Specifications
Pro Tools Reference Guide12
MIDI Controller
Any MIDI device that transmits
MIDI performance data. These include MIDI key-
boards, MIDI guitar controllers, MIDI wind con-
trollers, and others. Controllers transmit MIDI
from their MIDI OUT ports.
MIDI Control Surface
Any device (such as Com-
mand|8), which uses a MIDI connection to send
control messages to a software program, but is not
generally used to record MIDI information.
Multitimbral
The ability of one MIDI device to
play several different instrument sounds (such as
piano, bass, and drums) simultaneously on sepa-
rate MIDI channels. This makes it possible for a
single multitimbral MIDI instrument to play back
entire arrangements.
MIDI Port
A physical MIDI port on a MIDI inter-
face or a virtual MIDI port created in software.
There are separate ports for MIDI In and Out.
Physical MIDI ports connect to external MIDI de-
vices using MIDI cables. Virtual MIDI ports con-
nect software plug-ins and applications (see also
“Virtual MIDI Nodes”).
MIDI Channel
Up to 16 channels of MIDI perfor-
mance data can be transmitted on a single MIDI
cable. The channel number separates the different
messages so your sound sources can receive the
correct messages.
Program Change Event
A MIDI command that
tells a sound source which of its sounds (or sound
patches) to use. The MIDI protocol lets you choose
from a range of 128 patches.
Bank Select Message
Many devices have more
than 128 patches, which are arranged in banks. The
Bank Select Message is a MIDI command that
specifies the bank of patches from which to
choose.
Local Control
A controller setting found on most
MIDI keyboards that lets them play their own
sound source. Disabling “local control” ensures
that a device’s internal sound source is only played
by external MIDI messages (such as those sent
from Pro Tools when MIDI in Pro Tools is routed
to the MIDI keyboard). When using Pro Tools,
“local control” should usually be disabled (for ex-
ample, when using MIDI Thru). When “local con-
trol” is off, your keyboard still transmits data to its
MIDI OUT port.
Continuous Controller Events
MIDI instructions
that allow real-time changes to notes that are cur-
rently sounding. These include pitch bend, modu-
lation, volume, pan, and many others.
System Exclusive Data
MIDI data commonly
used for sending and retrieving patch parameter in-
formation for storage purposes.
Virtual MIDI Nodes
When using MIDI with instru-
ment plug-ins in Pro Tools, virtual MIDI nodes are
created. These nodes act like MIDI ports and pro-
vide software MIDI connections between
Pro Tools and other MIDI software, such as instru-
ment plug-ins. For example, when you insert Pro-
pellerhead’s Reason as a ReWire client on a track,
the various MIDI inputs to
Reason become available to Pro Tools MIDI and
Instrument track MIDI outputs.
Common Misconceptions About
MIDI
MIDI is not audio, and by itself makes no sound.
MIDI is control information only. It is like the pi-
ano roll for a player piano; it provides control in-
formation for what note to play when, for how
long, at what volume, and with what sound (instru-
ment). For example, when you strike a key on a
MIDI keyboard, it sends a message to a MIDI in-
strument to play that particular note at that partic-
ular velocity using the selected sound (instrument).
This could be its internal tone generator (like a