ABSTRACT
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) is a digital communications language and compatible specification that allows multiple hardware and software electronic instruments, performance controllers, computers and other related devices to communicate with each other over a connected network. One of the best ways to gain insight into how the MIDI specification works is to compare MIDI to a spoken language. MIDI communicates information that instructs a digital instrument or device to play or carry out a function. It can be thought of as the dots on an old player-piano roll. In everyday use, MIDI can be thought of as a compositional tool for capturing, editing and controlling production-related media. The strong acceptance of MIDI was largely due to the need for a standardized protocol, as well as the fast-paced advances in technology that allowed complex circuit chips and hardware designs to be manufactured cost-effectively.
