G M S L 1 D G: General Midi System Level 1

G ENERAL M
GENERAL IDI S
MIDI YSTEM L
SYSTEM EVEL 1
LEVEL 1
D EVELOPER G
DEVELOPER UIDELINES
GUIDELINES
For Manufacturers and
For Manufacturers and Composers
Composers
Second
Second Revision,
Revision, July
July 1998
1998
Published by:
Published by1
MIDI Manufacturers
MIDI Association
Manufacturers Association
Los Angeles CA
Los Angeles CA
Prepared
Prepared by
by Paul
Paul D.
D. Lehrman,
Lehrman, associate
associate director
director for
for development
development
Center
Center for
for Recording Arts, Technology
Recording Arts, Technology && Industry,
Industry, University
University of
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Lowell.
Lowell.
Additional text
Additional text and
and editing
editing by
by Howard
Howard Massey,
Massey, MMA
MlVIA technical
technical editor
editor and
and
senior
senior consultant,
consultant, On
On The
The Right
Right Wavelength
Wavelength
Copyright ©1996,
Copyright ©1996, 1998
1998 MIDI
MIDI Manufacturers Association
Manufacturers Association
All rights
All rights reserved.
reserved. No
No part
part of
of this
this document
document may be reproduced
may be reproduced oror transmitted
transmitted in
in any
any form
form or by
or by
any
any means,
means, electronic
electronic or
or mechanical,
mechanical, including
including information
information storage
storage and
and retrieval
retrieval systems,
systems, without
without
permission
permission inin writing
writing from
from the
the MIDI
MIDI Manufacturers Association.
Manufacturers Association.
Second
Second Printing
Printing 1998
1998
Reformated
Reformated 2014
2014
MMA
MMA
POB
POB 3173
3173
La
La Habra
Habra CA
CA 90632
90632
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Developer G uidelines
Guidelines -- S econd
Second R evision
Revision
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Introduction..............................................................................................................................
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 11
How
How to
to Use
Use This
This Document
Document .....................................................................................................
..................................................................................................... 11
Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................... 2
2
Changes
Changes to
to Specification
Specification in
in Second
Second Revision
Revision .........................................................................
......................................................................... 2
2
Additional Protocol
Additional Protocol Implementation
Implementation Recommendations
Recommendations ...................................................
................................................... 3
3
Clarifications
Clarifications ........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................ 3
3
Response
Response to
to “GM
“GM System
System On”
On” Message
Message ..............................................................................
.............................................................................. 4
4
Response
Response to
to “Reset All Controllers”
“Reset All Controllers” Message
Message .....................................................................
..................................................................... 55
RPN/NRPN
RPN/NRPN Null
Null Function Value ........................................................................................
Function Value ........................................................................................ 66
Use
Use of
of Data
Data Entry
Entry Controllers.............................................................................................
Controllers ............................................................................................. 77
GM
GM Polyphony
Polyphony Requirements..............................................................................................
Requirements .............................................................................................. 77
GM Voice Allocation
GM Voice Allocation -- Overflow
Overflow and
and Channel
Channel Priority
Priority ......................................................
...................................................... 8
8
Volume, Expression
Volume, Expression &
& Master Volume Response
Master Volume Response ..............................................................
.............................................................. 9
9
Response
Response to
to Pan
Pan .................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................. 10
10
Use
Use of
of Bank
Bank Select
Select Messages
Messages ............................................................................................
............................................................................................ 11
11
Response
Response to
to Program
Program Changes
Changes ..........................................................................................
.......................................................................................... 12
12
Aftertouch ...........................................................................................................................
Aftertouch ........................................................................................................................... 12
12
Built-In
Built-In Effects
Effects &
& Response
Response to
to Effects
Effects Controllers
Controllers ..........................................................
.......................................................... 13
13
Additional Notes
Additional About Controllers
Notes About Controllers ..................................................................................
.................................................................................. 14
14
Additional Instrument Sounds (Extensions to GM).........................................................
GM) ......................................................... 14
Additional Drum Sounds & Kits (Extensions to GM) ...................................................... 15
Response
Response to
to Note-off
Note-off on
on Channel
Channel 10
10 (Percussion)
(Percussion) ............................................................
............................................................ 15
15
Mutually-Exclusive
Mutually-Exclusive Percussion
Percussion .........................................................................................
......................................................................................... 16
16
File
File Formats
Formats and
and Editing
Editing Capability
Capability ................................................................................
................................................................................ 17
17
MIDI
MIDI Player
Player Control:
Control: Starting
Starting in
in the
the middle
middle ...................................................................
................................................................... 17
17
File
File Data:
Data3 Prep
Prep bars
bars ...........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................... 18
18
File
File Data:
Data3 Pickup
Pickup bars
bars .......................................................................................................
....................................................................................................... 18
18
File
File Data:
Data3 SMF
SMF Marker
Marker Event...........................................................................................
Event........................................................................................... 19
19
File
File Data:
Data3 Other
Other Meta-Events
Meta-Events ...........................................................................................
........................................................................................... 19
19
File
File Data
Data :3 Channel Assignments .....................................................................................
Channel Assignments ..................................................................................... 19
19
File
File Data:
Data: Multiple Devices
Devices (non-GM
(non-GM hardware)
hardware) .............................................................
............................................................. 20
20
i
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Appendix A1
Appendix A: ...............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................... 22
22
Voice editing
Voice editing .......................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... 22
22
Appendix B:
Appendix B2 ...............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................... 23
23
Fat
Fat Labs
Labs Instrument
Instrument Testing
Testing Specifications
Specifications ....................................................................
