MIDI and Data Compatibility
MIDI
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a worldwide
standard communication interface that allows MIDI-compatible
musical instruments and equipment to share musical information
and control one another.
•
Depending on the MIDI device, the transmittable/receivable data
differs, and only data which is commonly recognized among the
connected MIDI devices can be transmitted or received. You can
check whether your instrument supports certain data types by
referring to the MIDI Implementation Chart in the owner's
manual for that instrument. The MIDI Implementation Chart for
the CVP-103 is found on page 38 in the Reference Booklet.
MIDI Terminals
Data received via the
MIDI IN terminal is re-
transmitted unchanged
through this terminal.
MIDI Cable
Connect MIDI devices with special MIDI cables.
•
MIDI settings can be made in the MIDI pages of the Func-
tion mode display. (See pages 147 through 150.)
•
Further information on MIDI and its applications is avail-
able in various music books and magazines.
Data Compatibility
This section covers basic information on data compatibility:
whether or not other MIDI devices can playback the data recorded
by CVP-103, and whether or not the CVP-103 can playback com-
mercially available song data or song data created for other instru-
ments or on a computer.
Depending on the MIDI device or data characteristics, you may
be able to play back the data without any problem, or you may have
to perform some special operations before the data can be played
back. If you run into problems playing back data, please refer to the
information below.
Basic Check Points
The data and the MIDI device must match in regards to the
items below.
• Disk Format
• Sequence format
• Voice allocation format
Disk format
Floppy disks are the main storage medium for data used with
various devices, including computers. Different devices have
different systems of storing data, therefore it is necessary to first
configure the floppy disk to the system of the device being used.
This operation is called "formatting."
•
There are two types of floppy disks: MF2DD (double sided,
double density) and MF2HD (double sided, high density),
and each type has different formatting systems.
•
CVP-103 can record and playback with both types of floppy
disks.
•
When formatted by the CVP-103, a 2DD disk stores up to
720 KB (kilobytes) and a 2HD disk stores up to 1.44 MB
(megabytes). (The figures "720 KB" and "1.44 MB" indi-
cate the data memory capacity. They are also used to indi-
cate the format type of disk.)
•
Playback is only possible when the MIDI device to be used
is compatible with the format of the disk.
172
CVP-103
This terminal transmits the MIDI data.
This terminal
receives the MIDI
data.
THRU
OUT
IN
MIDI
Sequence Format
The system which records song data is called "sequence for-
mat."
•
Playback is only possible when the sequence format of the
disk matches that of the MIDI device.
[Common Sequence Formats]
SMF (Standard MIDI File)
This is the most common sequence format.
•
Standard MIDI Files are generally available as one of two
types: Format 0 or Format 1.
•
Many MIDI devices are compatible with Format 0, and most
commercially available software is recorded as Format 0.
•
The CVP-103 is compatible with both Format 0 and Format
1 (for Format 1, up to a maximum of 17 chunks).
•
Song data recorded on the CVP-103 is automatically re-
corded as SMF Format 0.
ESEQ
This sequence format is compatible with many of Yamaha's
MIDI devices, including the Clavinova series instruments.
This is a common format used with various Yamaha software.
•
The CVP-103 is compatible with ESEQ.
Voice Allocation Format
With MIDI, voices are assigned to specific numbers, called
"program numbers." The numbering standard (order of voice
allocation) is referred to as the "voice allocation format."
•
Voices may not play back as expected unless the voice allo-
cation format of the song data matches that of the compat-
ible MIDI device used for playback.
[Main Voice Allocation Formats]
GM System Level 1
This is one of the most common voice allocation formats.
•
Many MIDI devices are compatible with GM System Level
1, as is most commercially available software.
•
The CVP-103 is compatible with GM System Level 1.
XG
XG is a major enhancement of the GM System Level 1 format,
and was developed by Yamaha specifically to provide more
voices and variations, as well as greater expressive control over
voices and effects, and to ensure compatibility of data well into
the future.
•
The CVP-103 is compatible with XG.
•
Song data recorded on the CVP-103 using voices in the
[XG] category is XG-compatible.
DOC
This voice allocation format is compatible with many of
Yamaha's MIDI devices, including the Clavinova series instru-
ments.
This is also a common format used with various Yamaha soft-
ware.
•
The CVP-103 is compatible with DOC.
Even if the devices and data used satisfy all the conditions
above, the data may still not be completely compatible, depend-
ing on the specifications of the devices and particular data re-
cording methods.