The MIDI Language

1
The MIDI Language

• MIDI messages fall into five categories
• Channel (pertaining to information on a
  particular channel)
• Voice
• Mode
• System (pertaining to the system as a whole)
• Real time
• Common
• System Exclusive (SysEx)

2
System Exclusive Messages
Allows a device to be addressed in ways that are
not covered by the MIDI standard.
3
System Exclusive Messages
Allows a device to be addressed in ways that are
not covered by the MIDI standard. Allows
manufacturers to include proprietary features in
their products.
4
System Exclusive Messages
Allows a device to be addressed in ways that are
not covered by the MIDI standard. Allows
manufacturers to include proprietary features in
their products. 11110000 Start System Exclusive
5
System Exclusive Messages
Allows a device to be addressed in ways that are
not covered by the MIDI standard. Allows
manufacturers to include proprietary features in
their products. 11110000 Start System
Exclusive Takes the system out of normal MIDI
operating mode.
6
System Exclusive Messages
Allows a device to be addressed in ways that are
not covered by the MIDI standard. Allows
manufacturers to include proprietary features in
their products. 11110000 Start System
Exclusive Takes the system out of normal MIDI
operating mode. Followed by a manufacturers
identification byte.
7
System Exclusive Messages
Allows a device to be addressed in ways that are
not covered by the MIDI standard. Allows
manufacturers to include proprietary features in
their products. 11110000 Start System
Exclusive Takes the system out of normal MIDI
operating mode. Followed by a manufacturers
identification byte. Each manufacturer has a
unique identifier assigned by the MIDI
Manufacturers Association.
8
System Exclusive Messages
Allows a device to be addressed in ways that are
not covered by the MIDI standard. Allows
manufacturers to include proprietary features in
their products. 11110000 Start System
Exclusive Takes the system out of normal MIDI
operating mode. Followed by a manufacturers
identification byte. Each manufacturer has a
unique identifier assigned by the MIDI
Manufacturers Association. Different devices by
the same company may be identified by subsequent
bytes.
9
System Exclusive Messages
Allows a device to be addressed in ways that are
not covered by the MIDI standard. Allows
manufacturers to include proprietary features in
their products. 11110000 Start System
Exclusive Takes the system out of normal MIDI
operating mode. Followed by a manufacturers
identification byte. Each manufacturer has a
unique identifier assigned by the MIDI
Manufacturers Association. Different devices by
the same company may be identified by subsequent
bytes. Any number of bytes may follow for any
purpose specified by the manufacturer.
10
System Exclusive Messages
Allows a device to be addressed in ways that are
not covered by the MIDI standard. Allows
manufacturers to include proprietary features in
their products. 11110000 Start System
Exclusive Takes the system out of normal MIDI
operating mode. Followed by a manufacturers
identification byte. Each manufacturer has a
unique identifier assigned by the MIDI
Manufacturers Association. Different devices by
the same company may be identified by subsequent
bytes. Any number of bytes may follow for any
purpose specified by the manufacturer. 11110111
End System Exclusive
11
System Exclusive Messages
Allows a device to be addressed in ways that are
not covered by the MIDI standard. Allows
manufacturers to include proprietary features in
their products. 11110000 Start System
Exclusive Takes the system out of normal MIDI
operating mode. Followed by a manufacturers
identification byte. Each manufacturer has a
unique identifier assigned by the MIDI
Manufacturers Association. Different devices by
the same company may be identified by subsequent
bytes. Any number of bytes may follow for any
purpose specified by the manufacturer. 11110111
End System Exclusive Returns the system to MIDI
operating mode.
12
System Exclusive Messages
Voice Editor/Librarians rely on System Exclusive
messages to address voice parameters of
individual instruments.
13
System Exclusive Messages
Voice Editor/Librarians rely on System Exclusive
messages to address voice parameters of
individual instruments. Some writers (Loy)
criticized System Exclusive as an escape hatch,
defeating the purpose of a standard.
14
System Exclusive Messages
Voice Editor/Librarians rely on System Exclusive
messages to address voice parameters of
individual instruments. Some writers (Loy)
criticized System Exclusive as an escape hatch,
defeating the purpose of a standard. Contrary to
these warnings, SysEx has not replaced any
message types covered by the MIDI standard.
15
MIDI Implementation Charts

• Typically, MIDI devices cannot send and/or
  receive every message type

16
MIDI Implementation Charts

• Typically, MIDI devices cannot send and/or
  receive every message type
• A MIDI implementation chart details which
  messages a device is capable of sending and
  receiving

17
MIDI Implementation Charts

• Typically, MIDI devices cannot send and/or
  receive every message type
• A MIDI implementation chart details which
  messages a device is capable of sending and
  receiving
• A devices MIDI documentation will also give
  System Exclusive information -- what parameters
  may be addressed and how

18
Additions to the MIDI protocol
19
Standard MIDI Files (SMFs)
20
Standard MIDI Files

• Added to the MIDI standard in 1988

21
Standard MIDI Files

• Added to the MIDI standard in 1988
• These are to sequencers what plain text files are
  to word processors a generic file format that
  may be opened in a variety of applications

