About Midi - Roland XV-88 Owner's Manual

About MIDI

MIDI (Musical Instruments Digital Interface) is a standard
specification that allows musical data to be exchanged
between electronic musical instruments and computers.
MIDI With a MIDI cable connecting MIDI devices that are
equipped with MIDI connectors, you can play multiple
instruments with a single keyboard, have multiple MIDI
instruments perform in ensemble, program the settings to
change automatically to match the performance as the song
progresses, and more.
If you mainly use the XV-88 as a standalone keyboard
instrument, you may really not need to know much at all
about MIDI.
However, the following MIDI-related information is
provided so you can play the XV-88 using an external MIDI
device, or master other advanced techniques.
About MIDI Connectors
The XV-88 is equipped with the three types of MIDI
connectors, each which works differently.
fig.00-08
MIDI IN Connector
This connector receives MIDI messages that are transmitted
from external MIDI devices. The XV-88 can receive these
messages to play notes or select sounds, etc.
MIDI OUT Connector
This connector transmits MIDI messages to external MIDI
devices. The XV-88's MIDI OUT connector is used for
sending the performance data of the keyboard controller
section as well as data used for saving various settings and
patterns (Bulk Dump; p. 185).
MIDI THRU Connector
MIDI messages received at MIDI IN are re-transmitted
without change from this connector to an external MIDI
device. Use this in situations such as when you use multiple
MIDI devices simultaneously.
MIDI Channels and Multi-timbral
Sound Generators
MIDI transmits many types of data over a single MIDI cable.
This is made possible by the concept of MIDI channels. MIDI
channels allow messages intended for a given instrument to
be distinguished from messages intended for another
instrument. In some ways, MIDI channels are similar to
television channels. By changing the channel on a television
set, you can view the programs that are being broadcast by
different stations. In the same way, MIDI also allows a device
to select the information intended for that device out of the
variety of information that is being transmitted to it.
fig.midi-01.e
The cable from the antenna carries the TV
signals from many broadcast stations.
Station A
Station B
Station C
The TV is set to the channel of the station
you wish to watch.
MIDI uses sixteen channels; 1 through 16. Set the receiving
device so that it will receive only the channel that it needs to
receive.
Example:
Set the XV-88 to send Channel 1 and Channel 2, then set
sound module A to receive only Channel 1 and sound
module B only Channel 2. With this setup, you can get an
ensemble performance, with, for example, a guitar sound
from sound module A and bass from sound module B.
fig.midi-01.e
MIDI OUT
Transmit channel: 1, 2
Sound
Module
MIDI keyboard
Sound
Module
When used as a sound module, the XV-88 can receive on up
to sixteen MIDI channels. Sound modules like the XV-88
which can receive multiple MIDI channels simultaneously to
play different sounds on each channel are called multi-
timbral sound modules.
MIDI IN MIDI THRU
Receive channel: 1
A
Receive channel: 2 MIDI IN
B
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