Free MIDI Software & Custom MIDI Hardware
for Music Professionals

Note On / Note Off

The most fundamental MIDI messages. When you press a key, a Note On message fires containing three values:

• Note number 0–127 — which pitch (middle C = 60)
• Velocity 0–127 — how hard the key was struck
• Channel 1–16 — which device receives it

A velocity of 0 is treated as Note Off. Duration is the time between Note On and Note Off.

Control Change (CC)

Sliders, knobs, foot pedals, and wheels send CC messages to adjust performance parameters in real time. Values always range 0–127.

• CC 1 — Modulation wheel
• CC 7 — Channel volume
• CC 10 — Pan (left/right)
• CC 11 — Expression
• CC 64 — Sustain pedal
• CC 121 — Reset all controllers

Program Change (PC)

Instructs a device to switch to a different sound patch or preset instantly. Essential for live performance — send a single PC message to recall an entire instrument configuration.

• Range: 0–127 (128 patches per bank)
• Combined with Bank Select (CC 0 / CC 32) for access to thousands of patches
• Roland Integra-7 uses PC + bank to select from 6,000+ SuperNATURAL tones

Pitch Bend

A dedicated message for smooth pitch variation — the wheel or lever on most keyboards. Uses 14-bit resolution (0–16383) for silky-smooth bends, far finer than a standard CC.

• Center value (no bend) = 8192
• Spring-loaded: snaps back to center when released
• Bend range is configurable per device (typically ±2 semitones)

Aftertouch

Pressure applied to a key after it is fully depressed. Not all keyboards support it, but it adds powerful expressive control.

• Channel aftertouch — one pressure value for all held keys (most common)
• Polyphonic aftertouch — individual pressure per key (rare, expensive)
• Commonly mapped to vibrato, filter cutoff, or volume swell

System Exclusive (SysEx)

A free-form message type that each manufacturer defines for their own devices. Unlike standard MIDI, SysEx can be any length and carry any data.

• Patch backup and restore (dump your synth settings to PC)
• Deep parameter editing not possible via CC
• Firmware updates on some devices
• Roland Integra-7 relies heavily on SysEx for tone control

MIDI Clock & Sync

24 timing pulses are sent per quarter note, allowing all connected devices to stay in perfect tempo sync. Essential when using drum machines, arpeggiators, or sequencers together.

• Start / Stop / Continue — transport control commands
• Song Position Pointer — jump to a specific beat in a sequence
• One master device sends clock; all others follow

MIDI Connections

Physical MIDI uses 5-pin DIN connectors on three ports:

• MIDI OUT — transmits data from this device
• MIDI IN — receives data from another device
• MIDI THRU — passes IN data straight through unchanged (for daisy-chaining)
• USB-MIDI is now standard on most modern gear
• A MIDI interface connects DIN devices to a computer's USB port

Hub vs. Router

How you connect multiple MIDI devices matters enormously for performance and simplicity.

• Hub / Thru box — broadcasts every incoming message to all connected devices; simple but noisy and hard to configure per-device
• Router (MidiXLate) — inspects each packet and sends it only to its intended destination; reduces network traffic, eliminates conflicts, simplifies per-device setup
• For 1–3 devices, a hub is fine. For complex rigs, a router is essential.