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From: rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) developments
Message-ID: <422@pyuxn.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 26-Jan-84 11:19:13 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxn.422
Posted: Thu Jan 26 11:19:13 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Jan-84 01:14:54 EST
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A followup to Dave Burris' article on MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital
Interface).  (Interesting note:  apparently this newsgroup's original
charter involved discussion of computer applications in music.  Dave's
article was one of the first in a very long time regarding this topic.)

An article in Musician magazine (#64, 2/84, p. 88) sheds some additional
light on new MIDI developments.

Roland has announced the MPU-401 interface, which finally provides a
means of controlling MIDI-compatible instruments through a computer
(currently using IBM-PC or Apple //e).  Previously MIDI keyboards
could control other MIDI keyboards, but that was about it.  Roland (along
with Sequential Circuits, Korg and others) produces a number of keyboards
that are MIDI-controllable/compatible including a twelve-voice electronic
piano, a series of "Jupiter" polyphonic synthesizers, as well as a digital
drum box (TR-909) and (in the future) a MIDI guitar synthesizer.
The way the MPU-401 works, you can program a part for any of four controlled
MIDI instruments from any one of the four connected instruments intended
for control.  Thus, you can program the drum part by keying it in on the
piano.  (that's what the article says--it's not clear how this is done)

I quote from the article:  "The computer play[s] back the various [previously
entered] parts on all four instruments simultaneously.  Tempo can be varied to
any speed, without change of pitch.  Music can be transposed as desired.  To
be included in the software will be programs for varying degrees of timing
error correction, provisions for editing phrases [!!!!!] and storage and
playback of dynamics [!!!!!!!], involving not only the change of volume but
of attack as well."

The final paragraph of the article is interesting: "In a dramatic departure
from industry practice, Roland has discarded proprietary privileges and has
made the MPU-401 circuitry available to all interested software writers.  It
is their view that some of the great creative innovations to come in the MIDI
field may well come out of garages, and it's hard to disagree."  That
means all music software hackers (if I can still legally use that word) will
have a field day writing compositional software, song editing programs,
etc. for this MIDI world.  P.S.  The MPU401 will retail for $175.

I have a couple of questions about Dave Burris' earlier article.  Does Moog
really adhere to MIDI standards?  On what machines?  Moog has for the last
few years been at the foreback of music technology, esp. in terms of
compatibility with the rest of the world.  Also, could Dave (or anyone
who knows) please publish more info on MIDI standards and specs.  It would be of
interest to at least me, and probably many others.
-- 
Pardon me for breathing...
	Rich Rosen    pyuxn!rlr