January, 2008

For the third year in a row, dozens of MIDI hardware and software manufacturers gathered at the Marriott in Anaheim CA, in conjunction with the Winter NAMM Show, to plan a new High Definition protocol for musical instruments.

"MIDI has worked fantastically for more than 25 years, but with today's computers and embedded microprocessors we can now do much more than MIDI was originally designed to do", said MMA President and CEO Tom White. "This new protocol will encourage market growth through more expressive products, improved ease of use, and new and innovative applications. Plus new HD devices and software will be compatible with all of the great MIDI hardware and software that already exists."

This proposed update increases the number of MIDI Channels and Controllers, and provides greater resolution in data values for all of the current MIDI 1.0 messages. Moreover, the HD functions are all accomplished with single messages, as opposed to compound messages in MIDI 1.0, which means using and editing the new messages will be far easier for both developers and users. The HD protocol also  supports the creation of entirely new messages that were not practical with the MIDI 1.0 protocol.

"At this point the HD Protocol is still under development, but we've seen a lot of interest in this from both hardware and software developers," said White. "Our policy is not to discuss MMA Specifications publicly until they're officially adopted, but in this case we want to make sure that all qualified companies have the opportunity to participate before the first version is published later this year."

The original MIDI 1.0 Specification, developed in 1983, has been the foundation for interoperability of digital musical instruments for 25 years. The initial "MIDI 1.0 Specification" contained the rules for remote control of keyboard devices, but over the years additional specifications were developed for file exchange, sound exchange, synthesizer design, and new applications such as stage lighting and ring-tones. Today the term "MIDI" applies to the wide variety of file formats, applications, and device specifications defined by the MIDI Manufacturers Association.

The MIDI Manufacturers Association is an industry non-profit organization that is responsible for maintaining and extending MIDI. Formed in 1985 by the original developers of the MIDI 1.0 Specification, the MMA provides a forum where companies using MIDI can cooperate and collaborate to make their equipment interoperable. More information is available at http://www.midi.org/. 

Companies that are interested in participating in the development of the new HD Protocol should contact the MMA (see the contact form on this site.)

January, 2006

The MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) will provide an introduction to the High-Definition protocol for MIDI Devices (HD-MIDI™) idea during their annual membership meeting on Sunday, January 22, 2006, from 9am-10am at the Marriott in Anaheim CA, in conjunction with the Winter NAMM Show. Any manufacturer or software developer interested in being involved in the development of the HD Protocol for MIDI Devices can attend the meeting to learn how to participate in MMA activities.

"This proposed major update to MIDI would provide greater resolution in data values, increase the number of MIDI Channels, and support the creation of entirely new kinds of MIDI messages. The new higher-definition messages are intended to coexist with MIDI 1.0 messages, allowing software and hardware devices to use whatever combination of message types makes the most sense for the application and the transport (MIDI-DIN, USB, IEEE-1394, etc.).

"At this point "HD-MIDI" is just a topic of discussion, but we've seen a lot of interest from both hardware and software developers," said White. "Our policy is not to discuss MMA Specifications publicly until they're officially adopted, but in this case we want to make sure that all qualified companies have the opportunity to participate."

The MIDI Manufacturers Association is an industry non-profit organization that is responsible for maintaining and extending MIDI. Formed in 1985 by the original developers of MIDI, the MMA provides a forum where companies using MIDI can cooperate and collaborate to make their equipment interoperable. More information is available at http://www.midi.org/.

October, 2005

A proposal for a High-Definition protocol for MIDI Devices (tentatively called HD-MIDI™) is now being discussed by members of the MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA), the industry non-profit organization that is responsible for maintaining and extending MIDI. This major update to MIDI would provide greater resolution in data values, increase the number of MIDI Channels, and support the creation of entirely new kinds of MIDI messages.

An introduction to the HD-MIDI concept will be made by MMA Technical Standards Board members at AES on Saturday, October 8, from 10am-11am in AES Standards Meeting Room 2, and again at NAMM in January 2006. Any manufacturer or software developer interested in being involved in the development of HD-MIDI can attend these presentations to learn more about the MMA standards process.