.................................................................... 23
23
General
General ...............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................... 23
23
Individual
Individual Timbres
Timbres ............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................ 23
23
Percussion
Percussion ..........................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................... 24
24
iiii
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Introduction
Introduction
This
This document
document waswas commissioned
commissioned by by the
the MIDI
MIDI Manufacturers Association in
Manufacturers Association in 1995
1995 toto help
help
developers
developers ofof General
General MIDI
MIDI System
System Level
Level 11 (GM
(GM Level
Level 1)
1) products
products determine
determine howhow toto make
make
their
their products
products compatible
compatible with
with as
as many
many other
other GM
GM products
products as as possible.
possible. Based
Based onon aa survey
survey of
of
existing
existing products,
products, this
this document
document provides
provides insights
insights into
into areas
areas of of compatibility
compatibility which
which areare not
not
clearly
clearly defined by the
defined by the text
text of
of the
the formal
formal GMGM Level
Level 11 Specification
Specification (MMA0007/RP003),
(MMA0007/RP003), and and adds
adds
additional
additional recommendations
recommendations to to that
that specification
specification based
based on
on market
market realities.
realities. This
This document
document
should
should be
be used
used byby manufacturers
manufacturers of of GM
GM compatible
compatible musical
musical instruments
instruments (typically
(typically called
called
“synthesizers”)
“synthesizers”) asas well
well as
as by
by composers
composers (authors
(authors of
of MIDI
MIDI files)
files) and
and developers
developers ofof applications
applications
software
software to
to achieve
achieve more
more predictable
predictable playback
playback ofof MIDI
MIDI files.
files.
Rather
Rather than
than attempt
attempt toto redefine
redefine General
General MIDI
MIDI “after-the-fact”
“after-the-fact” (at
(at this
this writing
writing there
there are
are
already
already over
over 11 million
million sound
sound generating
generating devices
devices on
on the
the market
market which
which are
are designed
designed for
for GM
GM
playback),
playback), this
this document
document identifies
identifies common
common practices
practices and
and makes
makes specific
specific recommendations,
recommendations, yet
yet
still
still allows
allows for
for freedom
freedom of
of creativity by individual
creativity by individual manufacturers
manufacturers andand developers.
developers.
The
The MMA
MMA GM GM Survey
Survey on
on which
which this
this document
document is is based
based was
was commissioned
commissioned to to determine
determine the
the
current
current state-of-the-art
state-of-the-art in
in GM
GM and
and to
to provide
provide the
the information
information from
from which
which the
the MMA
MMA Technical
Technical
Board
Board could
could prepare
prepare recommendations.
recommendations. The The work
work of of collecting,
collecting, compiling,
compiling, and
and analyzing
analyzing the
the
survey
survey data
data and
and making
making initial
initial recommendations
recommendations was was done
done byby Professor
Professor Paul
Paul Lehrman,
Lehrman, aa
noted
noted MIDI
MIDI composer
composer and
and author
author of
of numerous
numerous books
books andand magazine
magazine articles
articles on MIDI. Final
on MIDI. Final
editing
editing and
and additional
additional input
input was
was provided by Howard
provided by Howard Massey,
Massey, anan industry
industry MIDI
MIDI consultant
consultant
and
and author/educator. All recommendations
author/educator. All recommendations werewere reviewed
reviewed andand evaluated
evaluated byby the
the MMA
MMA
Technical
Technical Standards
Standards Board,
Board, to
to produce
produce the
the final
final document
document you you see
see here.
here.
The
The survey
survey results
results were
were published
published as
as part
part of
of the
the first
first printing
printing of
of this
this document, but removed
document, but removed
from
from the
the second
second (and
(and on-line)
on-line) publication(s).
publication(s).
How
How to
to Use
Use This
This Document
Document
This
This document
document begins
begins with
with a
a summary
summary of of clarifications
clarifications to to the
the General MIDI System
General MIDI System Level
Level 11
specification.
specification. The
The summary
summary clarifications
clarifications are
are intended
intended to to be
be used
used asas a
a companion
companion andand
supplement
supplement to to the
the actual
actual specification.
specification. InIn many
many cases,
cases, the
the clarifications
clarifications are
are additional
additional
information
information which
which the
the MMA
MMA Technical
Technical Board
Board has
has determined
determined should
should have
have been
been included
included in
in the
the
published
published specification, but were
specification, but were omitted
omitted due
due to
to some
some oversight.
oversight. In In other
other cases
cases this
this information
information
is
is a
a clarification
clarification ofof ambiguous
ambiguous wording
wording inin the
the specification,
specification, and and it
it is
is hoped
hoped that
that the
the new
new detail
detail
provided
provided inin this
this supplement
supplement will
will avoid
avoid further
further deterioration
deterioration of of GM
GM compatibility.
compatibility.
The
The remainder
remainder of of the
the document
document isis an
an analysis
analysis ofof each
each issue
issue of
of potential
potential incompatibility
incompatibility (as(as
determined
determined by by research
research into
into existing
existing products).
products). The
The issues
issues are
are divided
divided into
into two
two groups:
groupsi “GM
“GM
Synthesizer”
Synthesizer” issues
issues and
and “GM
“GM Music
Music File”
File” issues. Within the
issues. Within the GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer group
group are
are any
any
issues
issues about
about the
the design
design of
of a
a GM
GM compatible
compatible synthesizer
synthesizer that
that may
may be be unclear,
unclear, for
for both
both the
the
manufacturer
manufacturer and and the
the potential
potential application
application oror data
data developer.
developer. InIn the
the interest
interest ofof making
making this
this a
a
“quick
“quick reference
reference guide,”
guide,” the
the analysis
analysis of
of each
each issue
issue is
is preceded
preceded byby a
a summary
summary of of the
the final
final
recommendations,
recommendations, with with separate
separate recommendations
recommendations for for manufacturers
manufacturers of of these
these products
products asas well
well
as
as for
for application
application or or data
data developers
developers where
where appropriate.
appropriate.
P age
Page 11
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Appendix A
Appendix A lists
lists common
common controls
controls for
for voice
voice editing,
editing, while Appendix B
while Appendix B describes
describes the
the procedure
procedure
used by Fat Labs, a well known producer of music for computer games, to evaluate
used by Fat Labs, a well known producer of music for computer games, to evaluate GM GM
hardware
hardware for
for compatibility
compatibility with
with music
music composed
composed on on Roland’s
Roland’s Sound
Sound Canvas.
Canvas.
While the
While the Sound
Sound Canvas
Canvas isis not
not anan officially
officially recognized
recognized reference
reference for
for GM by the
GM by the MMA,
MMA, it it is
is the
the
predominant
predominant reference
reference platform
platform used by composers
used by composers working
working in
in the
the field
field of
of interactive
interactive
multimedia
multimedia and
and PC
PC games,
games, as as reported
reported byby the
the Interactive Audio Special
Interactive Audio Special Interest
Interest Group
Group
(IASIG).
