Owner`s manual

Taking Advantage of MIDI
What Is MIDI?
The MC-505 records and plays back MIDI musical
data, and when MIDI musical data is received its
sound generator will produce sound.
What is MIDI?
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a stan-
dard specification that allows musical data to be
exchanged between electronic musical instruments
and computers. Devices that have a MIDI connector
can be connected using a MIDI cable, allowing them to
transmit and receive data. Today, MIDI is found on
virtually all electronic musical instruments. Without
MIDI, it would not be possible to use an external key-
board to play the MC-505, or to use the MC-505 to
record and play back a performance played on an
external keyboard. Although you can use the MC-505
without knowing much at all about MIDI, you might
also want to take full advantage of the possibilities
offered by electronic musical instruments. This chap-
ter will provide a simple explanation of the MC-505Õs
MIDI-related functionality.
MIDI connectors
The MC-505 has two MIDI connectors, which function
as follows.
MIDI OUT connector
This connector transmits MIDI messages to external
MIDI devices.
MIDI IN connector
This connector receives MIDI messages that are trans-
mitted from external MIDI devices. The MC-505 can
receive these messages to play notes or select sounds,
etc.
MIDI channels
MIDI is able to transmit large amounts of independent
musical data over a single MIDI cable. This is made
possible by the concept of ÒMIDI channels.Ó MIDI
channels allow messages intended for a given instru-
ment to be distinguished from messages intended for
another instrument. There are sixteen MIDI channels
(1Ð16), and normally the transmitting device must be
set to the same MIDI channel as the receiving device in
order for messages to be received.
With the factory settings, the MC-505Õs Remote
Keyboard setting is ON. In this condition, an external
MIDI keyboard will be able to play the patch of the
current part, regardless of its transmit channel setting.
☞ ÒUsing an External MIDI Keyboard in Place
of the Keyboard Pads (Remote Keyboard
Switch)Ó (p. 168)
Chapter 16. Advanced Applications
171
16