M-Audio 61 manual Midi Messages In-Depth, Program & Bank Changes

Bank MSB 127

Bank LSB 1

Bank LSB 2

Bank LSB 127

Bank MSB 2

Bank LSB 1

Bank LSB 2

Bank LSB 127

Bank LSB 0

Bank MSB 1

Bank LSB 1

Bank LSB 2

Bank LSB 127

Bank LSB 0

Bank MSB 0

Bank LSB 0

ProKeys Sono 61 User Guide 38

MIDI Messages In-Depth

Program & Bank Changes

When the MIDI standard was first established, it enabled the user to access only 128 different sounds using program change messages (0-127).. As MIDI devices grew to be more sophisticated and contain more sounds, bank change messages were included in an updated MIDI specification to allow for more than 128 sounds to be accessed..

The language MIDI uses to communicate between musical instruments only allows for program change commands 0-127, for a total of 128 possible programs (127 programs + program “0” = 128 programs total).. Because of inherent limitations of the

MIDI communication protocol, the number of directly accessible programs (using program change messages) cannot easily be
expanded beyond 128.. Thus, a system of banks,
with 128 sounds in each, has been created
that enables manufacturers to overcome the	Bank MSB	Bank LSB	Program
128-sound MIDI limit..

128 banks with 128 sounds in each bank is the basic principle used to expand the number of accessible sounds.. However, to avoid reaching the new limit of the resulting 16,384 possible sounds (128 banks x 128 programs) accessible using a bank change combined with a program change, another layer of banks was added.. The result is a system of 128 banks that can contain 128 sub-banks in each of them, which, in turn, can contain 128 sounds (programs) within them..

Bank change messages are useful when calling up sounds from a large library that may exist in a particular sound module or software synthesizer.. For example, devices that are built according to Roland’s GS specification or Yamaha’s XG specification require you to specify a bank change in order to access the extra voices that these devices provide..

MIDI CC 0 is the bank select MSB (Most Significant Byte) message.. This MIDI message is 7-bit in size and can be used to select any of 128 banks.. This message can be used in conjunction with MIDI CC 32 which is bank select LSB (Least Significant Byte): a separate 7-bit message allowing additional selection of any of another 128 sub-banks.. The combination of Bank MSB and LSB messages gives a 14-bit message that can select any of a possible 16,384 banks.. Each bank can in turn contain 128 possible sounds selected via a separate program change MIDI message.. This enables a user to theoretically recall over two million programs directly, using only MIDI commands.. However, most devices only use a few different banks, and you can often ignore the LSB message..

Program 0

Program 1

Program 2

Program 127

Program 0

Program 1

Program 2

Program 127

Program 0

Program 1

Program 2

Program 127

Program 0

Program 1

Program 2

Program 127

Program 0

Program 1

Program 2

Program 127

Program 0

Program 1

Program 2

Program 127

Program 0

Program 1

Program 2

Program 127

Program 0

Program 1

Program 2

Program 127

Program 0

Program 1

Program 2

Program 127