(IASIG). The
The appearance
appearance of of the
the Fat
Fat Labs
Labs test
test procedure
procedure is
is not
not an
an endorsement
endorsement of of the
the test
test (nor
(nor
the
the Sound
Sound Canvas)
Canvas) and
and is
is provided
provided herein
herein merely
merely as
as additional
additional information
information which
which developers
developers
may
may wish
wish to
to use
use as
as a
a reference
reference forfor determining
determining an an acceptable
acceptable process
process for
for evaluating
evaluating GMGM
compatibility.
compatibility.
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
We would
We would like
like to
to thank
thank all
all of
of the
the MMA
MMA members
members who
who helped
helped put
put the
the survey
survey together;
together; all
all who
who
helped
helped get
get others
others to
to respond;
respond; and
and all
all of
of those
those who
who responded.
responded. Special
Special thanks
thanks to
to Tom
Tom Rettig,
Rettig,
Yoshi Sawada,
Yoshi Sawada, Mike
Mike D’Amore
D’Amore and and Mike
Mike Kent.
Kent. Extra
Extra special
special thanks
thanks to
to Barbara
Barbara Blezard,
Blezard,
administrative
administrative coordinator
coordinator ofof the
the Recording
Recording Industry
Industry Environmental
Environmental Task
Task Force, based at
Force, based at the
the
University of Massachusetts Lowell, who designed the database and entered
University of Massachusetts Lowell, who designed the database and entered the survey the survey
response
response data.
data.
And thanks
And thanks go
go to
to MMA
MMA Technical
Technical Board
Board members
members Bob
Bob Lee
Lee (Gulbransen)
(Gulbransen) and
and Rick
Rick Cohen
Cohen
(Kurzweil)
(Kurzweil) for
for their
their efforts
efforts to
to edit
edit and
and correct
correct the
the recommendations
recommendations and
and explanations
explanations herein.
herein.
Changes
Changes to
to Specification
Specification in
in Second
Second Revision
Revision
The
The second
second revision
revision documents
documents a a change
change in
in the
the MMA
MMA recommendation
recommendation forfor correct
correct response
response to
to
the
the Reset All Controllers
Reset All Controllers (CC #121) message.
(CC #121) message. Expression
Expression was
was added
added to
to the
the list
list of
of controls
controls which
which
should
should be
be reset.
reset. The
The descriptions
descriptions and/or
and/or placement
placement inin the
the document
document of
of some
some items
items toto be
be reset
reset or
or
not
not reset
reset were
were also
also rewritten
rewritten for
for more
more clarity.
clarity.
An additional
An additional paragraph
paragraph was
was added
added to
to clarify
clarify the
the proper
proper use
use of
of the
the Bank
Bank Select
Select message
message in
in
those
those files
files which
which are
are intended
intended to
to support
support both
both General
General MIDI
MIDI and
and extensions
extensions such
such as
as Roland’s
Roland’s
GS
GS or Yamaha’s XG
or Yamaha’s XG devices.
devices.
P age
Page 2
2
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: General
General MIDI
MIDI System ⎯ Level
System — Level 11 Specification
Specification
Additional
Additional Protocol
Protocol Implementation
Implementation Recommendations
Recommendations
•0 Data
Data Entry
Entry Controllers
Controllers (CC#6,
(CC#6, CC#38)
CC#38)
•o RNP/NRPN
RNP/NRPN Null
Null Function
Function (C/A
(CIA JMSC-0011)
JMSC-0011)
•o Mutually
Mutually Exclusive
Exclusive use
use of
of Hi-hat
Hi-hat and
and Triangle
Triangle in
in Percussion
Percussion Channel
Channel
•0 Response
Response to
to Note-Off
Note-Off for
for Long
Long Whistle
Whistle and
and Long
Long Guiro
Guiro in
in Percussion
Percussion Channel
Channel
•0 Response
Response to All Sounds
to All Sounds Off
Off Message
Message (cc120)
(cc120)
Clarifications
Clarifications
•0 Defined
Defined response
response to
to Turn
Turn GM
GM System
System On
On Message
Message
•0 Defined
Defined response
response to
to Reset All Controllers
Reset All Message (revised)
Controllers Message (revised!
•0 Defined
Defined Channel
Channel Priority
Priority scheme
scheme for Voice Allocation
for Voice Allocation
•0 Defined Volume and

Defined Volume and Expression
Expression Controller
Controller response
response curves
curves
•0 Defined
Defined Response
Response to
to Pan
Pan Controller
Controller Messages
Messages
•0 Defined
Defined Response
Response for
for Non-GM
Non-GM Controllers
Controllers (Bank
(Bank Select,
Select, Effects,
Effects, etc.)
etc.)
•0 Defined
Defined Response
Response for Aftertouch (MIDI
for Aftertouch (MIDI 1.0
1.0 Detailed
Detailed Specification
Specification Recommendation)
Recommendation)
(See
(See text
text for
for specific
specific details
details about
about each
each of these recommendations.)
0ft12ese recommendations.)
P age
Page 3
3
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
Response
Response to
to “GM
“GM System
Svstem On”
On" Message
Message
•0 The
The time
time required
required for
for complete
complete response
response to
to the
the Turn
Turn GMGM System
System On
On message
message should be
should be
as
as short
short as
as possible
possible (the
(the current
current hardware
hardware average
average is
is 100ms).
100ms).
•o The
The response
response to
to this
this message
message should
should include
include the
the following
following actions
actions on
on all
all Channels:
Channels:
1. All actions
1. All actions defined
defined for
for the
Reset All Controllers message
message (see
(see next
next section)
section) plus:
plus:
•° Set Volume (#7)
Set Volume (#7) to
to 100
100
•° Set
Set Expression (#11) to
Expression (#11) to 127
127
•° Set
Set Pan
Pan (#10)
(#10) to
to 64
64
2.
2. Devices
Devices which
which also
also respond
respond to
to Effects
Effects Controllers
Controllers (#91-#95)
(#91-#95) should
should reset
reset to
to default
default
values
values (power-up
(power-up state).
state). Effects
Effects are
are not
not required
required for
for GM but effects
GM but effects controllers
controllers may
may
still
still be
be used by composers
used by composers (see
(see that
that section)
section)
3. Any other
3. Any other actions
actions needed
needed to
to restore
restore the
the device
device to
to GM-compatible
GM-compatible settings,
settings, such
such as
as
reset
reset Bank
Bank Select
Select and
and Program
Program Change
Change to to “0”.
