Alesis D4 manual Midi Basics, Midi Hardware

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CHAPTER 6: MIDI SUPPLEMENT

(This chapter is an abridged version of material from Power Sequencing with Master Tracks Pro/Pro 4 and The Complete Guide to the Alesis HR-16 and MMT-8,copyright 1990 and 1989 respectively by AMSCO Publications, and is adapted with permission.)

6.0 MIDI BASICS

Most current electronic instruments and signal processors, including the D4, contain an internal computer. Computers and music have been working together for decades, which is not surprising considering music’s mathematical basis (consider frequencies, harmonics, vibrato rates, tunings, etc.). In the mid-70s, microcomputers became inexpensive enough to be built into consumer-priced musical instruments. They were used for everything from sound generation to storing parameters in memory for later recall.

In 1983, the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) specification was introduced to better exploit the computers inside these new musical instruments, primarily to insure compatibility with equipment from other manufacturers. MIDI expresses musical events (notes played, vibrato, dynamics, tempo, etc.) as a common “language” consisting of standardized digital data. This data can be understood by MIDI-compatible computers and computer-based musical instruments.

Before electronics, music was expressed exclusively as written symbols. By translating musical parameters into digital data, MIDI can express not only the types of musical events written into sheet music, but other parameters as well (such as amount of pitch bend or degree of vibrato).

6.1 MIDI HARDWARE

MIDI-compatible devices usually include both MIDI In and MIDI Out jacks, which terminate in 5-pin DIN-style connectors. The MIDI Out jack transmits MIDI data to another MIDI device. As you play a MIDI controller such as a keyboard, data corresponding to what you play exits the MIDI Out jack. Example: If you play middle C, the MIDI Out transmits a piece of data that says “middle C is down.” If you release that key, the MIDI Out transmits another piece of data that says “middle C has been released.”

If the keyboard responds to the dynamics of your playing, the note data will include dynamics information too. Moving the modulation wheels and pedals attached to many synthesizers will also generate data associated with the wheel or pedal being used.

The MIDI In jack receives data from another MIDI device. In addition to the type of performance data described above, rhythmically-oriented MIDI devices (e.g., drum

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Contents Alesis Drum SET Management Midi Functions Principal Features IntroductionReturn Your Warranty Card NOW HOOKUP/INSTANT Gratification2C Hook Up Midi rear panel 2A Installation2B Hook Up Audio rear panel 2D Hook Up External Triggers rear panel2F Turn On Power 2E Hook Up Power rear panel2G Select Drum Sets 2H Audition Different Drum Sounds Page 2I Assign Drum Sounds to Particular Midi Notes 3A The Voice3B About the Edit Buffer 3C About Defaults3D Midi Note Range About the User Interface 4C Multi-Page Functions 4A Function Buttons4B Cursor Buttons 4D Editing Parameter Values4E The Store and Note Chase buttons 4F The Preview ButtonSelecting Drum Sets STORING/NAMING AN Edited Drum SETRecalling Factory Drum Sets Recall AlesisPage Function Buttons VoiceTune OutputDrum SET Output MainEXT Trig Mode MultiGroup Button Copying a Notes Parameters to Another Note Midi ButtonDrumset Root Midi Functions Drum SET Root NoteTurn the Data wheel to select the desired Drum Set root note Midi THRU/OUT Selection Program Change EnableMidi Channel Selection Channel Omni Thru OFFController Enable Prog Change on Controllers onMake sure the cursor is under the Controllers status Save Data VIA Midi Program Change TableProgram Table 6A Save to DataDisk Receive Data from Another Midi Device 7A Load from DataDiskExternal Triggering About Trigger Parameters This is how it worksPage Example Trigger Selection TRIG01 VCURVE4Trigger Velocity Selection Trigger Note SelectionTRIG02 VCURVE4 Method One Page TRIG02 XTALK30 DCAY10 NOISE00 Trigger Parameter SelectionTrigger Crosstalk Selection TRIG03 XTALK30 DCAY10 NOISE00Page Trigger Dcay Control Selection Trigger Noise Level SelectionTrigger Gain Selection TRIG01 GAIN50Footswitch Mode Footswitch Mode HI HAT Pedal8A Understanding Hi Hat Pedal Mode Page Midi Basics Midi HardwareChannel Messages Midi Message Basics3A Voice Messages Page 3B Mode Messages System Common MessagesBooks on Midi Videos on Midi
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