Strand Lighting MX - MIDI Applications and Control; Introduction to MIDI Applications

Issue 2
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MX SUPPLEMENT
MIDI APPLICATIONS
Introduction
The main purpose of incorporating MIDI into Strands lighting desks is to
create
an interface between light and sound . MIDI is now an industry standard, in much
the same way that SMPTE is for the film industry, and all faders and switches on
MX are allocated unique MIDI codes for use with this interface .
MIDI transmits and receives over
16
channels . These are dedicated
MDI
channels and have nothing in common with any light channels . All MIDI devices
generally default to Channel 1 including MX .
Each MIDI-equipped instrument usually contains a receiver, a transmitter, and
an optional socket
providing
a through (THRU) facility for relaying information
to other Midi devices . MX contains these three ports .
The THRU socket is a duplicate of the signals on the IN socket therefore allowing
information from
a -master
unit to be
relayed-to-another MIDI unit
.
- A -
fine is
normally drawn signifying this as shown in the figure below .
Transmit
Relay Receive
1
Out

Thru

I n
Most Midi sequencers are software orientated and
run on
a variety
of personal
computers, the most popular being the Atari, Mac . and more recently the P
C .
At
present only the Atari has
built in Midi
Sockets,
hence to date this has been the
most popular computer for Midi applications, others
require
separate
interfaces
to
be
purchased before Midi
software can be utilised .