It seems to me that with today's computing power, it would be possible to create a new MIDI standard that allowed for a much greater number of values than the possible 128 (or 256?). It could be increased to 1024 or 2048 or something. Wouldn't this allow softsynths, for example, to have a much smoother, less "steppy" motion on things like filters and volume curves?

I'm guessing the reason that this hasn't been done is it would just be too inconvenient...

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Last edited by MrJiveBoJingles on Feb-01-2009 at 17:51

Seems there was an announcement back in 2005 that an upgrade to the MIDI standard was being considered:

http://www.midi.org/newsviews/hdmidipr.shtml

I don't see that anything has happened since then, though.

I haven't heard anything about it really (apart from just reading that link), but it's inevitable that at some point it will be "upgraded" or even replaced.

OSC maybe?

Either way I'm sure a much greater number of values will be welcomed by all.

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128 is enough for me, i cant hear steps when automating my filters. well actualy that aint all true, when adding a special kind of reverb i hear some ticks in it when panning, its nasty. i dont need more numbers but a soft-transition option somehow.

some more here btw: http://www.midi.org/news/hdmidi.php

I have noticed the stepping on two effects only. Modultating a vocoder, and a ring modulator.

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quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Seems there was an announcement back in 2005 that an upgrade to the MIDI standard was being considered: http://www.midi.org/newsviews/hdmidipr.shtml I don't see that anything has happened since then, though.

Very interesting indeed. I think im going to put in some research of my own into this now. Ive noticed stepping especially with cutoff modulation.

From what I know no new standards where agreed to even though a couple where presented. Probably because it's just too much work. Nowadays it will matter less and less anyway since a lot of new synths have their own USB connector now for audio and automation.

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quote:

If less is more think about how much more more would be. -Frasier

there are in fact new standards, how ever no standard have made it on a broad front yet.

I'd say tho that the closest one to taking over in the future is the OSC, OpenSound Control

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Sound_Control

It's used by units and applications as the Jazmutants Lemur, NI Reaktor, MaxMSP, CSound etc.
It has some real advantages over the older standard MIDI so I really hope it takes over some day

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Last edited by Vizay on Feb-02-2009 at 10:41

The old standard would still need to be maintained. Think how many classic hardware tools have standard MIDI connections. Maybe a convertor for "new MIDI" to "old MIDI".

I haven't read the article, it probably mentions that.

Midi2Usb connector.

I use one.

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As derail points out - the rub is in backward compatibility. Very few people would be willing to invest in a MIDI controller if it can't talk to the other $50,000 worth of devices in the studio. And media production just isn't a popular enough field to rely solely on the early adopters.

It's a lot of work, and would cost a lot of money, and some people will invariably be dissatisfied with the results (back-compat is never perfect, just ask Microsoft). Personally, I don't think we're likely to see anything new in this field for at least another 10 or 20 years - maybe not ever.

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quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut As derail points out - the rub is in backward compatibility. Very few people would be willing to invest in a MIDI controller if it can't talk to the other $50,000 worth of devices in the studio. And media production just isn't a popular enough field to rely solely on the early adopters. It's a lot of work, and would cost a lot of money, and some people will invariably be dissatisfied with the results (back-compat is never perfect, just ask Microsoft). Personally, I don't think we're likely to see anything new in this field for at least another 10 or 20 years - maybe not ever.

Yep, that was basically what I figured. Too difficult to get everything to gel with a new standard after everything has been based on the old one...