“”.0
•0 GM
GM devices
devices which
which support
support other
other modes
modes ofof operation
operation should
should “wake
“wake up”
up” (power
(power on)
on) in
in GM
GM
mode,
mode, and
and not
not go
go out
out of
of GM
GM Mode
Mode when
when receiving
receiving non-GM
non-GM compatible
compatible messages
messages (such
(such
as
as Bank
Bank Select).
Select).
File
File Player
Player Recommendations:
Recommendations: Devices
Devices designed
designed only
only to
to play
play GM
GM music
music files,
files, or
or when
when in
in a
a
mode
mode which
which is
is designed
designed only
only to
to play
play GM
GM music
music files,
files, should
should transmit
transmit the
the GMGM Mode
Mode On
On
message
message upon
upon power-up.
power-up. Developers
Developers of of software
software applications
applications designed
designed to to play
play GM
GM music
music
files
files exclusively
exclusively should
should ensure
ensure that
that the
the Turn
Turn GM
GM System
System On
On message
message is is transmitted
transmitted when
when
the
the application
application is
is launched,
launched, such
such asas from
from aa dialog
dialog prompting
prompting the
the user
user to
to connect
connect and
and turn
turn on
on
the
the receiving
receiving device.
device.
Composer
Composer Recommendations:
Recommendations! Composers
Composers should
should not
not include
include the
the GM
GM System
System On
On message
message in
in
the body of
the My of GM
GM music
music files.
files. However,
However, if
if necessary,
necessary, the
the message
message can be included
can be included in
in “prep”
“prep”
bars
bars (see
(see page
page 21),
21), as
as long
long asas a
a delay
delay of
of 100
100 -- 200
200 ms before the
ms before the onset
onset of
of music
music is
is also
also
provided.
provided.
Details:
Details!
Description
Description of Issue:
oflssuei
After receiving
After receiving aa “GM
“GM System
System On”
On” message,
message, some
some devices
devices need
need a
a period
period of
of time
time to
to reset
reset
themselves before they
themselves before they can
can start
start producing
producing sound.
sound. How
How prevalent
prevalent is
is this
this practice,
practice, what
what
length
length pauses
pauses are
are required,
required, and
and what
what can
can composers
composers and
and authors
authors do
do to
to avoid
avoid problems?
problems?
In
In addition,
addition, some
some devices
devices will
will go
go in
in or
or out
out of
of GM
GM mode
mode under
under certain
certain conditions.
conditions. What
What
are
are these
these conditions,
conditions, and
and are
are any
any of
of them
them acceptable?
acceptable?
Findings:
Findings!
55 of
of the
the hardware
hardware respondents
respondents said
said that
that their
their devices
devices don’t
don’t need
need any
any amount
amount of
of time
time
after receiving a Turn GM System On message before they can play sound.
after receiving a Turn GM System On message before they can play sound. 2 were 2 were
vague
vague about
about the
the length
length of
of the
the pause
pause needed,
needed, and
and of
of the
the others
others the
the range
range was
was from
from 1010
ms
ms all
all the
the way
way to
to “1-2
“1-2 seconds”,
seconds”, with
with 100
100 ms being the
ms being the median
median value.
value.
P age
Page 4
4
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
The
The most
most common
common timetime for
for a
a module
module to to go
go into
into GM
GM mode
mode is
is when
when the
the unit
unit powers
powers up,
up,
which
which is
is as
as it
it should
should be.
be. 11
11 devices
devices gogo into
into GM
GM mode
mode the
the first
first time
time they’re
they’re turned
turned on,
on,
and
and 99 of
of those
those gogo into
into GM
GM mode
mode every
every time
time they’re
they’re turned
turned on.
on. In
In addition,
addition, 77 of
of these
these
can
can be
be put
put into
into GM
GM mode
mode from
from the
the front
front panel.
panel. 33 devices
devices never
never gogo out
out of
of GM
GM mode.
mode. 77
devices
devices go
go out
out of
of GM
GM mode
mode when
when they
they receive
receive specific
specific Bank
Bank Select
Select commands,
commands, but but
surprisingly,
surprisingly, only
only 55 do
do so
so when
when they
they receive
receive aa Turn
Turn GMGM System
System Off
Off message.
message. One
One
device
device goes
goes out
out of
of GM
GM mode
mode when
when itit receives
receives aa “GS
“GS Reset”
Reset” (SysEx)
(SysEX) command.
command. 6 6 can
can go
go
out
out of
of GM
GM mode
mode from
from the
the front
front panel.
panel.
Response
Response to
to “Reset
“Reset All
All Controllers”
Controllers" Message
Message
•0 The
The MMA
MMA recommends
recommends that
that reception
reception of
of the
Reset All Controllers (CC #121) message
(CC #121) message
cause
cause the
the following
following response
response in
in GM
GM devices:
devices:
•' Set
Set Modulation
Modulation (#1)
(#1) to
to 0.
0.
•' Set
Set Expression (#11) to 127.
Expression (#11) to 127.
•' Set
Set Pedals
Pedals (#64-67)
(#64-67) to
to 0.
0.
•' Set
Set Registered
Registered and
and Non-registered
Non-registered parameter
parameter LSB
LSB and
and MSB
MSB to
to null
null value
value (127).
(127).
•' Set
Set Pitch
Pitch Bender
Bender to
to center
center (64/0).
(64/0).
•' Reset Channel pressure
Reset Channel pressure to 0.to 0.
•' Reset
Reset polyphonic
polyphonic pressure
pressure to to 0
0 (for
(for all
all notes
notes on
on that
that Channel).
Channel).
•' All
All other
other controllers
controllers should
should bebe set
set to
to 0,
0, otherwise
otherwise the
the behavior
behavior should
should be
be
documented.
documented.
