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MIDI

Transports

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The original MIDI 1.0 Specification called for using a 5-Pin DIN cable to connect MIDI compatible devices, but today there are many different “transports” capable of carrying MIDI data, and the specification for 5-Pin DIN has been updated.

Some of the transport specifications for MIDI were developed in conjunction with other organizations (typically those who control the specification for that particular transport). Below are descriptions of all MMA-approved alternate transport specifications and where to get the document.

USB-MIDI

As computers have become central components in many MIDI systems, USB has become the most widely used protocol for transporting MIDI data.

MIDI OVER BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY (BLE-MIDI)

This specification defines a method for encoding and decoding MIDI data for transmission over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connections which enables product compatibility across all computing platforms (iOS, MacOS, Windows, and Android).

    RTP-MIDI

    RTP-MIDI ( Viewable on this webpage -IETF RFC 6295 – is a specification for sending/receiving standard “MIDI 1.0” messages using standard networking protocols (“Real-time Transport Protocol” and “Internet Protocol”).

    5 PIN DIN ELECTRICAL SPECS

    The MIDI 1.0 Specification includes an Electrical Specification which uses a 5-Pin DIN connector and 5 Volt electronics as was common at that time.

    SPECIFICATION FOR USE OF “TRS” CONNECTORS WITH MIDI DEVICES

    This document defines how to wire “TRS” (tip-ring-sleeve) connectors for use with MIDI devices, and describes the necessary device circuitry and cable specifications to support MIDI communication over the TRS connection.

    MIDI TRANSPORT SPECIFICATION FOR IEEE-1394 (FIREWIRE)

    The “MIDI Media Adaptation Layer for IEEE-1394” (aka 1394-MIDI or Firewire-MIDI) is part of the AM824 Protocol developed in conjunction with the 1394 Trade Association in 1999 (now known as IEC International Standard 61883, Part 6).