3.0 A Quick MIDI Lesson
The Xylosynth is a MIDI controller so it might be useful to include a short section on the
basics. MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface and is a digital computer code
that all manufacturers in the music industry use. It means that the Xylosynth and any
other MIDI device can communicate. It has become a world wide standard so you will be
able to find MIDI equipment that is compatible with the Xylosynth everywhere (either
through '5 Pin Din Midi' or 'USB to MIDI'). There are many volumes dedicated to the
subject and to be honest all you really need to understand to use your Xylosynth are the
following five parameters:
3.1 MIDI Program Number (0-127 or 1-128)
The Program Number is the
code number
for the
sound
that comes from your sound
source. It instructs the sound module to switch to a particular sound. There are 128
standard General Midi (GM) sounds, numbered 0-127 or 1-128 depending on the source.
Normally the sound source will have a name for each sound displayed on its screen. The
Xylosynth is set at 1-128 so Vibraphone is number 12. If your sound source is numbered
0-127 then you can change the numbering of the Xylosynth to 0-127 (Global Settings, C.
MIDI Format), the Vibraphone would become 11.
3.2 MIDI Bank Number (0-15 or 1-16)
Some sound sources have several banks of sounds with 128 different sounds in each. Our
internal sounds have just one bank of 128 sounds. We have customized our sounds into
'patch settings' and numbered the patches to correspond to the programme numbers.
3.3 MIDI Note Number
There are 128 Note Numbers in MIDI and these define the
pitch
of the sound. It's like
having a keyboard with 128 keys. An easy reference point to remember is Middle C (C4)
which is MIDI Note Number 60. Tuned A (440-442Hz) is MIDI Note Number 69.
3.4 MIDI Velocity Number
There are 128 levels of velocity in MIDI. The Velocity Number defines the amount of
expression that can be applied to a MIDI sound. For example if you play a Vibe bar really
hard the sound is very loud compared to if you give it a gentle stroke. Basically the same
thing applies in MIDI and is defined within 128 levels from 0 to 127. A level of 0 is
equivalent to a note off message. The Xylosynth actually has around 14000 levels which
are divided down to 128 before the Midi message is sent.
3.5 MIDI Channel Number (0-15 or 1-16)
There are 16 Channels in MIDI and these are the codes used to allow different MIDI
devices to talk to each other or to play different tracks within software programs. This is
mainly relevant to software based systems. The Xylosynth sends out messages on
Channel 1 as a factory setting. The GM sounds are the same for all MIDI Channels except
Channel 10 which is dedicated to "percussion" sounds.
4.0 Patches
With the new Mk7 Xylosynth we can create 'Patches' by choosing a programme, for
example 12 Vibes, then altering the 'parameters' to suit ourselves and saving to use next
time. Parameters such as setting the first note (MIDI note number) for the pitch we want to
start on and setting the note length (although this can be overridden with the note length
knob) amongst other things. Basically, 'a patch is a configured sound that can be recalled
for playback'. All 128 GM sounds have been configured into usable 'Patches' and it is the
Patch number that changes with the patch buttons/pedals.
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