The Association of
The Association of Music
Music Electronics
Electronics Industry
Industry (AMEI,
(AMEI, formerly
formerly the
the Japan
Japan MIDI
MIDI
Standard
Standard Committee)
Committee) hashas proposed
proposed that
that the
the following
following parameters
parameters specifically be left
specifically be left
unchanged
unchanged upon
upon receipt
receipt of
of a
a Reset All Controllers
Reset All Controllers message.
message. The
The MMA
MMA hashas not
not yet
yet
officially
officially adopted
adopted this
this recommendation
recommendation but but it
it is
is unlikely
unlikely that
that following
following this
this
recommendation
recommendation wouldwould cause
cause serious
serious incompatibilities.
incompatibilities. The
The MMA
MMA is is expected
expected to
to
respond
respond onon this
this issue
issue for both GM
for both GM and
and non-GM
non-GM devices
devices shortly.
shortly.
Do
Do not
not Reset:
Reseti
•- Program
Program change
change
•- Bank
Bank Select
Select (#0
(#0 and #32)
and #32)
•' Volume
Volume (#7)
(#7)
•' Pan
Pan (#10)
(#10)
•' Effects
Effects Controllers #91-95 (not
Controllers #9195 (not aa GM
GM control)
control)
•' Sound
Sound controllers #70-79 (not
controllers #7079 (not a
a GM
GM Control)
Control)
•' Other
Other Channel
Channel mode
mode messages
messages (#120,
(#120, #122-#127)
•0 Manufacturers
Manufacturers should
should create
create a
a section
section in
in their
their documentation
documentation for
for response
response to
to the
the Reset
Reset
All Controllers
All Controllers message,
message, especially
especially for
for controllers
controllers used
used by
by the
the device
device on
on a
a global basis, if
global basis, if
any.
any.
P age
Page 55
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
•0 If
If a
a device
device will
will respond
respond differently
differently to
to the
Reset All Controllers message
message in
in General
General MIDI
MIDI
mode
mode oror in
in its
its native
native mode,
mode, this
this behavior
behavior should
should also be documented.
also be documented.
Details:
Details:
Description
Desmption of Issue:
0f]ssue-‘
With
With the
the advent
advent ofof many
many new
new controllers
controllers in
in MIDI,
MIDI, including
including Bank
Bank Select,
Select, the
the state
state of
of a
a
controller
controller after
after reset
reset has
has become
become significant
significant to
to compatibility
compatibility issues
issues as
as well
well as
as in
in
performance
performance situations.
situations. Exactly
Exactly how
how should
should controllers
controllers in
in GM
GM devices be reset
devices be reset
following
following the
the reception
reception of
of a
a Reset All Controllers
Reset All Controllers (CC #121) or
(CC #121) or Turn
Turn GM
GM System
System On On
SysEx
SysEX message?
message? This
This specific
specific issue
issue was
was not
not addressed
addressed inin the MMA GM
the MMA GM Survey,
Survey, soso this
this
information
information has been obtained
has been obtained through
through anan MMA
MMA proposal.
proposal.
RPN/NRPN
RPN/NRPN Null
Null Function
Function Value
Value
•0 The
The RPN/NRPN
RPN/NRPN NullNull Function
Function (MIDI
(MIDI 1.0 Approved Protocol
1.0 Approved Protocol JMSC-0011)
JMSC-0011) isis not
not listed
listed as
as
a
a requirement
requirement inin the
the GM
GM Level
Level 11 specification,
specification, but
but according
according to
to the
the MIDI
MIDI protocol
protocol
should be recognized
should be by any
recognized by any MIDI
MIDI device
device which
which also
also recognizes
recognizes RPNs.
RPNs. Therefore
Therefore this
this
function
function is
is recommended
recommended forfor all
all GM
GM Devices
Devices (and
(and should be implemented
should be implemented inin response
response to to
the
Reset All message … see
Controllers message page 66).
seepage ).
Composer
Recommendations! See See the
the MIDI
MIDI Specification
Specification for
for instructions
instructions on
on when
when to
to use
use
this
this message.
message. Due
Due to
to the
the apparent
apparent lack
lack of
of implementation
implementation inin current
current products,
products, composers
composers
should
should not
not use
use this
this message
message if
if ignoring
ignoring it
it will
will cause
cause unacceptable
unacceptable playback.
playback.
Details:
Details!
Description
0f]ssue-’
RPNs
RPNs (and
(and NRPNs)
NRPNs) are are designed
designed so so that
that when
when aa parameter
parameter is is selected
selected and
and then
then
followed
followed by
by aa corresponding
corresponding DataData Entry
Entry (CC
(CC # 6/38)
6/38) or
or Data
Data Increment/Decrement
Increment/Decrement (CC (CC
# 96/97)
# 96/97) value,
value, all
all subsequent
subsequent datadata values
values will
will continue
continue toto address
address that
that parameter
parameter
until
until another
another RPN
RPN or or NRPN
NRPN is is selected.
selected. The
The “Null
“Null function”
function” value
value (7F
(7F for both the
for both the
MSB
MSB and
and LSB)
LSB) is
is used
used toto lock
lock in
in the
the value
value of
of the
the RPN
RPN oror NRPN
NRPN so so that
that subsequent
subsequent
Data
Data Entry
Entry and
and Data
Data Increment/Decrement
Increment/Decrement commands
commands are are ignored.
ignored. Some
Some
manufacturers,
manufacturers, however,
however, implement
implement the the Null
Null function,
function, or
or variations
variations thereof,
thereof, in
in
response
response to
to other
other events
events oror commands.
commands.
Findings:
Endingsi
Our
Our survey
survey determined
determined that
that there
there isis a
a confusion
confusion among
among manufactures
manufactures as as to
to what
what
exactly
exactly it
it means
means to to “null”
“null” a
a Registered
Registered or or Non-Registered
Non-Registered Parameter. Apparently some
Parameter. Apparently some
thought
thought the
the question
question applied
applied to
to resetting
resetting values
values to
to their
their default
default settings
settings (or
(or zero).
zero).
Respondents
Respondents alsoalso indicated
indicated that
that the
the following
following commands/events
commands/events affect
affect the
the current
current RPNRPN
values,
values, but
but did
did not
not always
always indicate
indicate which
which way.
way. (Note:
(Note3 some
some devices
devices respond
respond toto more
more
than
than one
one of
of these,
these, and
and some
some don’t
don’t respond
respond toto any
any of
of them):
them):
P age
Page 6
6
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
Commands/Events
Commands/Events that Affect RPN/NRPN
that Affect survey)
Values ((survefi
RPN/NRPN Values Respondents
Respondents
Power
Power Off/On
Off/On 3
HNJNJNOJOO
GM
GM Mode
Mode OnOn or
or other
other mode
mode change
change (CC#s
(CC#s 124-127)
124-127) 3
Program
Program Change
Change 2
Reset All Controllers
Reset All Controllers (CC#121)
(CC#121) 2
RPN
RPN Null
Null Function
Function 2
Bank
Bank Select
Select 1
The
The MMA
MMA does
does not
not yet
yet have
have a
a recommendation
recommendation onon the
the appropriateness
appropriateness of
of response
response to
to
these
these messages,
messages, other
other than
than Reset All Controllers
Reset All Controllers (recommended).
