdrumsonline.com/