ABSTRACT
The original Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) Specification 1.0 was published in 1982, and while it still carries the 1.0 designation, there have since been many additions and refinements. The original MIDI communications spec was a hardware protocol that established the data format and connector types. The MIDI In jack accepts data from a computer or other controlling device to play the keyboard’s own built-in sounds, and the MIDI Out sends data as recording engineer press keys or move the mod wheel, and so forth. A single MIDI wire can send performance and other data to more than one synthesizer, or it can play several different voices at once within a single synth. The original hardware MIDI standard uses a serial protocol, similar to the serial ports on older personal computers used to connect modems and early printers. In addition to standards for voice names and numbers and drum sounds, MIDI also defines a standard set of continuous controller numbers.
