On MIDI’s 30th anniversary, a new standard is finally discussed
The MIDI Manufacturers Association isn’t just resting on their laurels with an uncomfortably-phallic 30th Anniversary logo. They’ve announced a proposal for a new MIDI HD protocol, running over wired and wireless ethernet.
The closed-door event on January 27th will demonstrate a new standard for wired and wireless ethernet, presumably CAT5. Proposals include greater resolution for controllers (really, more than 128 steps?), more channels, and real time control of a note besides note on and note off called a “note update.” When a “direct pitch” is specified, it replaces the normal 12-tone note number, enabling easier compatibility with alternate tuning tables. (All 10 of you must be thrilled.)
Of course, much of this is available today. We have alternate tuning tables, controllers can be sent using two CC numbers for more resolution, and apps like MIDI over LAN allow MIDI data to be transmit over ethernet between computers. But a new MIDI HD spec would standardize all of these approaches, and more importantly allow hardware to be created to control it.
The MMA have been discussing MIDI HD since at least 2008, but this is the first time they have shown a proof of concept. Anyone with the hot ticket to this demonstration, please add your thoughts to the comments.
Learn more at the MIDI Manufacturers Association announcement page.
Comments
This should be very interesting. And let’s hope that audio joins the conversation, because there’s not any reason to separate MIDI from it anymore.
With Gigabit wi-fi coming this year, this has the promise of working wirelessly – and I only say “promise” because it remains to be seen whether the latency that makes wireless audio unusable for real-time musical applications will still be an issue.
For those who aren’t familiar with it, Vienna Symphonic Library’s magnificent Vienna Ensemble Pro has had audio and MIDI – the existing 1.0 spec – over wired gigabit ethernet figured out for a few years. Their software is specialized, but it proves that the concept works beautifully.
[http://www.vsl.co.at/en/211/497/1685/1990/1680.htm]
I suspect that a lot of musicians would find the idea of not having to hook up wires quite appealing!
Audio over Ethernet seems like a no-brainer. There have been several closed formats for this like Sony, Cobranet, Aviom, etc., but nothing open for everyone to implement.