Continuous Controllers in the MIDI Specification
Musician’s Guide
F-3
Decimal Hex Name Applications and notes
Sound Controllers: 70-79
These ten Controllers, officially known as ÒSound Controllers #1-10Ó, have been set up to allow a common and easy
way to accomplish real-time control over a variety of timbral characteristics of a sound in any synthesizer, without
having to deal with individual manufacturersÕ System Exclusive commands. Exactly how these Controllers work is
entirely up to the manufacturer, and the user doesnÕt have to know about itÑall he or she needs to know is that
increasing Controller 74 makes the sound brighter.
Decimal Hex Name Applications and notes
64
40
Sustain
Also known as Damper or Hold #1. Retains Sustain portion of
sound’s envelope on all notes played, until turned off. In some
instruments with complex envelopes, it turns on a special Re-
lease segment, to allow the sound to die away more slowly.
PC88 default assignment is Switch Pedal 1.
65
41
Portamento
Turns on and off Portamento Control (see 05H and 54H)
66 42
Sostenuto
Sustains notes that are being held when the control is turned
on, but subsequent played notes (unlike 40H) are not sus-
tained.
PC88 default assignment is Switch Pedal 2.
67
43
Soft Pedal
Lowers volume and/or softens timbre by a pre-set amount
68 44
Legato Footswitch
Puts receiver into “legato” mode: only one note can sound at
a time, and overlapping notes result in change of pitch without
re-attacking.
69 45 Hold #2 or Freeze A second hold pedal that sustains a portion of the sound, like
the middle pedal on an upright piano; or that triggers an alter-
nate Release segment (like 40H).
70 46
Sound Variation
Deliberately vague. Once upon a time, this Controller was
“Velocity Replace”, but it was never implemented by any-
body.
71 47
Harmonic Content
Richness or intensity of timbre.
PC88 default assignment is
Button E
72
48
Release Time
Length of release portion of envelope.
PC88 default assign-
ment is Slider D.
73
49
Attack Time
Length of attack portion of envelope
74 4A
Brightness
High-end content
75-79 4B-4F Sound Controllers #6-#10 Undefined
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