Introduction
MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. The MIDI
standard was devised in the early 80’s as a means for allowing musical
instruments to communicate with each other as well as with other
devices such as sequencers and computers. Before the advent of MIDI,
it was often very difficult (if not impossible) for instruments to effectively
communicate with each other, especially if they had been made by dif-
ferent manufacturers. Nowadays, most types of electronic musical
equipment are equipped with a MIDI interface fitted as standard, includ-
ing synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, sequencers, computers
and even some effects units.
The MIDI standard allows many different instruments to be controlled at
once (say from a sequencer or a controller keyboard such as the X-
Station) using the same network of MIDI cables. Each instrument in the
MIDI chain is usually assigned its own unique MIDI channel and will
only respond to information that it may receive on that particular chan-
nel. The MIDI standard allows for sixteen different channels to be
assigned to the various instruments in a MIDI network. This means that
it is normally possible to have up to sixteen instruments playing simulta-
neously within a MIDI system.
Some people may feel that being restricted to just sixteen MIDI chan-
nels might be a little limiting, especially if they are composing very com-
plex pieces of music. However, most current sequencers, MIDI ports for
computers and master keyboards offer a neat way around this problem.
They can offer several different MIDI outputs, each of which is treated
as a separate MIDI system in its own right with its own set of sixteen
MIDI channels. The X-Station may use any combination of its MIDI
OUT & USB ports for this purpose.
How MIDI Ports Are Used
The X-Station has three MIDI ports, one labeled ‘In’ and two ‘Outs’.
Additionally, there is a USB port which acts in a manner similar to a
combined MIDI IN / MIDI OUT. Each type of MIDI port has a specific
purpose :
MIDI IN ports
These are used by the X-Station to receive incoming MIDI information.
It is possible to configure the X-Station to immediately re-transmit this
MIDI information to any of the X-Station MIDI Out ports or to the USB
port. This is detailed on page 25. The X-Station can process incoming
MIDI from the MIDI IN port or the USB port simultaneously.
MIDI OUT Ports
These can transmit any MIDI information which might be generated by
the X-Station. For example, if a note was played on the X-Station key-
board or one of the controls were moved on the front panel. This MIDI
information is intelligently merged with any MIDI being re-transmitted
after arriving at the MIDI IN / USB ports.
USB Port
This port is used to connect the X-Station to a computer that features a
USB port. It can be regarded as a special port that can send and
receive MIDI information simultaneously. It is the most convenient way
of connecting to a computer, avoiding the need to connect two sets of
standard MIDI cables between the X-Station and a separate MIDI inter-
face. The information which flows through the USB connection con-
forms to the same Message format as standard MIDI.
Since MIDI information flows in one direction only along a standard
MIDI cable, it is not possible to have a MIDI In socket connected to
another MIDI In socket. If this were done the MIDI network would sim-
ply not work! In fact, the only two routings allowed are MIDI Out to MIDI
In or MIDI Thru to MIDI In.
Keyboard Controllers such as the X-Station are used to generate MIDI
data for controlling other instruments. Examples of other common MIDI
controllers are drum percussion pads or footswitch controllers. Of
course, the X-Station is capable of much more than just controller key-
board duties!
MIDI Messages
The X-Station is capable of transmitting various types of MIDI events.
These are as follows :
Note Messages
A note message is transmitted every time a key on the X-Station key-
board is pressed down or released. When a keyboard note is pressed
down, the MIDI message also includes velocity information. This repre-
sents how hard the key was pressed down. This velocity value can be
used to add dynamics to the sound, depending on how hard the note
was played.
It is also possible to configure buttons on the front panel to transmit
Note messages such that a Note On message is sent when the button
is pressed and the corresponding Note Off message sent when the but-
ton is released. This is detailed on page 18.
Control Change Messages
These messages are commonly used to alter synthesizer parameters
by MIDI. In many of the Preset Templates, it is actually Control Change
messages which are sent when the front panel controls are moved.
The MIDI specification allows for 128 different types of controller mes-
sage. These are often referred to as Continuous Controllers (CC0 to
CC127).
Some controllers are rigidly defined by the MIDI standard for specific
functions. For example, CC1 is always used for the modulation wheel.
Therefore, whenever the X-Stations modulation joystick is moved, it will
transmit MIDI control change information using CC1. All makes of syn-
thesizers will also use CC1 for modulation wheel data.
The Continuous Controller numbers rigidly defined include 0, 6, 32, 38,
96. 97, 98, 99, 100, 101 & 120 - 127. These are used for specialised
specific purposes.
Many Control Change numbers have no set purpose within the MIDI
specification. For example, whenever a Novation KS series Filter FRE-
QUENCY knob is moved, it will transmit using CC105. There is no
guarantee however that other makes of synthesizer will use this control
change number for the same purpose.
A CC MIDI message can contain a data value anywhere in the range 0
to 127.
Use of Control Change messages is detailed on page 16 .
Non-Registered Parameter Messages
Some synthesizers (such as the Novation KS series) actually have
many more than 128 different parameters that can be transmitted by
MIDI, but because the number of different types of control change mes-
sage is limited to just 128, a more complicated arrangement for trans-
mitting additional parameters is used. This arrangement is known as
Non-Registered Parameter Numbers (NRPNs for short).
NRPNs actually consist of three MIDI control change messages
grouped together, rather than a single MIDI control change message
which is normally used. The first two CC messages define the NRPN
number of the message. CC98 is used to specify the least significant
byte (LSB) of the NRPN number and CC99 is used to specify the most
significant byte (MSB) of the NRPN number.
MIDI TUTORIAL
Introduction - MIDI Ports - MIDI Messages
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