What is the meaning of the term, MIDI ?

MIDI:

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) was originally developed to allow sequencers to control synthesizers. MIDI is a serial data language, composed of midi messages, sometimes called "events".

The MIDI protocol is made up of messages. A message consists of a string (ie, a series) of 8-bit bytes. MIDI has many such defined messages.

MIDI data consists of messages like:

  • Start playing note number (nnn) - Note ON
  • Stop playing note number (nnn) - Note OFF
  • Change to instrument #27 (Patch change)
  • Change controller (x) to value(z) - Controller change
  • . . . volume, reverb, pitch bend and so on.
A MIDI sound card or synthesizer sound module is able to interpret MIDI data received from a MIDI file, and uses that data to sound the correct instruments at a specific time and at the specified volume levels and various effects for each instrument. When recording midi files from a keyboard or other midi enabled instrument, the notes being played, the pressure applied, how long the note is held and which instrument is to be utilized, etc. is all interpreted into MIDI data.

Other references: the General Midi Standard.
 
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