
About MIDI
MIDI, the abbreviation for “Musical Instrument Digital Interface”, is a world standard interface that allows MIDI compatible instruments and other equipment to communicate with each other, in order to exchange data and control one another. MIDI is now a very common feature and a great deal of literature is available explaining all the standards implemented by MIDI. You are recommended to consult other special- ized literature if you wish to know more about the standards imple- mented and how to apply them. This section limits itself to give some examples regarding the simplest forms of MIDI applications for your pRP7.
The MIDI ports
The pRP7 is fitted with two MIDI ports: MIDI IN and MIDI OUT.
The MIDI IN port receives MIDI data from an external MIDI device which can be used to control the pRP7.
The MIDI OUT port transmits MIDI data generated by the pRP7 (for example, note or velocity data generated by playing the keyboard).
MIDI channels
The “MIDI channels” used in the MIDI communication system is similar to television broadcasting. Each channel can receive a different stream of data with respect to the others. Exactly as occurs in television broadcasts, in order to exchange data, the receiving and transmitting devices must be tuned correctly. In other words, the MIDI controlling device and the MIDI receiving device must both be set to the same MIDI channel, selected from 16 possible channels.
Multiple channel instruments, called
Midi Common
If you set pRP7 to receive MIDI messages on the Common channel, all program change messages received by pRP7 are interpreted as Preset Change messages, allowing you to play the 48 Presets from the external keyboard which emulates the pRP7 internal keyboard. Simply set the external controlling device to transmit MIDI messages on the same channel as the pRP7 Common channel (16).
The pRP7 MIDI Sounds and Banks
Via MIDI, your pRP7 offers some interesting features which cannot be achieved using the instrument on its own. On its own, the maximum number of Presets you can select on pRP7 are those listed on page 6, a total of 48, some of which recall single sounds, some two layered sounds across the keyboard and others two or three sounds on a split keyboard.
When you use pRP7 as a slave device, a MIDI controller keyboard can play the pRP7 internal Midi sounds which are organized in four banks,
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