About Midi - Roland MV-8800 Appendices

About MIDI

This section explains the basic concepts of MIDI, and how
the MV-8800 handles MIDI messages.
What is MIDI
MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It is a
worldwide standard that allows electronic musical
instruments and personal computer to exchange musical
performance data and messages such as sound selections.
Any MIDI-compatible device can transmit musical data (as
appropriate for the type of device) to any other
MIDI-compatible device, regardless of its manufacturer or
model type.
MIDI connectors
MIDI messages (the data handled by MIDI) are transmitted
and received using the following two types of connectors.
The MV-8800 has two MIDI OUT connectors; A and B.
MIDI IN: This receives MIDI messages from external
MIDI devices.
MIDI OUT A/B: This transmits MIDI messages from the
MV-8800.
MIDI channels
MIDI is able to send information over a single MIDI cable
independently to two or more MIDI devices. This is made
possible by the concept of MIDI channels. You can think of
MIDI channels as being somewhat similar in function to the
channels on a television. By changing the channel of a TV
set, you can view a variety of programs being transmitted by
different broadcast stations. This is because data is received
only from the transmitter whose channel is selected on the
receiver.
In the same way, a MIDI device whose receive channel is set
to "1" will receive only the data being transmitted by another
MIDI device whose transmit channel is also set to "1."
MIDI messages
The MV-8800 uses the following types of MIDI message.
● Note messages:
These messages are used to play notes. On a keyboard,
these messages transmit the key (note number) that was
pressed, and how strongly it was pressed (velocity). On the
MV-8800, these messages are used when you use a MIDI
sound source to play the metronome sound.
● Control Change messages:
In general, these messages are used to transmit information
such as vibrato, hold, and volume etc., that makes a
performance more expressive. The various functions are
differentiated by a controller number from 0–127, and the
controller number is defined for each function. The functions
that can be controlled on any given device will depend on
that device.
On the MV-8800, these messages can be transmitted to
external MIDI devices by ASSIGNABLE SLIDER function.
● Exclusive messages:
Unlike note messages and control change messages,
exclusive messages are used to transmit settings that are
unique to a particular device. On the MV-8800, they can be
used to control MV-8800 mixer parameters, when it receives
exclusive messages.
Exclusive messages intended for different units are
distinguished by their Device ID, rather than by MIDI channel.
When exclusive messages are to be transmitted or received,
you must set the Device ID of both units to a matching
setting.
MIDI Implementation Chart
MIDI allows a variety of electronic musical instruments to
communicate with each other. However it is not necessarily
the case that all devices will be able to communicate using all
types of MIDI message. They can only communicate using
those types of MIDI message that they have in common.
Each owner's manual for a MIDI device includes a MIDI
Implementation Chart. This chart shows you at a glance the
types of MIDI message that can be transmitted and received.
By comparing the implementation charts of two devices, you
will be able to see the types of message with which they will
be able to communicate.
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MV-8800 Appendices