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Learn MIDI

MIDI is how keyboards, synths, drum machines, apps and computers have talked to each other since 1983. Start with the playable guide, then keep the reference open while you work.

01 Interactive guide How MIDI works Press a key and follow the bytes down the cable. Messages, channels, the wire, clock, files and 40 years of history, all playable. Start playing 02 Reference article The MIDI 1.0 specification, explained Every message, status byte and controller, the hardware, Standard MIDI Files, General MIDI, MPE and MIDI 2.0, in plain words with tables. Read the reference

Want to see real data? The MIDI tester shows every message your keyboard sends, and the MIDI file inspector explains a .mid file byte by byte.