(recommended).
Use
Use of
of Data
Data Entry
Entrv Controllers
Controllers
•0 Data
Data Entry
Entry MSB
MSB (CC#
(CC# 6)
6) and
and LSB
LSB (CC #38) are
(CC #38) are required
required to
to be
be implemented by all
implemented by all GM
GM
devices
devices for
for the
the adjustment
adjustment of
of RPNs
RPNs defined
defined in
in the
the specification
specification
Composer
Composers adjusting
adjusting RPNs
RPNs should
should utilize
utilize the
the Data
Data Entry
Entry
MSB
MSB (CC#
(CC# 6)
6) and,
and, if
if necessary,
necessary, the
the Data
Data Entry
Entry LSB
LSB (CC #38), not
(CC #38), not the
the Data
Data
Increment/Decrement (CC #96/97) for this purpose.
Details:
Details!
Description
Description of issue:
ofissuef
According to
According to the
the GM
GM Level
Level 11 Specification,
Specification, a
a device
device must
must respond
respond to
to RPNs
RPNs 00-02.
00-02.
However,
However, it
it is
is not
not specified
specified how to adjust
how to adjust these
these parameters —by using
parameters —by using Data
Data Entry
Entry (CC
(CC
#6 and
#6 and CC #38), Increment/Decrement
CC #38), Increment/Decrement (CC #96/97), or
(CC #96/97), or by
by other
other means.
means.
Findings:
Endingsi
9
9 of
of the
the 13
13 respondents
respondents indicated
indicated that
that their
their hardware
hardware devices
devices support
support the
the Data
Data Entry
Entry
MSB
MSB (CC #6) for the adjustment of RPNs 00-02 (Pitch Bend Range, Fine Tuning, and
(CC #6) for the adjustment of RPNs 00-02 (Pitch Bend Range, Fine Tuning, and
Coarse
Coarse Tuning,
Tuning, respectively).
respectively). Only
Only one
one respondent
respondent indicated
indicated that
that the
the Data
Data Entry
Entry LSB
LSB
(CC
(CC #38) waswas supported,
supported, andand only
only one
one indicated
indicated support
support for
for the
the Reset
Reset RPN
RPN (7F/7F).
(7F/7F).
Because
Because thethe GM
GM Level
Level 11 Specification
Specification mandates
mandates response
response to
to RPNs
RPNs forfor pitch
pitch bend
bend
sensitivity
sensitivity and
and tuning,
tuning, support
support for
for the
the Data
Data Entry
Entry MSB
MSB (CC#
(CC# 6)6) and
and LSB
LSB (CC
(CC #38) isis
an
an oversight
oversight inin the
the specification.
specification.
GM Polyphony
QM Polvphonv Requirements
Requirements
•0 GM
GM devices
devices should
should have
have asas many voices (24
many voices (24 or
or more)
more) as
as possible
possible available
available at
at all
all times.
times.
•0 GM
GM Devices
Devices should
should diligently
diligently avoid
avoid “stacking”
“stacking” of
of voices
voices (oscillators),
(oscillators), so
so that
that composers
composers
can be sure
can be sure that
that 24
24 note
note polyphony
polyphony isis available
available for
for all
all instrument
instrument sounds.
sounds.
•o Composers
Composers maymay want
want toto limit
limit their
their compositions
compositions to to 16
16 simultaneous
simultaneous notes
notes for
for
compatibility
compatibility with
with currently
currently popular
popular products
products which
which “stack”
“stack” oscillators
oscillators in
in contrast
contrast to
to
the
the above
above recommendations.
recommendations.
P age
Page 77
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
Details:
Details:
Description
Desmption of Issue:
0f]ssue-‘
The
The GMGM Level
Level 11 Recommended
Recommended Practice
Practice specifies
specifies aa minimum
minimum of of either
either 24
24 “voices”
“voices” for
for
melodic
melodic andand percussion
percussion sounds,
sounds, or or 16
16 for
for melody
melody and
and 8 8 for
for percussion.
percussion. Most
Most people
people
assume
assume thatthat this
this means
means that
that under
under allall circumstances,
circumstances, a a GM
GM synthesizer
synthesizer that
that receives
receives
24
24 MIDI
MIDI note-on
note-on commands
commands will will produce
produce 24 24 distinct
distinct sounds.
sounds. However,
However, a a number
number of of
manufacturers,
manufacturers, in in an
an effort
effort to
to improve
improve sound
sound quality
quality without
without radically
radically increasing
increasing the
the
size
size of
of the
the sound
sound engine,
engine, use
use two
two oror more
more oscillators
oscillators to
to create
create some
some programs.
programs. For For
example,
example, Honky-tonk
Honky-tonk piano
piano (program
(program #4)#4) is
is often
often created by layering
created by layering two
two standard
standard
piano
piano sounds
sounds andand detuning
detuning them—a
them—a practice
practice which
which results
results in
in total
total polyphony being
polyphony being
reduced
reduced in in half
half (from
(from 24
24 to
to 12,
12, for
for example).
example). ToTo compensate,
compensate, manufacturers
manufacturers can can raise
raise
the
the number
number of of voices
voices available,
available, soso that
that the
the chances
chances ofof polyphonic
polyphonic overload
overload are
are reduced.
reduced.
But
But even
even in in those
those cases,
cases, unless
unless the
the manufacturer
manufacturer provides
provides at
at least
least 48
48 voices
voices and
and no
no
program
program usesuses more
more than
than two
two voices,
voices, polyphony
polyphony of of 24
24 cannot be guaranteed.
cannot be guaranteed.
