MIDI Connections

 

   There are many different types of MIDI connections. The MIDI Out sends digital messages from one MIDI device and into the MIDI In of another MIDI device.
 

The MIDI Thru connector receives a copy of any digital message coming into the MIDI In connection and sends a duplicate of this information out of the MIDI Thru port into the MIDI In of a third MIDI device. This allows the user to have more than two MIDI devices connected as a studio. The MIDI Out port from the second or third device in the diagram below would not work because it is sending MIDI information from that particular synthesizer. The MIDI Thru port is receiving the MIDI In information and passing it on to the next device.



When MIDI devices are linked together by a series of MIDI In and MIDI Thru connections, it is referred to as a Daisy-Chain Network.
Copies of MIDI In information may be sent to numerous devices by using MIDI Thru Boxes, known as Star Networks.

 A MIDI interface may only have two connections, a MIDI In and a MIDI Out. This gives the user the ability to send information to a computer, while the computer sends MIDI information out from a software program. Some music software programs will have a MIDI Echo device that allows a copy of the information to be merged with the information that is leaving the computer from the MIDI Out ports. This enables the sequencing software to simultaneously record the information that it is receiving at the MIDI In port, while sending a copy of that information out of the MIDI Out port along with previously recorded tracks of MIDI events.

 Example of a MIDI Echo / MIDI Merger

 
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Now it is time to try connecting a few different MIDI studios. After each example there is a answer page to see the complete connections.

Studio A

 Both keyboards have MIDI connections. Synthesizer A is the Master keyboard and Synthesizer B is the MIDI slave device. Which connections would you use so that synthesizer A is sending MIDI information to synthesizer B.

 To see the Answer

Studio B

 All three keyboards have MIDI connections. Synthesizer A is the Master keyboard and Synthesizer B & C are the MIDI slave devices. Which connections would you use so that synthesizer A is sending MIDI information to synthesizer B and synthesizer C.

 To see the Answer

Studio C

 In this example we have added a computer and MIDI interface. The first order of business is to connect the master keyboard to the computer so they can communicate with each other.
 
Next connect the three tone generators (synthesizers without keyboards) The MIDI Out on the MIDI interface may also act as a MIDI Thru that relays a copy of the MIDI In information. This will allow the keyboard to communicate with the computer and the three tone generators. Use the concept of the daisy-chain network set-up from the MIDI Thru port of the keyboard.

To see the Answer


Studio D

 A multi-port Star Interface receives MIDI data at the MIDI In ports and then copies the information and sends it out to two or more Thru ports. Each MIDI In port may be assigned to specific MIDI Thru ports. Again, try connecting the keyboard controller so that it sends information to the MIDI interface.
 
 Then connect the MIDI interface to the Keyboard. Finally, connect the three remaining Tone Generators using a star set-up. Do not use a daisy-chain set-up for these connections.

 To see the Answer
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MIDI Interfaces
 The pictures below are MIDI interfaces for the Macintosh computer. Interfaces may be purchased in many different styles and varying degrees of complexity.  
 
   

pictures from Opcode and Apple Computer


   The pictures below are MIDI interfaces for Windows based computers. Possible interfaces may be an external device or inserted into the computer as an add-on card.  
   
 

pictures from Music Quest Inc. and Dell Computer Corporation
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Exploring MIDI Home
What is MIDI?
MIDI Connections Java Enabled
MIDI Connections Non-Java
Understanding Decimal Binary & Hexadecimal
The MIDI Language
Types of Data Transmitted through MIDI
MIDI Channels and Modes
MIDI Controllers
General MIDI
Standard MIDI Files
Using MIDI on a Web Site
Applications that use MIDI
Audio vs. MIDI Files
MIDI Timing Concepts
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