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Chapter 7. Connecting an External MIDI Device
About MIDI
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard specification
that allows musical data to be transferred between electronic musical
instruments and computers. If a MIDI cable is connected between
devices equipped with MIDI connectors, you'll be able to play multiple
devices from a single MIDI keyboard, perform ensembles using
multiple MIDI instruments, program the settings to change
automatically as the song progresses, and more.
About MIDI Connectors
The JUNO-STAGE is equipped with the following two types of MIDI
connectors, each of which has the following role.
fig.midiconnector
MIDI IN Connector
This connector receives MIDI messages that are sent from an external
MIDI device. When the JUNO-STAGE receives MIDI messages, it can
respond by playing notes, switching sounds, etc.
MIDI OUT Connector
This connector transmits MIDI messages to an external MIDI device.
Use it when you want to control an external MIDI device.
88
MIDI Channels and Multitimbral
Sound Generators
MIDI is able to transmit multiple streams of performance data over a
single MIDI cable. This is made possible thanks to the concept of MIDI
channels. MIDI channels allow a receiving device to pay attention
only to the messages that are intended for it, and not to messages
intended for another device. In some ways, MIDI channels are similar
to television channels. By changing the reception channel of a
television set, you can view the programs that are being broadcast by
different stations. This is because the television set is choosing only the
desired data from the variety of data that is being broadcast. In the
same way, MIDI also allows a device to distinguish and use only the
incoming data that is being transmitted to it.
fig.MidiCh1_j.eps
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.
There are sixteen MIDI channels: 1–16. Normally, you'll set the
receiving device to receive only the channels that it needs to receive.
Example:
Set the transmitting device to transmit on channel 1 and channel 2, set
sound module A to receive only channel 1, and set sound module B to
receive only channel 2. With this setup, you could create an ensemble
in which sound module A is playing a guitar sound while sound
module B is playing a bass sound.
fig.MidiCh2_j.eps
MIDI OUT
Transmit channel: 1, 2
MIDI keyboard
You'll be able to use up to sixteen channels when using the JUNO-
STAGE as a sound module. Sound modules that can receive multiple
channels of data simultaneously and play different sounds on each
channel are called multitimbral sound modules.
GM
GM (General MIDI) is a set of recommendations that allows the
MIDI capabilities of sound modules to be standardized across
manufacturers. Sound modules or music data that meet the GM
standard carry the GM logo (
logo can be played back on any sound module carrying the GM
logo, and will produce essentially the same musical performance.
GM2
GM2 (
) is a set of recommendations that is upwardly
compatible with the original GM recommendations, and allows a
higher level of musical expression and compatibility. It covers
issues that were not covered by the original GM recommenda-
tions, such as ways in which sounds can be edited and how effects
should be handled. It also expands the sounds that are available.
Sound modules that are compatible with GM2 will correctly play
back music data that carries either the GM or GM2 logo. The
original GM, which does not include the GM2 enhancements, is
sometimes called "GM1" in order to distinguish it from the newer
set of recommendations.
MIDI IN
MIDI THRU
Receive channel: 1
Sound
Module
A
Receive channel: 2
MIDI IN
Sound
Module
B
). Music data with the GM
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