Continuous Controllers in the MIDI Specification
Musician’s Guide
F-1
Appendix F
Continuous Controllers in the MIDI Specification
Excerpted from ÒMIDI for the ProfessionalÓ, by Paul D. Lehrman and Tim Tully. Copyright © 1993 Amsco Publications, a
division of Music Sales Corporation. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission.
Of the 128 possible Continuous Controllers in the MIDI Spec, many are deÞned either in terms of being part of a
transmitter, a receiver, or both. Controllers 120 and above are reserved for Mode messages, and although they can
be used for real-time expressive purposes, itÕs best not to, for fear of confusing some receiving devices.
The first 64: 14-bits?
The Þrst 64 Controllers were originally designed so that they could be sent in pairs, as 14-bit Controllers. When
Controller pairs are used, the lower-numbered Controller is sent Þrst, and its value is considered the Most
SigniÞcant Byte (MSB) of the command. The higher-numbered Controller follows immediately afterwards, with
the Least SigniÞcant Byte (LSB). Combined, the two Controllers constitute a single message with a resolution of
16,384 discrete values, as opposed to the 128 available with a single Controller. The MIDI SpeciÞcation says that an
MSB can be sent without an LSB. As it turns out, with the exception of Bank Select (where it is probably the
least
useful), almost
nobody
has bothered to implement 14-bit controllers in any hardware or software. Although the
practice is still called for in the MIDI Spec, it is essentially moribund, and Controllers 33-63 are considered more or
less up for grabs.
HereÕs how the Þrst 64 Controllers are deÞned and used:
Decimal Hex Name Applications and note
00/32
00/20 Bank Select
see Chapters 5, 8, and 9
01/33
01/21
Modulation
Transmitter is a wheel or lever; receiver is usually vibrato
depth.
PC88 default assignment (01) is Wheel 2.
02/34
02/22
Breath
Transmitter is a breath controller originally made by Yamaha
or part of a wind controller; receiver is usually related to loud-
ness or timbral change. Also, many early Korg keyboards
used this to transmit information from one axis of a joystick.
03/35 03/23 undefined Original DX7 used this for aftertouch
04/36 04/24 Foot Pedal Transmitter is a foot pedal; receiver is loudness or timbral
change.
PC88 default assignment (04) is Pedal 2
and
Slider
C.
05/37
05/25
Portamento Time
Transmitter is a slider; receiver controls time to glide from
one note to the next when Portamento switch (41H) is On.
06/38 06/26
Data Entry
Transmitter is a slider; receiver is any parameter change, used
in conjunction with Registered and Non-Registered parame-
ters (62-65H)
07/39 07/27
Main Volume
Transmitter is a slider or pedal
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