Midi Message Basics; Channel Messages: Mode Messages; Channel Messages: Voice Messages - Alesis QS6.1 Reference Manual

Appendix B: MIDI Supplement
MIDI M
ESSAGE
The are two main types of MIDI messages. Channel messages, which are channel-
specific, consist of Voice and Mode messages. System messages, which do not have
a channel number and are received by all units in a system, include Common, Real
Time, and Exclusive messages.

CHANNEL MESSAGES: MODE MESSAGES

There are two messages that determine the MIDI mode (i.e., how a device will
receive MIDI data). The ÒOmniÓ message determines how many channels will be
recognized. Omni On means that data from all channels will be received; Omni Off
limits the number of channels, usually to one.
The ÒMono/PolyÓ message deals with voice assignment within the synthesizer. In
Mono mode, only one note at a time plays in response to voice messages; in Poly
mode, as many voices can play notes as are available to play notes.

CHANNEL MESSAGES: VOICE MESSAGES

A synthesizerÕs voice is the most basic unit of sound generation. Usually, each voice
plays one note at a time, so the number of notes you can play at one time will be
limited by the available number of voices. MIDI messages that affect voices include:
Note On. Corresponds to a key being pressed down; values range from 000 (lowest
note) to 127 (highest note). Middle C is 60.
Note Off. Corresponds to a key being released; values are the same as Note On.
Velocity. Corresponds to dynamics; values range from 001 (minimum velocity) to
127 (maximum velocity). A velocity of 000 is equivalent to a Note Off message.
Pressure. Indicates the pressure applied to a keyboard after pressing a key. Mono
pressure (Aftertouch) represents the average amount of pressure applied by all keys.
Poly Pressure produces individual pressure messages for each key.
Program Change. Sending a Program Change command from a sequencer or other
MIDI keyboard can change synth patches automatically. There are 128 Program
Change command numbers.
Also note that not all units number programs consistently. Some number them as
000-127, others as 001-128, and still others arrange programs in banks of 8 programs
(such as A1-A8, B1-B8, C1-C8, etc.).
Pitch Bend. This ÒbendsÓ a note from its standard pitch.
Continuous Controllers. This term is sometimes abbreviated ÒCCÓ and is followed
by a number sign and a number, as in ÒCC #7Ó. If you look at the chart on the next
page, youÕll see that ÒContinuous Controller # 7Ó controls MIDI (or Main) Volume.
(What we mean by ÒcontinuousÓ is Òable to go from 0 to 127 in increments of 1Ó.)
On the next page, youÕll find out what they do.
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ASICS
QS6.1 Reference Manual