As far
As far as
as composers
composers are
are concerned,
concerned, the
the question
question is,
is, under
under current
current practice,
practice, how
how many
many
voices
voices are
are available
available in
in a
a General
General MIDI
MIDI module
module to
to cover
cover all
all possible
possible scores? A secondary
scores? A secondary
issue
issue is
is whether
whether it
it is
is desirable
desirable to
to separate
separate percussion
percussion and
and non-percussion
non-percussion voices.
voices.
14
14 out
out of
of the
the 16
16 products
products described
described share
share polyphony between percussion
polyphony between percussion and
and melody
melody
voices.
voices. Of
Of the
the 22 others,
others, one
one is
is a
a software-based
software-based synth
synth engine
engine (wavetables
(wavetables are
are loaded
loaded
into
into a
a computer's
computer's RAMRAM andand played
played back,
back, under
under MIDI
MIDI control,
control, directly
directly through
through the
the CPU
CPU
and
and aa DAC),
DAC), and
and one’s
one’s answers
answers were
were ambiguous.
ambiguous. Of
Of the
the 14
14 products
products that
that share
share
polyphony,
polyphony, 10 10 provide
provide 32 voices. Of
32 voices. Of the
the remainder,
remainder, one
one provides
provides 64
64 voices, but since
voices, but since it
it
uses at least 2 voices on every program, the practical polyphony is reduced
uses at least 2 voices on every program, the practical polyphony is reduced to 32. to 32.
The
The use
use of
of multiple
multiple voices
voices to
to create
create GM
GM programs
programs isis widespread.
widespread. Only
Only one
one respondent
respondent
said
said that
that no
no programs
programs used
used multiple voices —
multiple voices — the
the others
others ranged
ranged from
from 15
15 to
to 55
55 (not
(not
including
including the
the “64-voice”
“64-voice” system
system mentioned
mentioned above),
above), with
with the
the median
median value
value being
being around
around
30.
30. The
The majority
majority of
of systems
systems have
have no
no programs
programs that
that use
use 33 or
or more voices, and
more voices, and of
of those
those
that
that do,
do, the
the median
median value
value is
is 5.
5.
GM
QM Voice
Voice Allocation
Allocation -- Overflow
Overflow and
and Channel
Channel Priority
Prioritv
•o Allocation
Allocation priority
priority should
should always be given
always be given to
to the
the most
most recent voice(s) played.
recent voice(s) played. Second
Second
priority
priority should be given
should be given to
to the
the loudest voice(s) currently
loudest voice(s) currently being
being played.
played. In
In addition,
addition,
manufacturers
manufacturers should
should implement
implement other
other musically-oriented
musically-oriented solutions,
solutions, such
such asas stealing
stealing
individual
individual oscillators
oscillators from
from multiple-oscillator
multiple-oscillator programs,
programs, and
and reassigning
reassigning oscillators
oscillators
which
which can
can no
no longer
longer contribute
contribute substantially
substantially to
to the
the perception
perception of
of a
a note.
note.
•0 Notes
Notes on
on certain
certain MIDI
MIDI Channels
Channels should
should have
have priority
priority over
over others.
others. That
That is,
is, Channel
Channel 1010
receives
receives highest
highest priority,
priority, followed by Channel
followed by Channel 1, 1, then
then Channel
Channel 2,
2, etc.,
etc., with
with Channel
Channel 16
16
receiving
receiving lowest
lowest priority.
priority.
P age
Page 8
8
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
Composer
Recommendations: It It is
is advised
advised that
that MIDI
MIDI file
file authors
authors insure
insure that
that voice
voice overflow
overflow
situations
situations (where
(where more
more than
than 24
24 notes
notes need
need to
to be
be played
played simultaneously)
simultaneously) are
are avoided.
avoided. AA
MIDI file
MIDI file checker
checker application
application can
can help
help identify
identify these
these situations.
situations.
Details:
Details!
Description
ofissuef
Roland
Roland and Yamaha recommend
and Yamaha recommend specific
specific Channel
Channel assignments
assignments for
for specific
specific
instrumentation,
instrumentation, supposedly
supposedly to
to provide
provide better
better compatibility
compatibility during
during a a voice-overflow
voice-overflow
situation.
situation. If
If allocation
allocation schemes
schemes can
can contribute
contribute to
to compatibility
compatibility problems,
problems, is
is there
there a
a
recommendation
recommendation for for how
how notes
notes (and
(and Channels)
Channels) should be prioritized?
should be prioritized?
Findings:
Endingsi
The
The respondents
respondents were
were split
split evenly between last-note
evenly between last-note and
and highest-volume
highest-volume priority.
priority.
Three
Three used various combinations
used various combinations ofof priorities.
priorities. The
The issue
issue of
of Channel
Channel priority
priority was
was not
not
addressed
addressed in in the
the survey;
survey; however,
however, many
many manufacturers
manufacturers including
including Roland
Roland and Yamaha
and Yamaha
follow
follow the
the scheme
scheme described
described above,
above, and
and this
this is
is also
also the
the scheme
scheme recommended
recommended by by the
the
IASIG
IASIG for
for the
the upcoming
upcoming Downloadable
Downloadable Sounds
Sounds specification
specification for
for synthesizers.
synthesizers.
Volume,
Volume, Expression
Expression &
& Master
Master Volume
Volume Response
Response
•0 Volume (CC#7)
(CC#7) and
and Expression
Expression (CC
(CC #11) should
should be implemented
implemented as
as follows:
follows:
For
For situations
situations in
in which
which only
only CC#
CC# 77 is
is used
used (CC#11
(CC#11 is
is assumed
assumed “127”):
“127”):
L(dB)
L(dB) == 40
40 log
log (V/127)
(W127) where V= CC#7
where V: CC#7 value
value
For
For example:
example: CC#7
CC#7 amplitude
amplitude
127
127 0dB
OdB
96
96 - 4.8dB
64
64 -11.9dB
-1l.9dB
32
32 -23.9dB
16
l6 -36.0dB
00 41¢
-7
This
This follows
follows the
the standard
standard "A"
"A" and
and "K"
"K" potentiometer
potentiometer tapers.
tapers.
