Connecting an external midi device, About midi, About midi connectors – Roland JUNO-Di User Manual

Page 80: Midi channels and multitimbral sound generators, Transmit midi messages (p. 80)

Advertising
background image

80

Connecting an External MIDI Device

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard specification that

allows musical data to be transferred between electronic musical

instruments and computers. If a MIDI cable is connected between devices

equipped with MIDI connectors, you’ll be able to play multiple devices

from a single MIDI keyboard, perform ensembles using multiple MIDI

instruments, program the settings to change automatically as the song

progresses, and more.

The JUNO-Di is equipped with the following two types of MIDI

connectors, each of which has the following role.

fig.midiconnector

MIDI IN Connector

This connector receives MIDI messages that are sent from an external

MIDI device. When the JUNO-Di receives MIDI messages, it can respond

by playing notes, switching sounds, etc.

MIDI OUT Connector

This connector transmits MIDI messages to an external MIDI device. Use it

when you want to control an external MIDI device.

MIDI is able to transmit multiple streams of performance data over a

single MIDI cable. This is made possible thanks to the concept of MIDI

channels. MIDI channels allow a receiving device to pay attention only to

the messages that are intended for it, and not to messages intended for

another device. In some ways, MIDI channels are similar to television

channels. By changing the reception channel of a television set, you can

view the programs that are being broadcast by different stations. This is

because the television set is choosing only the desired data from the

variety of data that is being broadcast. In the same way, MIDI also allows

a device to distinguish and use only the incoming data that is being

transmitted to it.

fig.MidiCh1-j.eps

There are sixteen MIDI channels: 1-16. Normally, you’ll set the receiving

device to receive only the channels that it needs to receive.

Example:

Set the transmitting device to transmit on channel 1 and channel 2, set

sound module A to receive only channel 1, and set sound module B to

receive only channel 2. With this setup, you could create an ensemble in

which sound module A is playing a guitar sound while sound module B is

playing a bass sound.

fig.MidiCh2-j.eps

You’ll be able to use up to sixteen channels when using the JUNO-Di as a

sound module. Sound modules that can receive multiple channels of

data simultaneously and play different sounds on each channel are called

multitimbral sound modules.

About MIDI

About MIDI Connectors

MIDI Channels and Multitimbral
Sound Generators

The cable from the antenna carries the TV
signals from many broadcast stations.

The TV is set to the channel of the station
you wish to watch.

Station B

Station A

Station C

MIDI OUT

MIDI IN

MIDI THRU

MIDI IN

Receive channel: 1

Receive channel: 2

Sound

Module

A

Sound

Module

B

Transmit channel: 1, 2

MIDI keyboard

GM

GM (General MIDI) is a set of recommendations that allows the MIDI

capabilities of sound modules to be standardized across

manufacturers. Sound modules or music data that meet the GM

standard carry the GM logo (

). Music data with the GM logo

can be played back on any sound module carrying the GM logo, and

will produce essentially the same musical performance.

GM2

GM2 (

) is a set of recommendations that is upwardly

compatible with the original GM recommendations, and allows a

higher level of musical expression and compatibility. It covers issues

that were not covered by the original GM recommendations, such

as ways in which sounds can be edited and how effects should be

handled. It also expands the sounds that are available.

Sound modules that are compatible with GM2 will correctly play

back music data that carries either the GM or GM2 logo. The original

GM, which does not include the GM2 enhancements, is sometimes

called “GM1” in order to distinguish it from the newer set of

recommendations.

JUNO-Di_e.book 80 ページ 2009年6月22日 月曜日 午前9時23分

Advertising