The MIDI Protocol: MIDI Messages | Simon Hutchinson

An overview of MIDI messages and how to construct this musical performance information from status bytes and data bytes.

0:00 Status Bytes and Data Bytes
0:40 MIDI Channels
2:44 List of MIDI Messages
3:38 Note On and Note Off
5:15 Control Change Messages
5:56 Program Change Messages
6:59 Polyphonic and Channel Aftertouch
9:01 Pitch Bend Change
10:12 Other Technologies

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I’m a composer, sound-designer, and new media artist trying to bring a global perspective to music technology. This channel contains performances, experiments, and instructional videos for artists and audiences searching for new ideas and avenues of musical expression.

[ngonidzashemwanjira]

This channel is a gem for mathematically inclined and detail oriented folks like me

[Phreshie]

THE clearest explanation of MIDI protocol I've found yet!!! Thank you!!!!🙌🏾

[ewwitsantonio]

Beautiful video :) Moments like this make me appreciate Youtube SO much. Thanks for creating it and sharing. I've used MIDI for years, been programming for years, but never really understood MIDI and always wanted a quick video at an appropriate level to dive into the protocol. This is it!

[RayyMusik]

I used to be an IT guy and have been using MIDI for nearly 40 years, but watching your video is the first time I really understand what is going there. Dave Smith and Kakehashi Ikutaro were geniuses!

[amancu]

Clear and straightforward, no additional b...hits, exactly what I needed and was looking for. Thank you!

[synapticmemoryseepage]

Awesome breakdown of digital elements of MIDI.

[engageguignol]

Just preparing my exam right here, my course was unclear and I needed to look for a visual explanation, you helped me a lot! Thank you so much!

[techtinkerin]

The design of midi was very forward thinking, it's 40 years old and still as useful today as ever! Thanks, great video 👍😎❤️

[earowemusic]

Thank you for such a clear and easily-followed breakdown!

This perfectly clarifies some of the lingering confusion I've been puzzling over since the '80s... ;)

[dtatge]

This should have way more views! Leaned a lot from this, thanks!

[orfu]

What a tremendous video, I’ve been a guitar player for many years, and recently started playing 80s and 90s synths. While I learned practically how to daisy chain them, I always wanted to know how each instrument “knew” which channel was which. Thanks so much!

[OfFormerFame]

This video repeatedly mentions "127" voices, or cc messages, etc. There are actually 128. 2^7. The 127 comes from the numbering system being 0-based, so the first is 0, second is 1... one-hundred twenty-eighth is 127.

[BearDimka]

This is really a wonderful video. I have not found any video about MIDI with such a clear explanation as yours. It's really helped to systemes the bits and pieces of knowledge about MIDI that I had!

[annava]

Super helpful video man. MIDI is such a fascinating and helpful tool.

[andrewrossy]

You should also add about the amazing Running Status feature of MIDI. Where - as long as the data bytes are still for same status message & channel (example key on ch 1), then each individual status bytes does not need to be repeated, just the key and velocity. Given that MIDI was only 31, 250bit/sec (3125 bytes per second). This greatly improved the available bandwidth.
Truely amazing what they managed to cram into the microprocessor tech of the day.

[bringerofdoom]

Great video. Learned all kinds of little nuggets. Ended up subscribing and started watching the Pure Data Tutorials. I've been experimenting heavily with generative plugins, so understanding the "why" seems to be the next logical step. Keep it up.

[marclanger]

Thanks for this! Very clear and helpful.

[TerenceKearns]

Best executive overview explanation for foundational midi on the Internet :)
Wanting to write an app to accept CC data from a generic midi controller using python

[Catzzye]

Nicee, this rocks! Was always wondering on how it works in the context I understand :D

[kcsisgabr]

Thank you! Could you make a video about System messages?