Networking & Protocols
MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is a communications protocol that allows electronic musical instruments, computers, and other devices to exchange performance and control data. It enables instruments and software to work together in sync without transmitting audio signals.
MIDI was introduced in 1983 as a universal standard developed collaboratively by major instrument manufacturers. Its purpose was to let synthesisers, drum machines, sequencers, and computers communicate using a shared digital language. Instead of transmitting sound, MIDI sends numerical messages that describe musical events such as note on, note off, pitch, velocity, modulation, and program changes.
The original MIDI specification operates at 31.25 kbaud and uses 5-pin DIN connectors to transmit serial data, although USB, Bluetooth, and network-based implementations are now common. A single MIDI cable can carry 16 independent channels, allowing one controller to play or automate multiple instruments at once. Messages can include real-time clock information, continuous controller data for parameters like volume and filter cutoff, and system-exclusive (SysEx) data for manufacturer-specific functions.
MIDI’s compact, event-based design made it central to the evolution of electronic music and digital production. It enabled sequencers and DAWs to record and edit musical performances with extreme precision while keeping file sizes small. Even after forty years, the protocol remains backward-compatible and universally supported.
In 2020, the MIDI 2.0 specification expanded the standard with higher resolution control, bi-directional communication, and automatic device configuration, offering finer expression and improved workflow. MIDI continues to serve as the backbone of music production, instrument automation, and synchronisation across studio and stage environments.
