Morse Midi: Create Electronic Music from Morse Signals

Morse Midi: Turning Morse Code into Catchy MIDI Melodies

What it is

• Morse Midi is a creative technique or toolset that converts Morse code (dots and dashes) into MIDI note events, letting you turn text or signal patterns into musical phrases.

How it works (concise)

1. Map symbols: assign a pitch, velocity, duration, or instrument to dots, dashes, and gaps.
2. Timing rules: translate Morse timing (dot = 1 unit, dash = 3 units, intra-character gap = 1 unit, inter-character gap = 3 units, word gap = 7 units) into note lengths or rhythmic subdivisions.
3. MIDI output: generate MIDI note-on/note-off messages or control changes that your DAW or synth can play back.
4. Variations: use different scales, arpeggios, or probability to make patterns musical rather than literal.

Creative uses

• Melodic motifs from words or phrases (e.g., names, lyrics).
• Percussive rhythms by mapping symbols to drum MIDI notes.
• Ambient textures with long sustained notes for dashes and short stabs for dots.
• Serial or generative composition: seed patterns drive algorithmic processes.
• Live performance: translate live Morse input or typed text in real time.

Implementation tips

• Choose a musical mapping: fixed pitches, scale-quantized, or interval-based.
• Use velocity and note length to add expression (e.g., stronger velocity for dashes).
• Layer mappings: map the same Morse stream to multiple MIDI channels for harmony and rhythm.
• Quantize or swing timings to fit the piece’s groove.
• Provide a simple user interface: text input → mapping presets → play/export MIDI.

Quick example mapping (practical)

• Dot = ⁄₈ note, Dash = ⁄₈ note, Intra-character gap = ⁄₈ rest, Inter-character gap = ⁄₈ rest.
• Dot → MIDI note C4 (60), Dash → E4 (64); velocities: dot 80, dash 110.
• Type “SOS” → … — … → rhythmic pattern you can import into a DAW.

Tools & resources

• Use scripting (Python with mido), Max/MSP, Pure Data, or small web apps to generate MIDI.
• Export as .mid for DAW editing or route via virtual MIDI for live synth playback.

Quick starter Python idea

• Read text → convert to Morse → map to durations/pitches → write MIDI file with a MIDI library.

Date: February 7, 2026