User manual YAMAHA PSS150E

[. . . ] Let's consider what happens when a pianist performs. The pianist presses a key on a piano or presses a pedal. [. . . ] These actions are instances of "performance information" and reflect how the pianist played the instrument. MIDI is used to capture and express this information electronically. When you strongly play middle C on a MIDI keyboard, MIDI indicates the key number as 60, and the strength of playing as 120, for example. In this way, MIDI precisely describes your performance information in digital form. This performance information--MIDI data--can be transmitted between MIDI-compatible musical instruments, or saved as a file for later playback. No matter what instrument or computer you use, the MIDI data will reproduce the original performance exactly the same. For example, when you play a song on your keyboard, the song contains many parts--right-hand part, lefthand part, rhythm part, bass part, etc. On most instruments, different MIDI channels are assigned automatically to each part. When this MIDI song is transmitted to another instrument via a MIDI cable, each part is transmitted simultaneously, yet over separate channels. Part (track) of your instrument Right-hand part Left-hand part : Rhythm 1 part Rhythm 2 part Bass part : : MIDI Transmit Channel Ch. 16 MIDI instrument MIDI transmit MIDI Receive Channel Ch. 16 MIDI sequencer Track of instrument receiving MIDI data Track 1 Track 2 : Track 9 Track 10 Track 11 : Track 16 MIDI cable MIDI OUT MIDI IN 3 4. MIDI Messages MIDI data (messages) can be divided into two groups: Channel messages and System messages. The following explanation shows an example of MIDI messages. [. . . ] The following explanation shows an example of MIDI messages. For more details about MIDI messages--for example, when you want to edit the recorded MIDI data--please refer to any of the fine MIDI guidebooks that are commercially available. Channel Messages When you perform on a MIDI instrument, the following messages are generated. Channel Message Examples Instrument Operation Playing the keyboard Messages Note On/Off (When the key was played/released) Note Number (Which key was played) Velocity (How strong the key was played) Program Change Control Change Pitch Bend After Touch Selecting a Voice Changing the volume, pressing Sustain Pedal, etc. [. . . ]