Optimus Unleashing the Power of MIDI on the MD 1600 Keyboard

42-4043.fm Page 46 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 6:51 AM

NOTES ABOUT THE MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART

The “MIDI Implementation Chart” on Page 58 illustrates the details of the MD- 1600’s MIDI function. An O in the chart means that the MD-1600 has this fea- ture; X means it does not have this fea- ture. This section explains what the MD- 1600 can do.

Basic Channel — MIDI uses up to 16 channels to exchange data. As in a TV broadcast, different channels send dif- ferent data.

Mode — The chart shows that Mode 3 is OMNI OFF, POLY. This means the MD- 1600 sends and receives polyphonic data on only one channel at a time.

Note Number — This number repre- sents each key of the keyboard. The lowest number (0) is five octaves below middle C. Since the MD-1600’s lowest note is two octaves below middle C and the highest is three octaves above mid- dle C, your keyboard can send a note number between 36 and 96. But, it can receive all 0 through 127 note numbers, so those keys outside the MD-1600’s key range are interpreted as notes in- side the key range.

Velocity — This number shows how fast the key was pressed, or how loud the note should sound. 1 is the lowest velocity, pianissimo; 127 is the loudest, fortissimo. 0 means the key is released.

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9n — This means that the Note On mes- sage is 9 hexadecimal, and n is the channel number.

For example, if you select Channel 16 and press Key D in mezzo-piano, 9E (E is 15 in hexadecimal; note that Channel 1 is 0 in MIDI data) is first sent from MIDI OUT, then 3D (decimal 61) is sent as the key number, finally 21 (decimal 33) is sent as velocity.

Pitch Bender — The MD-1600 sends and receives pitch bending signals.

Control Change — This feature sends data on various controllers, each having its own number. For the details of each parameter, see “MIDI Data” on Page 42.

Program Change — This feature changes the preset sounds. Each sound number corresponds to a program num- ber between 0 and 127.

System Exclusive — This feature sends special signals unique to the MD- 1600. For details, see “MIDI Data” on Page 42.

System Real Time — “Clock” is like a metronome to send the synchronizing signal.

System real time commands send three kinds of signals — start tells the key- board to start playing from the begin- ning, stop tells all the synchronized instruments to stop playing, and contin- ue is similar to start, but it signals the music to begin at whatever point it was last stopped.