MIDI

Noteman says: If you need help setting up your MIDI system, consult Setting up your MIDI system in the Finale Tutorials.

MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is the computer language that computers and MIDI instruments use to speak to each other. Many core features of Finale operate on the MIDI standard framework.

Some of the common tasks involving MIDI include:

• If you want to affect MIDI playback through the use of graphic expression marks, see Expressions (or see the entry for the individual marking).
• If you want to edit a specific MIDI data type, see the entries Key velocity, Start and Stop Times, Patches, Continuous data, and Pitch wheel.
• If you want to use step-time MIDI input to enter notes, see Speedy Entry or Simple Entry.
• If you want to record a real-time MIDI performances, see Recording with HyperScribe.
• If you want to create or transcribe a standard MIDI file for exchanging with sequencer programs, see To export a MIDI file.
• If you want to assign the staves in a piece to MIDI playback channels, see MIDI Terminology – MIDI channels.
• For information on sending patch changes, see Patches.
• If you want to synchronize Finale’s MIDI input or output to that of an external sequencer or another computer, see MIDI Sync.
• If you’re interested in some of the technical aspects of MIDI, see More on MIDI.

You have a wide range of MIDI driver choices and can send and receive MIDI on more than one instrument per port.

About General MIDI

In addition to the basic structure of how MIDI works, the General MIDI specification defines MIDI instruments. Part of the reason General MIDI was established was to provide a standardized listing of sounds or patches. This standard was developed so that when you play the same MIDI fileA type of file written in a standardized format that can be understood by music programs from different manufacturers so that one file can be used in several different programs. For example, music created in any sequencer program can be opened by Finale and converted into written notation. on different MIDI setups, you'll hear roughly the same result. Many MIDI devices support General MIDI.