Google Chrome Adds MIDI Support for Cloud Producers

Apps are moving to the cloud – and we’ve seen a surge of powerful production tools that have cropped up around the web. These online tools are finally gaining some legitimacy and versatility with the latest Google Chrome update which adds MIDI support through the browser. This update will allow anyone with MIDI controller, from a MPC to a Midi Fighter 3D, to turn a website into a virtual instrument.

Cloud-Based Producing

The update in Google Chrome will allow the browser to scan for a MIDI device connected to the user’s computer and use that information to playback notes on a web-based synth. There aren’t a lot of these synths out right now, but the potential is clear in Chris Wilson’s Web MIDI application (loosely based off the Moog Prodigy synthesizer).

Only a handful of online production apps support MIDI input now, however there will most definitely be more to come in the future. A broad speculator might even suggest that there may be sites where synths and VSTs can be accessed anywhere there is a solid internet connection. What if a producer could use a Komplete instrument by just logging on to NI’s website and then record the audio using Soundflower , without a DAW? This update is still very new and it will take sometime before we get to that stage. Yet, cloud producing might just be another common tool for producers to add to their musical arsenal.

What are your thoughts on cloud producing?
Let us know in the comments below!

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Comments (10)
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  • Kelsey B

    Think about companies putting playable demos of their Synths up on site for you to test before you buy. That would be cool.

  • sacrebleau

    Uhmmmm……why?

  • 11Fletcher

    Next step is Chrome vst, to integrate that in the daw you want to use, or a rewire plugin or something like that.

  • Simone Pontiggia

    Why solid internet connection mentioned in the article?
    You need a internet only to download the application that run into your browser. So a good internet connection needed but non streaming of data here.

    If is intended to run directly on the cloude for other purpouse, latency is a realy BIG issue.

  • Allen Fernandez

    I’m curious to know how this translates exactly with Chromebooks, since the OS is essentially Chrome. I know as a DJ whose Mac crashed during an economic hit and had to step away from DJing and work with a Chromebook to continue school; I’m excited but curious to know more details and what this means for the relationship between Chrome and Producers, DJs, etc.

    • Dean Zulueta

      If more DAWs and VST developers get behind this you might be able to use your Chrome book to produce or even DJ, since the apps you would use would be in the cloud. It will definitely be interesting to see where this goes from here.

  • Chaser720

    Great step forward for Google. DAWs, VST and all your music saved in the cloud… pretty soon the only thing on your hard drive will be your OS. ha

    • calgarc

      and pretty soon, one company will have access to all of our files and the ability do delete anything they want…. 0_0

      • Chaser720

        Change… its coming. You can embrace and learn or “fight the power”.

        FYI, this site was founded on the embrace and learn concept of digital DJing and I think it turned out alright…