MIDI vs Audio

MIDI carries instructions—notes, timing, control changes. It's non-destructive: you can change the instrument, transpose, quantize, or edit individual notes at any time. MIDI drives synthesizers, samplers, and virtual instruments. Perfect for composition, arrangement, and iteration. File sizes are tiny compared to audio.

Audio is the actual sound—waveforms captured by a microphone or rendered from a synth. Once you bounce to audio, you're working with a fixed recording. Great for final arrangements, mixing, and when you want to lock in a performance or process with effects. Audio is what your listeners hear.

When to Use MIDI

Use MIDI when you're still iterating: composing, trying different sounds, or generating ideas. MIDI Lab outputs MIDI, so you can run the same sequence through different synths or plugins. MIDI is also ideal for hardware workflows—stream to your synths, tweak patches, and record the audio when you're happy.

When to Use Audio

Commit to audio when the part is finalized and you're mixing. Bouncing tracks to audio frees CPU, lets you apply destructive processing, and locks in the sound. Many producers use a hybrid: MIDI for composition, audio for the final mix.

Best of Both

The typical workflow: generate or program MIDI, try different instruments, then bounce to audio when you're satisfied. MIDI Lab fits this perfectly—generate MIDI, drop it in your DAW, assign a synth, and render to audio when ready. See also AI MIDI vs manual programming.