22
Standard MIDI Files

• Added to the MIDI standard in 1988
• These are to sequencers what plain text files are
  to word processors a generic file format that
  may be opened in a variety of applications
• They typically have the extension .mid

23
Standard MIDI Files

• Added to the MIDI standard in 1988
• These are to sequencers what plain text files are
  to word processors a generic file format that
  may be opened in a variety of applications
• They typically have the extension .mid
• A sequencer may export its contents to a standard
  MIDI file

24
Standard MIDI Files

• SMFs contain the following information

25
Standard MIDI Files

• SMFs contain the following information
• MIDI events

26
Standard MIDI Files

• SMFs contain the following information
• MIDI events
• Delta times amount of time between MIDI events

27
Standard MIDI Files

• SMFs contain the following information
• MIDI events
• Delta times amount of time between MIDI
  eventsThis may be a relative time measurement,
  a number multiplied by the tempo setting, or an
  absolute time measurement in minutes and seconds

28
Standard MIDI Files

• SMFs contain the following information
• MIDI events
• Delta times amount of time between MIDI
  eventsThis may be a relative time measurement,
  a number multiplied by the tempo setting, or an
  absolute time measurement in minutes and seconds
• System Exclusive events

29
Standard MIDI Files

• SMFs contain the following information
• MIDI events
• Delta times amount of time between MIDI
  eventsThis may be a relative time measurement,
  a number multiplied by the tempo setting, or an
  absolute time measurement in minutes and seconds
• System Exclusive events
• Meta events e.g., tempo changes, lyrics, track
  names, key signatures, instrument names, etc.

30
Standard MIDI Files

• There are three types

31
Standard MIDI Files

• There are three types
• Type 0 All information is combined onto one
  track.

32
Standard MIDI Files

• There are three types
• Type 0 All information is combined onto one
  track.When imported into a sequencer, some
  programs prompt the user to decide whether the
  file should be exploded into 16 tracks, with
  each track containing information from the
  corresponding channel number.

33
Standard MIDI Files

• There are three types
• Type 1Track information is maintained

34
Standard MIDI Files

• There are three types
• Type 1Track information is maintained(NOTE
  sequencer tracks and MIDI channels are two
  different things. A single track may contain
  information on more than one channel multiple
  tracks may contain information on the same
  channel)

35
Standard MIDI Files

• There are three types
• Type 2Track information is maintained, each
  track has its own tempo

36
Standard MIDI Files

• There are three types
• Type 2Track information is maintained, each
  track has its own tempo
• Type 2 is implemented less often than types 0 and
  1

37
General MIDI
38
General MIDI

• Adopted in 1991

39
General MIDI

• Adopted in 1991
• Assigns instrument types to patch numbers

40
General MIDI

• Adopted in 1991
• Assigns instrument types to patch numbers, for
  example
• Patch 0 Piano

41
General MIDI

• Adopted in 1991
• Assigns instrument types to patch numbers, for
  example
• Patch 0 Piano
• Patch 19 Organ

42
General MIDI

• Adopted in 1991
• Assigns instrument types to patch numbers, for
  example
• Patch 0 Piano
• Patch 19 Organ
• Patch 56 Trumpet

43
General MIDI

• Adopted in 1991
• Assigns instrument types to patch numbers, for
  example
• Patch 0 Piano
• Patch 19 Organ
• Patch 56 Trumpet
• Also assigns drums to channel 10

44
General MIDI

• Adopted in 1991
• Assigns instrument types to patch numbers, for
  example
• Patch 0 Piano
• Patch 19 Organ
• Patch 56 Trumpet
• Also assigns drums to channel 10
• While a particular instrument type may sound
  different on different devices, this convention
  ensures that, for example, Patch 0 will always be
  piano-like.

45
General MIDI

• Adopted in 1991
• Assigns instrument types to patch numbers, for
  example
• Patch 0 Piano
• Patch 19 Organ
• Patch 56 Trumpet
• Also assigns drums to channel 10
• While a particular instrument type may sound
  different on different devices, this convention
  ensures that, for example, Patch 0 will always be
  piano-like.
• By beginning each track with the appropriate
  Program Change event, composers can be confident
  that their sequences will be intelligible on any
  GM playback device.

46
General MIDI

• While many musicians in 1991 thought General MIDI
  was a dumbing down of MIDI instruments, its
  adoption has allowed MIDI to become a standard
  multi-media element.

47
General MIDI

• While many musicians in 1991 thought General MIDI
  was a dumbing down of MIDI instruments, its
  adoption has allowed MIDI to become a standard
  multi-media element.
• Games could enhance soundtracks with MIDI files,
  knowing that the files would be functional with
  any General MIDI soundcard.

48
General MIDI

• While many musicians in 1991 thought General MIDI
  was a dumbing down of MIDI instruments, its
  adoption has allowed MIDI to become a standard
  multi-media element.
• Games could enhance soundtracks with MIDI files,
  knowing that the files would be functional with
  any General MIDI soundcard.
• MIDI files could be added to web pages as long as
  end-users had a General MIDI plug-in (such as
  QuickTime).

