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CHAPTER
IV;
REFERENCE
MIDI
is
the
acronym
for
"Musical Instrument
Digital Interface."
It
is
an industy-wide standard
that
allows
for
data (such
as that
representing the
music
played, or
for
changes
in
sounds
used)
to
be
exchanged
among
various instruments
and
computers. As
long
as
they
are
MIDI
compatible,
all
devices, regardless of
model
or
manufacturer,
can
exchange
whatever performance
data they are both
equipped
to
'understand.'
MIDI
converts every
'performance
event'
into
MIDI
data.
When
received
by
another
instrument,
this
stream
of
MIDI
data
can be used
to
"play"
it,
as
if
that
instrument
itself
were
being
played.
The
Exchange
of
MIDI
Data
About
MIDI
Connectors
In
carrying out the
exchange
of
MIDI
data,
the three
connectors
shown below
are used.
MIDI
cables
can be
routed
from
these
connectors
m
varying
ways
depending on
the kind of setup
you have
in
mind.
MIDI
IN:
Receives
data
from another
MIDI
device.
MID!
OUT:
Transmits data
originating
in
the
unit.
MIDI
THRU:
Sends
out
an
exact
copy
of the data
received
at
MIDI
IN.
*
In
theory,
any
number
of
MIDI
devices
could be connected
together using
MIDI
THRU
connectors, but
it
is
best
to
consider 4 or
5
devices
as
being
the
practical
limit.
This
is
because
the further
down
the
line a
device
is
located, the
greater the likelihood
of
signal deterioration
or
delay.
MIDI
Channels
In
MIDI
communications,
a
single
cable simultaneously
carries different
streams
of
performance
information
for a
multiple
number
of
MIDI
devices. This
is
possible
thanks
to
the
concept
of
MIDI
channels.
MIDI
channels
are
in
some ways
similar to the
channels
on
a television
set.
On
a
TV,
a
variety of
programs
broadcast from
different stations
can be
viewed by
switching channels. This
is
because
the information
on any
particular
channel
is
conveyed
only
when
the receiver
is
set to
the
same
channel
that
is
being used
for
transmission.
Station
A
Station
B
Station
C
On
a
TV,
you
switch
channels
to
watch
the
station
(program)
you
want.
The
cable
coming
from
the
antenna
carries the
TV
signals
for
a
variety
of
broadcasts.
The
channels
available
with
MID!
range from
1
through
1
6.
When
a
musical instrument
(the
receiver)
is
set
so
its
channel matches
the
MIDI
channel used by
the transmitting device, the
MIDI
data
is
successfully
'communicated.'
*
When
the
Omni Mode
is
set to
ON, MIDI
data
arriving
on any
channel
v^ill
be
received,
regardless of
any MIDI
channel
settings that
exist.
If
you
do
not
need
to
have
channel-specific
MIDI
control
over
anything,
the
Omni Mode
can be
set to
ON.
48
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