Network MIDI 2.0 (UDP) Transport Specification
The Network MIDI 2.0 (UDP) Transport Specification defines a way to connect home studios or performance venues via Ethernet and wireless LAN on a local area network using MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0 UMP packets.
The advantages of using a network for MIDI are:
Overall advantages:
- UDP can be sent over both Ethernet cables and wireless networks.
- Logical connection setup (Session Management)
- The user has full control over which device is able to send/receive MIDI with which other device (or application)
- The connection topology can be changed in software without having to move physical cables.
- Many MIDI streams (sessions) can be configured on the same cable
- Simple security mechanisms available in Network MIDI 2.0 help prevent unauthorized access
- Peer to peer connection is possible without the need to route data through a computer.
Ethernet Advantages
- Long distance
- Ethernet cables can transmit data up to 100 meters without any signal loss or degradation.
- Low latency
- Typical latency on Ethernet is below 1ms
- High bandwidth
- 100MBit/s or 1GBit/s bandwidth on Ethernet
- One cable is enough for many logical connections
- Auto-Discovery
- Can select devices to connect by name
- Ground isolation
- Physical connections are electrically isolated, reducing the chances of electrical grounding noise issues.
- Off-the-shelf parts and infrastructure
- Cables, routers, switches, and components are readily available and cost effective
- Many transports for audio already use Ethernet. Some of those are open standards (i.e. AES67) and some are proprietary. Being able to run MIDI 2.0 as a control protocol over the same cables that run audio can greatly expand the use of MIDI 2.0.
Panelists:
Florian Bomers – Chair of the Network Working Group / President and founder of Bome Software which has developed and released MIDI and audio software for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. The BomeBox™: a versatile USB, MIDI, and Ethernet connector and processor.
Pete Brown- MIDI Association Executive Board Chair/ Microsoft Software Engineer
Andrew Mee-Chair of the MIDI 2.0 Developer Support working group, Yamaha designated rep and developer of the MIDI Workbench
Mike Kent- Chair of The MIDI 2.0 Working Group/Co-Founder/Chief Strategy Officer of AmeNote Inc.