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E. MIDI
GUIDE
1. MIDI for Organists
The term MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. MIDI has been
adopted by the music industry as a standard means of communication between digital
musical devices enabling devices of different types and manufacturers to communicate.
MIDI by itself will not make a sound. It is not necessary to understand all of the
technical aspects of MIDI in order to take advantage of the benefits it offers. It is
important to explore the potential MIDI holds for musicians, as well as the various MIDI
applications available today.
Types of MIDI Devices
MIDI devices fall into two categories.
1.
The first category consists of musical instruments such as organs and synthesizers
that transmit and receive MIDI data.
2.
The second category includes controllers and processors that, as their name implies,
can transmit, receive or manipulate MIDI data, but do not necessarily produce sound
themselves. Sequencers, which are MIDI recording devices, fall into this category.
Although the technical nature of their recording and editing processes differs from
those of a tape recorder, many operate in similar fashion. Most are equipped with
record, playback, fast forward and reverse controls that function in the same way as
their tape recorder counterparts.
Types of MIDI Data
There are several types of MIDI messages that can be sent from one device to another.
The most common is keying information, allowing one device to sense which keys have
been played on another device. This means an organ equipped with MIDI can send
information to other MIDI devices, e.g., synthesizers or sequencers, and can play those
devices simultaneously or record information to be played back later.
Allen Organs incorporate an advanced MIDI system allowing the transmission and
reception of all types of MIDI information (velocity keying, volume change, sustain,
registrations and much more). It is even possible to control several devices from one
manual simultaneously, or control a different device from each manual of the console.
MIDI as a Practice Tool
For the organist/choir director, the MIDI organ console and sequencer are valuable
rehearsal tools for both choral and organ works. Anthem accompaniments may be
recorded in advance and played back by the sequencer during choir rehearsal. The
director, freed from the role of accompanist, can focus entirely on directing the choir.
The sequencer can play the music back at a slower tempo without affecting pitch, or at a
lower pitch without affecting tempo, features that are useful in rehearsing difficult choral
passages.
