GM 1 Sound Set
General MIDI's most recognized feature is the defined list of sounds (or "patches"). However, General MIDI does not actually define the way the sound will be reproduced, only the name of that sound. Though this can obviously result in wide variations in performance from the same song data on different GM sound sources, the authors of General MIDI felt it important to allow each manufacturer to have their own ideas and express their personal aesthetics when it comes to picking the exact timbres for each sound.
Each manufacturer must insure that their sounds provide an acceptable representation of song data written for General MIDI. Guidelines for developing GM compatible sound sets and song data are available.
Each manufacturer must insure that their sounds provide an acceptable representation of song data written for General MIDI. Guidelines for developing GM compatible sound sets and song data are available.
- The names of the instruments indicate what sort of sound will be heard when that instrument number (MIDI Program Change or "PC#") is selected on the GM1 synthesizer.
- These sounds are the same for all MIDI Channels except Channel 10, which has only "percussion" sounds.
|
General MIDI Level 1 Instrument Families |
|
| The General MIDI Level 1 instrument sounds are grouped by families. In each family are 8 specific instruments. | |
| PC# | Family Name |
| 1-8 | Piano |
| 9-16 | Chromatic Percussion |
| 17-24 | Organ |
| 25-32 | Guitar |
| 33-40 | Bass |
| 41-48 | Strings |
| 49-56 | Ensemble |
| 57-64 | Brass |
| 65-72 | Reed |
| 73-80 | Pipe |
| 81-88 | Synth Lead |
| 89-96 | Synth Pad |
| 97-104 | Synth Effects |
| 105-112 | Ethnic |
| 113-120 | Percussive |
| 121-128 | Sound Effects |
|
General MIDI Level 1 Instrument Patch Map |
|
| Note: While GM1 does not define the actual characteristics of any sounds, the names in parentheses after each of the synth leads, pads, and sound effects are, in particular, intended only as guides). | |
| PC# | Instrument Name |
| 1. | Acoustic Grand Piano |
| 2. | Bright Acoustic Piano |
| 3. | Electric Grand Piano |
| 4. | Honky-tonk Piano |
| 5. | Electric Piano 1 |
| 6. | Electric Piano 2 |
| 7. | Harpsichord |
| 8. | Clavi |
| 9. | Celesta |
| 10. | Glockenspiel |
| 11. | Music Box |
| 12. | Vibraphone |
| 13. | Marimba |
| 14. | Xylophone |
| 15. | Tubular Bells |
| 16. | Dulcimer |
| 17. | Drawbar Organ |
| 18. | Percussive Organ |
| 19. | Rock Organ |
| 20. | Church Organ |
| 21. | Reed Organ |
| 22. | Accordion |
| 23. | Harmonica |
| 24. | Tango Accordion |
| 25. | Acoustic Guitar (nylon) |
| 26. | Acoustic Guitar (steel) |
| 27. | Electric Guitar (jazz) |
| 28. | Electric Guitar (clean) |
| 29. | Electric Guitar (muted) |
| 30. | Overdriven Guitar |
| 31. | Distortion Guitar |
| 32. | Guitar harmonics |
| 33. | Acoustic Bass |
| 34. | Electric Bass (finger) |
| 35. | Electric Bass (pick) |
| 36. | Fretless Bass |
| 37. | Slap Bass 1 |
| 38. | Slap Bass 2 |
| 39. | Synth Bass 1 |
| 40. | Synth Bass 2 |
| 41. | Violin |
| 42. | Viola |
| 43. | Cello |
| 44. | Contrabass |
| 45. | Tremolo Strings |
| 46. | Pizzicato Strings |
| 47. | Orchestral Harp |
| 48. | Timpani |
| 49. | String Ensemble 1 |
| 50. | String Ensemble 2 |
| 51. | SynthStrings 1 |
| 52. | SynthStrings 2 |
