logo
episode-header-image
Yesterday
39m 11s

140. What is a Midi Controller and How t...

XYLO ARIA
About this episode

As an independent musician, diving into the world of MIDI controllers and studio gear can feel intimidating, especially if you’re unsure where to start or which tools best suit your creative process. In this episode, Xylo chats with Alex Godfrey, Product Specialist at the Focusrite Group, about what MIDI controllers actually are, how they work, and how to choose the right one for your music.


With over 10 years at Focusrite and hands-on experience representing brands like Novation, Sequential, Oberheim, Focusrite, Adam Audio, and Sonnox, Alex breaks down the essentials of MIDI technology in a clear and practical way.


From testing music tech as part of Focusrite’s QA Engineering team to producing experimental tracks as Psychedalex, he brings both technical expertise and creative insight. Whether you’re just setting up your first home studio or looking to expand your gear, this conversation will help you make confident, informed choices.


Distrokid has kindly offered all MPW listeners a 30% discount off the first year of their annual subscription! Use the following link to redeem the discount: http://distrokid.com/vip/mpw


Up next
Aug 7
139. Collaboration in the Studio: Artist Chemistry & Process
What does it take to create musical magic with someone in the studio and how do you know when it’s the right fit?In this episode, Xylo sits down with certified platinum artist Jaki Nelson — a powerhouse singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ whose music has hit over 200 million str ... Show More
31m 22s
Jul 24
138. How to be confident on stage - Tips for musicians
As an independent musician, the idea of confidently owning the stage can feel overwhelming, especially if nerves, self-doubt or lack of experience keep getting in the way. In this episode, Xylo chats with performance coach and artist Lucie Burns (aka Lazy Hammock) about how to bu ... Show More
52m 1s
Jul 10
137. Music Collaborators and How to find them with Vampr
Have you ever wondered how to find the right collaborators to level up your music career?In this episode, Xylo speaks to Josh Simons, tech entrepreneur, former touring artist, and the CEO of Vinyl Group — home to platforms like Jaxsta, Vinyl.com, and the globally renowned Vampr. ... Show More
36m 55s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2025
Mobile DJ growth, mixtape tips, volume levels...
In this show, recorded live to an audience of Digital DJ Tips students, we tackle some of the big questions our community has asked our tutors in the last few weeks.We cover how to record great mixtapes effortlessly, what to do when you've established a mobile DJ business but wan ... Show More
37m 47s
Nov 2021
Select 148 : Khaled Youssry
For the latest edition of our long-running Select mix series, Cairene DJ Khaled Youssry pays us a visit with a purely vinyl mix of studiously curated acid house and breakbeat tunes. A student of Egyptian DJ school, Strictly Vinyl, Youssy ‘did it’ the right way, learning his craft ... Show More
1h 5m
Jul 2024
Parties & DJ speakers, "tune up" gigs, how to promote right
This one was recorded on 4 July, but despite the date, we still had a busy show answering questions from students about a wide range of topics. We covered the fallout from Pioneer DJ deciding not to support older controllers in the latest version of Rekordbox. We talked about the ... Show More
48m 15s
May 22
Calvin's Chicanery + What makes a REAL DJ?
In this edition of our Inside Track podcast, we explored whether Calvin Harris ripped off Chicane for his latest single, diving into the ongoing debate around the derivative nature of pop music sampling versus simply copying the feel or essence of a track. Next, we discussed the ... Show More
44m 45s
Sep 2021
Arctic Monkeys - Alex Turner BBC Radio 1 | Interview
All uploads on this channel are for promotional purposes only! The music has been converted before uploading to prevent ripping and to protect the artist(s) and label(s). If you don't want your content here (that goes for audio or images) please contact me immediately via email: ... Show More
27m 4s
Feb 2017
DJ Tarkan - Best of 2016
I wish everyone a healthy, happy & successfull year! All the best in 2017 and sorry that it took so long to create this mix for you but I was really so busy!!! :) This mix was recorded live @ home with 2 Pioneer CDJ 2000 Nexus, using USB Flash and one Pioneer DJM 800 Mixer, like ... Show More
2h 54m
Oct 2012
STEYOYOKE PODCAST 009: Sasch
Taking the honours for this latest instalment of Steyoyoke magic is label dj and producer Sasch. This beautifully put together mix of pure downtempo house is a dreamy affair that builds to come to life. A gentle start ripe with melodic sounds gradually awakens to a more driven be ... Show More
1h 1m