This post was contributed by the well known film composer, Jeff Rona. Jeff was the first president of the MIDI Manufacturers Association and ran the MMA from 1983 until 1992 . Jeff was  instrumental (pun intended) in getting MIDI started and gives us an inside look at the beginnings of  MIDI. 

We recently did an exclusive interview with Jeff where he talks about how he uses MIDI today in his film composition and why "the studio is his instrument".