49
General MIDI

• While many musicians in 1991 thought General MIDI
  was a dumbing down of MIDI instruments, its
  adoption has allowed MIDI to become a standard
  multi-media element.
• Games could enhance soundtracks with MIDI files,
  knowing that the files would be functional with
  any General MIDI soundcard.
• MIDI files could be added to web pages as long as
  end-users had a General MIDI plug-in (such as
  QuickTime).
• Today, virtually all synthesizers have a General
  MIDI bank of patches (the Yamaha W7 among them).

50
Multi Mode

• Allows an instrument to play all sixteen channels
  polyphonically.

51
Multi Mode

• Allows an instrument to play all sixteen channels
  polyphonically.
• An instrument can contain up to sixteen
  sub-instruments, or parts. Each may have a
  different patch number assigned to it.

52
Multi Mode

• Allows an instrument to play all sixteen channels
  polyphonically.
• An instrument can contain up to sixteen
  sub-instruments, or parts. Each may have a
  different patch number assigned to it.
• An instrument in Multi Mode that has a General
  MIDI bank can play Standard MIDI Files.

53
Multi Mode

• Allows an instrument to play all sixteen channels
  polyphonically.
• An instrument can contain up to sixteen
  sub-instruments, or parts. Each may have a
  different patch number assigned to it.
• An instrument in Multi Mode that has a General
  MIDI bank can play Standard MIDI Files.
• Virtually all MIDI instruments now operate in
  Multi Mode (the Yamaha W7 among them).
• The key specification with such instruments is
  their degree of polyphony -- the more notes an
  instrument can play, the more complex
  arrangements it can realize.

54
Karaoke Files
55
Karaoke Files

• Specified in 1998

56
Karaoke Files

• Specified in 1998
• Standard MIDI files with meta information about
  lyrics

57
Karaoke Files

• Specified in 1998
• Standard MIDI files with meta information about
  lyrics
• They typically have the extension .kar

58
Karaoke Files

• Specified in 1998
• Standard MIDI files with meta information about
  lyrics
• They typically have the extension .kar
• A device that can read karaoke files can play
  back MIDI tracks and project the lyrics

59
Extensions of General MIDI
60
Extensions of General MIDI
GS MIDI
61
Extensions of General MIDI
GS MIDI
Created by Roland for its SoundCanvas module.
62
Extensions of General MIDI
GS MIDI
Created by Roland for its SoundCanvas module.
Adds more drumkit banks
63
Extensions of General MIDI
GS MIDI
Created by Roland for its SoundCanvas module.
Adds more drumkit banks Standardizes certain
controllers to address effects such as
reverberation and brightness.
64
Extensions of General MIDI
GS MIDI
Created by Roland for its SoundCanvas module.
Adds more drumkit banks Standardizes certain
controllers to address effects such as
reverberation and brightness. Also standardized
Bank Select controllers to allow for more than
128 patches.
65
Extensions of General MIDI
GS MIDI
Created by Roland for its SoundCanvas module.
Adds more drumkit banks Standardizes certain
controllers to address effects such as
reverberation and brightness. Also standardized
Bank Select controllers to allow for more than
128 patches. The QuickTime Musical Instruments
use GS parameters
66
Extensions of General MIDI
GS MIDI
Created by Roland for its SoundCanvas module.
Adds more drumkit banks Standardizes certain
controllers to address effects such as
reverberation and brightness. Also standardized
Bank Select controllers to allow for more than
128 patches. The QuickTime Musical Instruments
use GS parameters So does Microsofts GS Synth
67
Extensions of General MIDI
XG MIDI
68
Extensions of General MIDI
XG MIDI
Created by Yamaha for its MU80 module.
69
Extensions of General MIDI
XG MIDI
Created by Yamaha for its MU80 module. More
standardized controllers for additional
expressiveness (chorus, attack time, release
time, etc.)
70
Extensions of General MIDI
XG MIDI
Created by Yamaha for its MU80 module. More
standardized controllers for additional
expressiveness (chorus, attack time, release
time, etc.) Special SysEx messages allow
processing of an input signal, such as a
karaoke vocalist
71
Extensions of General MIDI
Many web sites with downloadable MIDI files
specify that the files are GS MIDI or XG MIDI,
meaning that such files will take advantage of
the special features on these types of devices.
72
Extensions of SysEx
MIDI Machine Control (MMC)
73
Extensions of SysEx
MIDI Machine Control (MMC)
A class of SysEx messages to control recording
and playback devices
74
Extensions of SysEx
MIDI Machine Control (MMC)
A class of SysEx messages to control recording
and playback devices After going into SysEx mode
and sending the device ID, a device can be made
to play, record, stop, fast forward, rewind or
pause.
75
Extensions of SysEx
MIDI Show Control (MSC)
76
Extensions of SysEx
MIDI Show Control (MSC)
A class of SysEx messages to control non-musical
theatrical devices such as lighting, scenery,
pyrotechnics, sound effects playback.
77
Extensions of SysEx
MIDI Show Control (MSC)
A class of SysEx messages to control non-musical
theatrical devices such as lighting, scenery,
pyrotechnics, sound effects playback. MSC allows
an entire production to be controlled by a
sequencing device.