| In a previous article I wrote the basic definition about | | | | instrument's MIDI IN port. This is useful to chain several |
| MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) and how | | | | MIDI instruments receiving data from a single MIDI OUT |
| modern musicians can use it in their independent | | | | port from the computer (for example, to play multiple |
| productions. This time I will write about the technical | | | | string parts using different string sounds on different |
| side of MIDI, including MIDI ports that are available, MIDI | | | | keyboards). |
| channels and how to use them, and the General MIDI | | | | In more recent technology, keyboards can be |
| Standard that allows a MIDI file to be read consistently | | | | connected to computers via straight USB connection |
| over a variety of MIDI-capable instruments (hardware | | | | without needing a USB to MIDI converter. The |
| and software). | | | | downside is that it limits your ability to chain multiple |
| MIDI Ports | | | | MIDI instruments together. |
| As in every other audio or music related technology, | | | | MIDI Channels |
| MIDI has an IN and OUT port. To explain the use of | | | | There are 16 MIDI Channels for every 1 MIDI Port. That |
| these two ports, lets use the example of a MIDI | | | | means any one MIDI Port can send and receive 16 |
| keyboard and a computer (in this case a MIDI to USB | | | | channels of MIDI data. Each MIDI channel contains all |
| converter is necessary for the computer). The MIDI | | | | the MIDI information regarding a particular track. For |
| OUT port on the keyboard is connected to the MIDI IN | | | | example, if Track 1 is Acoustic Piano, then MIDI |
| port on the computer. This means that the keyboard | | | | Channel 1 will contain the note pitch, note length, sustain, |
| sends MIDI data to be played back or recorded inside | | | | and other performance data to be played back by a |
| the computer. Vice versa, the MIDI IN port on the | | | | sound source. The sounds played back are |
| keyboard can be connected to the MIDI OUT port of | | | | determined by the Bank and Patch number inside the |
| the computer allowing the recorded MIDI data inside | | | | MIDI Channel. For example, using the General MIDI |
| the computer to be sent back to the keyboard in | | | | Standard, Acoustic Piano is always Patch #1 and |
| order for the keyboard to play back the MIDI data (this | | | | Acoustic Guitar (Nylon) is always #25. There are 128 |
| means you can record yourself playing, edit the MIDI | | | | Patches overall. |
| data in a music software, and then play it back on the | | | | Having 16 MIDI channels per port allows you to |
| keyboard and record the audio coming out the | | | | compose a song using 16 different parts. For example |
| keyboard for a better edited performance). | | | | you can use Channel 1 for the melody Part using a |
| Besides MIDI IN and OUT, there is a MIDI THRU port | | | | saxophone sound (Patch #65 Soprano Sax), create |
| that is sometimes available on a MIDI instrument. MIDI | | | | the comp part using a piano (Patch #5 Electric Piano 1), |
| THRU functions to pass on the MIDI data received at | | | | and compose the rhythm part using bass (Patch #34 |
| the MIDI IN port to another MIDI instrument or device. | | | | Electric Bass finger) and drums (using MIDI Channel 10, |
| Take for example the keyboard receives MIDI data | | | | a channel that is reserved especially to play percussion |
| from the computer in it's MIDI IN port. If the keyboard | | | | sounds regardless of the patch number you program |
| has a MIDI THRU port, it can continue the data it | | | | in). If you need more channels, then you need more |
| receives from the computer to another MIDI | | | | MIDI ports! |