10.3 MIDI output

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard for connecting and controlling digital instruments. A MIDI file is a series of notes in a number of tracks. It is not an actual sound file; you need special software to translate between the series of notes and actual sounds.

Pieces of music can be converted to MIDI files, so you can listen to what was entered. This is convenient for checking the music; octaves that are off or accidentals that were mistyped stand out very much when listening to the MIDI output.

Bugs

Many musically interesting effects, such as swing, articulation, slurring, etc., are not translated to midi.

The midi output allocates a channel for each staff, and one for global settings. Therefore the midi file should not have more than 15 staves (or 14 if you do not use drums). Other staves will remain silent.

Not all midi players correctly handle tempo changes in the midi output. Players that are known to work include timidity.

• Creating MIDI files
• MIDI block
• MIDI instrument names