Midi Information; Channel Message; Note On/Off; Program Change - Korg X5DR AI2 SYNTHESIS MODULE Owner's Manual

Basic Guide
MIDI Data
Various types of MIDI data are used to add versatile expressiveness to a performance, or to
accomplish different types of performances. MIDI data is divided into two main categories:
Channel messages that transmit performance information for each MIDI channel, and System
messages that control the entire collection of MIDI settings and responses.
• In this section, the letter "H" is used for hexadecimal numbers to differentiate them from
decimal numbers.

Channel Message

A Channel message controls a MIDI channel and includes the messages related to the music itself,
as well as messages related to performance technique.
In the following Channel messages, "n" stands for a MIDI channel (n=0 through 15 =0 through
FH corresponds to Channels 1 through 16.)

Note On/Off

Note On messages [9nH,kk,vv] (nH:MIDI Channel, kk:Note number, vv:Velocity) are used to
produce sound, and Note Off messages [8nH,kk,vv] are used to stop a sound from being produced.
Note numbers represent notes (keys) (Middle C=60). Note On Velocity messages represent the
intensity (level) of the notes (1–127). The X5DR will ignore Note Off Velocity messages.
In Program Play mode, the X5DR receives only Note On/Off messages on the Global MIDI
Channel.
In Combination Play mode and Multi mode, the X5DR receives only Note On/Off messages on
the channels set for the Timbres and Tracks.
• Sequencers and sequencing software use Note On messages (Note number and velocity) plus
note length (Gate time or duration), instead of Note On/Off.

Program Change

Program Change messages [CnH,pp] (pp:Program number) are used to change Programs. You can
select Program numbers 0 through 127. The X5DR has 236 Programs in Banks A and G.
Therefore, Program Change messages alone are not enough to select a Program. To select
Programs within a Bank requires Program Change messages, and switching Banks requires Bank
Select messages [BnH,00H,mm] (Controller #00, mm:Upper digit of the Bank number), and
[BnH, 20H,bb] (Controller #32, bb:Lower digit of the Bank number). Receiving only Bank Select
messages will not change Programs. Receiving Program Change numbers following the Bank
Select numbers will select the specified Program in the specified Bank.
• You need to use Bank Select messages to select Drum Programs 129 through 136 in Bank G.
(See page 68 for details.)
• The manner in which you specify Program numbers varies depending on the type of sequencer
or sequencing software. (For example, some use numbers 1 through 128, while others use A11
through B88). Refer to the manual that came with your sequencer or sequencing software.
Program Change messages sent on the Global MIDI Channel switch Programs in Program Play
mode. (These messages are ignored in Program Edit mode.) You can select a Bank using the Bank
Select messages.
Program Change messages sent on the Global MIDI Channel switch Combinations in
Combination Play mode. Receiving Program Change and Bank Select messages on the receive
channel of each Timbre will select Timbre Programs. You can set each Timbre independently such
that it will receive or ignore the messages.
Program Change and Bank Select messages sent on the receive channel of each Track in Multi
mode will select the Track Programs. You can set each Track independently such that it will
receive or ignore the messages.
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