For more details on MIDI 2.0, see this article on the site.  MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) Adopts MIDI Capability Inquiry (MIDI-CI) Specification. -   More Details on MIDI-CI and MIDI 2.0.    https://www.midi.org/articles-old/midi-manufacturers-association-mma-adopts-midi-capability-inquiry-midi-ci-specification FOR ...

​ About Android MIDI ​ Android 3.1 and later support USB On-The-Go, which permits an Android device to act as USB host to drive USB peripherals. The USB host mode APIs introduced in Android 3.1 permit developers to implement MIDI over USB at the application level, but until recently there have been no built-in platform APIs for MIDI. Beginning with...

Introduction to MIDI 2.0 MIDI 2.0 is the largest set of additions to MIDI since the very first MIDI connection between 2 manufacturers was made at the 1983 NAMM Show. MIDI 1.0 has evolved with many new features over the past 36 years. MIDI 2.0 continues that ongoing evolution and creates a foundation for expansion for many years into the future. Th...

USB and MIDI ​MIDI has stayed relevant for over 30 years by adapting to the different ways that computers send information to and from external devices. MIDI can now be sent over 5 Pin DIN, Serial Ports, USB, Firewire, Ethernet, Bluetooth and more. But currently the most prevalent way to connect to computers, tablets and smartphones is US...

One of the biggest recent developments in MIDI is MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE). MPE is  a method of using MIDI which enables multidimensional controllers to control multiple parameters of every note within MPE-compatible software.  In normal MIDI, Channel-wide messages (such as Pitch Bend) are applied to all notes ...

​Here is a collection of tutorials on MIDI which is a great place to get started.  For quick access to a list of all MIDI Messages, see our Reference Tables section. Why MIDI Matters -   MIDI is like air, it's all around you, most of the time you can take it for granted, but if you are a digital musician you probably couldn't live wi...

What MIDI does, how to use it, how devices are connected, and more. pdf File Name: An Introduction to MIDI File Size: 2.1 mb Download File

Standard MIDI Files ("SMF" or *.mid files)   Standard MIDI Files ("SMF" or *.mid files) are a popular source of music on the web, and for musicians performing in clubs who need a little extra accompaniment. The files contain all the MIDI instructions for notes, volumes, sounds, and even effects. The files are loaded into some form of 'player' ...

We put together a series of articles about the history of electronic music and MIDI. Here are links to the series. MIDI History:Chapter 1- 850 AD to 1850 AD - To really understand the origins of MIDI, you need to go all the way back to before there were digitally controlled synthesizers and computers, In fact you need to go back before there w...

Part 3: MIDI Messages The MIDI Message specification (or "MIDI Protocol") is probably the most important part of MIDI. MIDI is a music description language in digital (binary) form. It was designed for use with keyboard-based musical instruments, so the message structure is oriented to performance events, such as picking a note and then striking it...

MIDI (pronounced "mid-e") is a technology that makes creating, playing, or just learning about music easier and more rewarding. Playing a musical instrument can provide a lifetime of enjoyment and friendship. Whether your goal is to play in a band, or you just want to perform privately in your home, or you want to develop your skills as a music com...

Introduction The Arduino UNO is a popular open-source microcontroller that, in many respects, is a perfect complement to the extensible nature of the Music Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) protocol. Microcontroller platforms such as Arduino, Teensy, and others, make it relatively easy to develop custom MIDI controllers that respond to light, pre...

Editors note: T his article was written before the MMA published an official standard for using TRS adapters with MIDI devices, and simply describes the TRS connectors that exist in the market. Future products should use the MMA Specification if they want to be interoperable.  Download the MMA Specification In the past few years, MID...

MIDI is like air, it's all around you, most of the time you can take it for granted, but if you are a digital musician you probably couldn't live with out it. MIDI is inside musical instruments, computers, tablets, smart phones, stage lighting, audio mixers, and many other products from well-known international companies including Apple, Gibso...

Part 2: MIDI Cables & Connectors Many different "transports" can be used for MIDI messages. The speed of the transport determines how much MIDI data can be carried, and how quickly it will be received. 5-Pin MIDI DIN Using a 5-pin "DIN" connector, the MIDI DIN transport was developed back in 1983, so it is slow compared to common high-spee...

​ Instructables  is a site which hosts DIY projects and is a platform for people to share what they make through words, photos, video and files. We have gone through the many MIDI DIY projects  and picked our some of our favorite projects.  To see all the MIDI projects that are available on the site, jus...

 Unlike audio  file formats like MP3 files and CDs, MIDI files contain individual instructions for playing each individual note of each individual instrument. So with MIDI it is actually possible to change just one note in a song, or to re-orchestrate an entire song with entirely different instruments. And since each instrument in a MIDI ...

The MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) has released a Specification for use of TRS Connectors with MIDI Devices. It is available for free download by MIDI Association members. The document defines how to wire "TRS" (tip-ring-sleeve) connectors for use with MIDI devices, and describes the necessary device circuitry and cable specifications to supp...

The Web MIDI API connects your MIDI gear directly to your browser.  Your browser connects you to the rest of the world. MIDI hardware support has been available for a long time in Windows, OSX, iOS and most computer/tablet/smart phone platforms through USB, WiFi and even Bluetooth interfaces. But until now, there has been no standard mechanism...

Alternative Controllers A keyboard isn't the only means of playing a synthesizer. Synthesist/multi-instrumentalist/composer Kevin Fortune ( http://www.kevinbrahenyfortune.com ) is one of many who enjoy using alternative controllers. He believes the kind of controller you use not only directly influences the type of music you create, but it also can...

Do It Yourself MIDI ​With the boom in open-source electronics platform like Arduino and the growth of 3-D printers, it's become easier and easier to create your own MIDI controller. We wanted to introduce you to some of the people and companies who helped create the DIY MIDI revolution. Moldover- The Godfather of Controllerism M...

RTP-MIDI ( IETF RFC 6295 ) is a specification for sending/receiving standard " MIDI 1.0 " messages using standard networking protocols ("Real Time Protocol" and "Internet Protocol"). RTP-MIDI includes a data recovery mechanism (MIDI event journaling) to address packet loss that can occur on networks, eliminating the need for packet retransmission (...

An explanation of music synthesis technology and how MIDI is used to generate and control sounds. This document was originally published in 1995 at a time when MIDI had been used in electronic musical instruments for more than a decade, but was still a relatively new technology in the computer industry. All these years later, the PC industry has ch...

Visionaries including Dave Smith from Sequential Circuits, and Ikutaru Kakehashi from Roland began to worry that this lack of compatibility between manufacturers would restrict people's use of synthesizers, which would ultimately inhibit sales growth. Talk of a 'universal' digital communication system thus began circulating in 1981. Dave Smith and ...