Release: January 12, 2011

Manufacturers Adopt Specifications for MIDI Visual Control, MIDI Content Identification, and Mobile Musical Instruments

The MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) announced three new specifications for device  manufacturers, content providers, and application developers to create interoperable products.

MIDI Visual Control ("MVC") defines MIDI messages to control particular video system functions. Video has become a common component of music performances, and MIDI Visual Control enables a musician to trigger clips, perform video effects and transitions all from a MIDI keyboard or other controller.

“MIDI is a well established technology for devices to communicate and control each other," said MMA President/CEO Tom White. "The core concepts behind MIDI Visual Control come from Roland's V-LINK, which is also already proven in the market, so we are very happy to have this new industry standard to open the door for all manufacturers to cooperate in building compatible systems for control and artistic presentation."

Roland has scheduled a press event on Wednesday, January 12, 2011, at 7:00 P.M. in the Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center to officially announce their company's plans for MVC.

International Standard MIDI Code (ISMC) is an identifier that is currently used in Asia to tag Standard MIDI Files (SMF) with information about the source/owner as a deterrent to piracy. 

Mobile Musical Instruments (MMI) is a specification for using the buttons and controls on mobile phones to generate musical notes, along with tags in music files that indicate the musical key and chord structure to assist with playing the correct notes. 

All three specifications were submitted to MMA by the Association of Musical Electronics Industry (AMEI) in Japan following their approval by AMEI members. The MMA specification documents will be available on www.midi.org in the first quarter of 2011, but are available to MMA and AMEI members now.

About MMA

MMA provides the forum for manufacturers and developers of MIDI hardware and software to decide how to use MIDI technology so that their products can be interoperable. MMA members include leading companies in the musical instrument, personal computing, and consumer electronics industries throughout the world (except for Japan). MMA's specifications for MIDI are also referenced in other international standards for technology products, including 3GPP, MPEG, and IEC standards. More information on MMA and MIDI is available at www.midi.org.

About AMEI

AMEI manages and promotes MIDI in Japan, and represents Japanese companies in setting the international standards for MIDI with MMA. www.amei.or.jp