Table of Contents
Advertisement
MIDI
Ten years ago MIDI was still a strange new thing to most
musicians and computer users. Not any more, so I'll keep this
part short.
The basics: MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface,
which is a 16-channel serial data exchange and control system
for musical devices. MIDI works by supplying a way for the
microprocessors in your various electronic musical devices to
pass messages back and forth over a special network of cables.
These cables, which are used only for MIDI data and nothing
else, plug into special five-pin DIN jacks which are typically
labeled IN, OUT, and THRU. The IN jack receives MIDI data.
The OUT jack transmits it. And the THRU jack automatically
echoes and re-transmits whatever data is being received at the
IN jack (this last function has a special use I'll get to in a
minute).
One of the important things to remember about MIDI is that data
flow is strictly one-way. Make sure you always plug the OUT
jack of one instrument into the IN jack of another, and vice-
versa. The other choices — OUT to OUT, or IN to IN — won't
work.
If you'll look on the back of your NanoPiano you'll see that it
doesn't have an IN, and OUT, and a THRU. Instead it has an IN
and a combined OUT/THRU. There are good reasons for this:
(1) the NanoPiano doesn't have a built-in keyboard or anything
else to play, so it doesn't really need an OUT jack; (2) combining
OUT and THRU jacks saves a little on the cost, bringing the
unit's price down; and (3) it makes the back panel less crowded.
How should you hook your NanoPiano into your MIDI system?
That depends on how you intend to use it.
AS A SINGLE SLAVE
(the IN Jack)
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––
14
NanoPiano Reference Manual
- Quick Links:
- Connections
- Power
- The Programs and Rom Sounds
Hide quick links:
Advertisement
Table of Contents
Need help?
Do you have a question about the NanoPiano and is the answer not in the manual?