About Midi; About Midi Connectors; Midi Channels And Multi-Timbral Sound Generators - Roland V-Synth Owner's Manual

About MIDI

MIDI (Musical Instruments Digital Interface) is a standard
specification that allows musical data to be exchanged between
electronic musical instruments and computers. MIDI With a MIDI
cable connecting MIDI devices that are equipped with MIDI
connectors, you can play multiple instruments with a single
keyboard, have multiple MIDI instruments perform in ensemble,
program the settings to change automatically to match the
performance as the song progresses, and more.
If you mainly use the V-Synth as a standalone keyboard instrument,
you may really not need to know much at all about MIDI.
However, the following MIDI-related information is provided so
you can play the V-Synth using an external MIDI device, or master
other advanced techniques.

About MIDI Connectors

The V-Synth is equipped with the three types of MIDI connectors,
each which works differently.
fig.midi-con
MIDI IN Connector
This connector receives MIDI messages that are transmitted from
external MIDI devices. The V-Synth can receive these messages to
play notes or select sounds, etc.
MIDI OUT Connector
This connector transmits MIDI messages to external MIDI devices.
The V-Synth's MIDI OUT connector is used for sending the
performance data of the keyboard controller section as well as data
used for saving various settings and patterns.
MIDI THRU Connector
MIDI messages received at MIDI IN are re-transmitted without
change from this connector to an external MIDI device. Use this in
situations such as when you use multiple MIDI devices
simultaneously.
MIDI Channels and Multi-timbral
Sound Generators
MIDI transmits many types of data over a single MIDI cable. This is
made possible by the concept of MIDI channels. MIDI channels
allow messages intended for a given instrument to be distinguished
from messages intended for another instrument. In some ways,
MIDI channels are similar to television channels. By changing the
channel on a television set, you can view the programs that are being
broadcast by different stations. In the same way, MIDI also allows a
device to select the information intended for that device out of the
variety of information that is being transmitted to it.
fig.midi-01.e
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.
MIDI uses sixteen channels; 1 through 16. Set the receiving device so
that it will receive only the channel that it needs to receive.
Example:
Set the V-Synth to send Channel 1 and Channel 2, then set sound
module A to receive only Channel 1 and sound module B only
Channel 2. With this setup, you can get an ensemble performance,
with, for example, a guitar sound from sound module A and bass
from sound module B.
fig.midi-02.e
MIDI OUT
Transmit channel: 1, 2
MIDI keyboard
When used as a sound module, the V-Synth can receive on up to
sixteen MIDI channels. Sound modules like the V-Synth which can
receive multiple MIDI channels simultaneously to play different
sounds on each channel are called multi-timbral sound modules.
MIDI IN MIDI THRU
Receive channel: 1
Sound
Module
A
Receive channel: 2 MIDI IN
Sound
Module
B
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