MIDI Part 5 - Channel Messages

In this episode we talk about the channel messages that are used for sending notes, control changes, and so on. These are the most common types of messages in MIDI.

[petethevolcano]

Best video out there I’ve seen on this topic. Thanks for spending the time to make this video dude.

[milesfieldman]

Hey Andrew, just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to make these videos. This helps me a lot.

[DonVanWyck]

Excellent Video - Strong, complete, and very clear explanation of this part of the protocol.

[TheOleHermit]

Hi Andrew!
Just circling back to learn about how to implement MIDI programs and banks into my laser synth, now that I have fully functional image generators running a preset array and controllable via custom mapping to an OTC APC40 MIDI desk. Both connect to Cakewalk via PocketMIDI. Using PureData for a touchscreen GUI and visual feedback for frequencies, gains, etc.
Thanks again for your great MIDI series. 👍😎

[Pupin]

If I understood correctly, Poly pressure is relevant for those keyboards, controllers that have a triple sensor, electric pianos, etc.
It is connected to the After touch control, for each key separately!
Andrew, correct me if I'm wrong!

[JVsMusicalSoundscapes]

Thanks for these tutorials. Is it possible to get pdf versions of the custom MIDI-spec pages that you've created in this episode and possibly others?

[smartwerker]

Your list saved me from making a list. Thanks.

[herrdertoene]

Hey there, I built an iOS-game that takes MIDI note on and note off messages as its input. Recently users of Yamaha 775 and 785 reported that my app is not working correctly. After building a tool that reads out MIDI information on their pianos I noticed they send poly pressure instead of note on messages... Additionally they send control changes on controllers 19 and 88. How would you interpret this data?
Help is much appreciated. Thanks!

[Pupin]

0x9n what values ​​does "x" take?
Is that the value of the note?
If the notes have a value of 0-127, then it is in HEX code 00-7FG?

My question is what does the "x" stand for?

[legosteveb]

Great series! Are you going to discuss NRPNs? I’m working on a controller with encoders and really like the NRPN increment and decrement messages. Unfortunately I can’t find much info on this. Seems like a great fit to send inc/dec for an encoder (a stateless controller) as opposed to an absolute value for a pot.

[elsf]

I know this is an old video, but as I get more into the nuts and bolts of midi specifications I have this one thought pop up. If Poly Pressure existed from the beginning, why isn't it ever really used and why is MPE needed? I love MPE and I think it's incredible that this is still being used and updated, but damn they intended that 40 years ago lol

[bzqp]

I have a problem. I am working on a very simple Arduino-based MIDI sending device. I wanted it to be microtonal so I've implemented it based only on the note on/off and pitch bend. The analog input 1st bends the pitch until it's high enough that a next note is triggered.

In order to have a continuous sound I've used a loop with the constant note on/off cycles in 5ms intervals. This clearly isn't the ideal solution... My DAW (Pro Tools) sometimes gets lost in the on/off flood and sometimetimes misses that a note has been turned off. It quickly changes into a cacophonic polyphony of all the possible notes playing together.

Is there a better solution for a continuous, monophonic signal that changes the notes and pitchbends more or less in a smooth manner? Im at the very begginning level so I'd appreciate something simple.

[rafaeldominguez]

Hello, dear friend, thanks for your information. Now I have a problem so I would like to know if you are willing to help me. I am working with Sibelius software. I use a "Midisport uno" interface. The problem happens when I try to assign midi channels to a different sounds of a Roland GR-20. When I open Sibelius configuration mode and then I assign the numbers of bank and program change number to channel number 1, everything is ok, but when I try to assign the next sound to channel 2, it doesn´t sound any sound when I activate the test function, however, the interface lights, indicating that the message has passed through the interface and get the GR-20, but no sound. The only sound I can get from the GR-20 is the one of channel1. Sorry for my English, my native language is Spanish.

[stephen]

Hi Andrew thanks tons for your videos ! can you tell me what using an inputhandler call back does that is different from the standard way midi apps handle inbound messages? - can you pretend I'm dumb as shit and explain accordingly because I don't get it at all? Thanks!

[bigblackbadger]

Explain how a computer is able to play multiple instruments at the same time on an external synth if you need a program change to play another instrument

[kenknight]

As an example of pitch bend, could you give me the channel message of something like c4 uptuned by 25 centitones?

[PlusDeltaM]

Hi, is it possible you could help me? I have a Boss VF-1 rack unit and would like to control the parameters of the delay patch with my Roland A300-Pro. I'm looking at the MIDI implementation chart for the VF-1, but don't know which hex number represents the CC number I should assign to the MIDI controller in order to control the parameters of the delay time and such...

[winddealer]

Great series thank you. Any chance you could briefly illustrate (byte string) composed of a Program Change using Bank Select MSB and Bank Select LSB then PC? What would the midi byte stream look like? 3bytes + 3bytes + 2 bytes? Once the MSB/LSB are set, then PC 0-127 can inc/dec though selected bank until new Bank Select (LSB or MSB) is sent? Thank you.

[alexisriveros]

Hello greetings from Chile ... I like your explocatives .per I still can't understand why when I touch the controller keyboard at some point any note is playing indefinitely. As frozen. And the only solution for me so far is reset. Could you guide me?

[Skinny-me]

great video! Thanks for your time and hard work putting these videos together for us! :)