| 53. | Choir Aahs |
| 54. | Voice Oohs |
| 55. | Synth Voice |
| 56. | Orchestra Hit |
| 57. | Trumpet |
| 58. | Trombone |
| 59. | Tuba |
| 60. | Muted Trumpet |
| 61. | French Horn |
| 62. | Brass Section |
| 63. | SynthBrass 1 |
| 64. | SynthBrass 2 |
| 65. | Soprano Sax |
| 66. | Alto Sax |
| 67. | Tenor Sax |
| 68. | Baritone Sax |
| 69. | Oboe |
| 70. | English Horn |
| 71. | Bassoon |
| 72. | Clarinet |
| 73. | Piccolo |
| 74. | Flute |
| 75. | Recorder |
| 76. | Pan Flute |
| 77. | Blown Bottle |
| 78. | Shakuhachi |
| 79. | Whistle |
| 80. | Ocarina |
| 81. | Lead 1 (square) |
| 82. | Lead 2 (sawtooth) |
| 83. | Lead 3 (calliope) |
| 84. | Lead 4 (chiff) |
| 85. | Lead 5 (charang) |
| 86. | Lead 6 (voice) |
| 87. | Lead 7 (fifths) |
| 88. | Lead 8 (bass + lead) |
| 89. | Pad 1 (new age) |
| 90. | Pad 2 (warm) |
| 91. | Pad 3 (polysynth) |
| 92. | Pad 4 (choir) |
| 93. | Pad 5 (bowed) |
| 94. | Pad 6 (metallic) |
| 95. | Pad 7 (halo) |
| 96. | Pad 8 (sweep) |
| 97. | FX 1 (rain) |
| 98. | FX 2 (soundtrack) |
| 99. | FX 3 (crystal) |
| 100. | FX 4 (atmosphere) |
| 101. | FX 5 (brightness) |
| 102. | FX 6 (goblins) |
| 103. | FX 7 (echoes) |
| 104. | FX 8 (sci-fi) |
| 105. | Sitar |
| 106. | Banjo |
| 107. | Shamisen |
| 108. | Koto |
| 109. | Kalimba |
| 110. | Bag pipe |
| 111. | Fiddle |
| 112. | Shanai |
| 113. | Tinkle Bell |
| 114. | Agogo |
| 115. | Steel Drums |
| 116. | Woodblock |
| 117. | Taiko Drum |
| 118. | Melodic Tom |
| 119. | Synth Drum |
| 120. | Reverse Cymbal |
| 121. | Guitar Fret Noise |
| 122. | Breath Noise |
| 123. | Seashore |
| 124. | Bird Tweet |
| 125. | Telephone Ring |
| 126. | Helicopter |
| 127. | Applause |
| 128. | Gunshot |
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General MIDI Level 1 Percussion Key Map |
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| On MIDI Channel 10, each MIDI Note number ("Key#") corresponds to a different drum sound, as shown below. GM-compatible instruments must have the sounds on the keys shown here. While many current instruments also have additional sounds above or below the range show here, and may even have additional "kits" with variations of these sounds, only these sounds are supported by General MIDI Level 1 devices. | |
|
Key# |
Drum Sound |
|
35 |
Acoustic Bass Drum |
|
36 |
Bass Drum 1 |
|
37 |
Side Stick |
|
38 |
Acoustic Snare |
|
39 |
Hand Clap |
|
40 |
Electric Snare |
|
41 |
Low Floor Tom |
|
42 |
Closed Hi Hat |
|
43 |
High Floor Tom |
|
44 |
Pedal Hi-Hat |
|
45 |
Low Tom |
|
46 |
Open Hi-Hat |
|
47 |
Low-Mid Tom |
|
48 |
Hi-Mid Tom |
|
49 |
Crash Cymbal 1 |
|
50 |
High Tom |
|
51 |
Ride Cymbal 1 |
|
52 |
Chinese Cymbal |
|
53 |
Ride Bell |
|
54 |
Tambourine |
|
55 |
Splash Cymbal |
|
56 |
Cowbell |
|
57 |
Crash Cymbal 2 |
|
58 |
Vibraslap |
|
59 |
Ride Cymbal 2 |
|
60 |
Hi Bongo |
|
61 |
Low Bongo |
|
62 |
Mute Hi Conga |
|
63 |
Open Hi Conga |
|
64 |
Low Conga |
|
65 |
High Timbale |
|
66 |
Low Timbale |
|
67 |
High Agogo |
|
68 |
Low Agogo |
|
69 |
Cabasa |
|
70 |
Maracas |
|
71 |
Short Whistle |
|
72 |
Long Whistle |
|
73 |
Short Guiro |
|
74 |
Long Guiro |
|
75 |
Claves |
|
76 |
Hi Wood Block |
|
77 |
Low Wood Block |
|
78 |
Mute Cuica |
|
79 |
Open Cuica |
|
80 |
Mute Triangle |
|
81 |
Open Triangle |