For
For situations
situations in
in which both controllers
which both controllers are
are used:
used1
L(dB) = 40 log (V/127 2) where
(V/1272) where V == (volume
(volume xX expression)
expression)
The
The following table denotes the interaction of volume
following table denotes the interaction of volume and
and expression
expression in
in
determining
determining amplitude:
amplitudei
CC#7 CC#11 total amplitude CC#7 CC#ll

CC#11 total amplitude
127
127 127
127 0dB
OdB 127
127 96
96 -4.8 dB
96
96 127
127 -4.8dB 127
127 64
64 -11.9dB
-ll.9dB
64
64 127
127 -11.9dB
-ll.9dB 127
127 32
32 -23.9dB
32
32 127
127 -23.9dB 127
127 00 -7
-$
16
16 127
127 -36.0dB 64
64 64
64 -23.9dB
0O 127
127 -7
-* 32
32 96
96 -28.8dB
P age
Page 9
9
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
•o The
The Master Volume SysEx
Master Volume SysEx message
message is
is not
not specified
specified in
in GM
GM Level
Level 11 (and
(and the
the MMA
MMA is is in
in
the
the process
process of
of clarifying
clarifying its
its application),
application), so
so its
its implementation
implementation is
is optional
optional at
at best.
best.
Composer/Application
Composer/Application Recommendations: Volume should
Recommendations: Volume be used
should be used to
to set
set the
the overall
overall volume
volume
of
of the
the Channel
Channel prior
prior to
to music
music data
data playback
playback as
as well
well as
as for
for mixdown
mixdown fader-style
fader-style movements,
movements,
while
while Expression
Expression should
should be
be used
used during
during music
music data
data playback
playback toto attenuate
attenuate the
the programmed
programmed
MIDI
MIDI volume,
volume, thus
thus creating
creating diminuendos
diminuendos and
and crescendos.
crescendos. This
This enables
enables aa listener,
listener, after
after the
the
fact,
fact, to
to adjust
adjust the
the relative
relative mix
mix of
of instruments
instruments (using MIDI volume)
(using MIDI volume) without
without destroying
destroying the
the
dynamic
dynamic expression
expression ofof that
that instrument.
instrument.
Details:
Details!
Description
0f]ssue-’
Use
Use of
of volume
volume (CC#7)
(CC#7) and
and expression
expression (CC#11)
(CC#11) are
are required
required by
by GM
GM Level
Level 1, but there
1, but there is
is
a
a degree
degree of
of confusion
confusion regarding
regarding their
their exact
exact effect
effect on
on sound
sound levels,
levels, either
either singly
singly or
or in
in
combination.
combination. In
In addition,
addition, the
the Master Volume Universal
Master Volume Universal System
System Exclusive
Exclusive command
command is is
not
not mentioned
mentioned inin GM
GM Level
Level 1,
1, but
but is
is finding
finding favor
favor among
among some
some manufacturers.
manufacturers.
Findings:
Endingsi
Not
Not surprisingly,
surprisingly, all
all hardware
respondents said
said their
their devices
devices responded
responded to to Continuous
Continuous
Controller
Controller #7. There was general agreement about how these two controllers interacted
#7. There was general agreement about how these two controllers interacted
as
as well:
welli In
In 9
9 cases,
cases, their
their values
values were
were combined
combined (multiplied)
(multiplied) to
to get
get the
the actual
actual level.
level. The
The
recommended
recommended volume
volume response
response curves
curves for
for CC#7
CC#7 (volume)
(volume) and
and CC#11
CC#11 (expression)
(expression) used
used
herein
herein were
were provided
provided to
to the
the General MIDI Working
General MIDI Working Group
Group of
of the
the IASIG/MMA
IASIG/MMA by by
Yamaha Corporation.
Yamaha Corporation. Roland
Roland uses
uses the
the same
same response
response curve,
curve, and
and other
other Japanese
Japanese
manufacturers
manufacturers whowho are
are members
members ofof the AMEI have
the AMEI have agreed
agreed to
to do
do the
the same.
same.
Of
Of the
the 20
20 software
software respondents,
respondents, all
all used
used CC#7
CC#7 and
and 11
11 use
use CC#11.
CC#11. TheThe largest
largest number
number
of
of software
software respondents
respondents (6)
(6) said
said they
they used
used CC#7
CC#7 to
to set
set initial
initial level
level and
and CC#11
CC#11 forfor
dynamic
dynamic expression
expression during
during music
music playback.
playback. In
In 2
2 other
other cases,
cases, CC#11
CC#11 was
was set
set to
to aa preset
preset
level and kept there.
level and kept there.
Master Volume is
Master Volume is supported by 6
supported by 6 hardware
hardware respondents,
respondents, and
and 2
2 others
others have
have plans
plans to
to
include
include it
it in
in the
the future.
future. Only
Only 33 of
of the
the software
respondents use
use it.
it.
Response
Response to
to Pan
Pan
•0 Immediate
Immediate response
response to
to a
a Pan
Pan command
command (applying
(applying it
it to
to currently-sounding
currently-sounding notes)
notes) should
should
be
be supported.
supported.
Composer
Recommendations: Until
Until the
the above
above recommendation
recommendation isis universally
universally implemented,
implemented,
composers
composers of GM music files should be aware that sustained notes may not be panned
of GM music files should be aware that sustained notes may not be panned on
on all
all
devices.
devices.
Details:
Details:
P age
Page 110
0
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
Description
Desmption of issue:
ofissuef
Correct
Correct response
response to
to the
the Pan
Pan (CC #10) command
(CC #10) command is is not
not defined
defined in
in the
the GM
GM specification
specification
document.
document. Some
Some devices
devices respond
respond by
by immediately
immediately shifting
shifting the
the apparent
apparent position
position of
of all
all
currently
currently sounding
sounding notes
notes (on
(on the
the Channel),
Channel), while
while others
others will
will not
not move
move a
a current
current sound
sound
(choosing
(choosing to
to Pan
Pan only
only those
those notes
notes received after the
received m the Pan
Pan command).
command).
Findings:
Endingsi
Software
Software makers
makers seem
seem to be more
to be more optimistic
optimistic that
that sustained
sustained notes
notes will
will be
be affected
affected by
by
Pan
Pan commands
commands than
than the
the current
current state
state of
of hardware
hardware would
would indicate.
indicate. 12
12 of
of the
the 20
20
software
respondents expect
expect Pan
Pan commands
commands to to be
be acted
acted upon
upon immediately,
immediately, while
while only
only
5
5 of
of the
the 14
14 hardware
respondents said
said that
that sustained
sustained notes
notes will be affected
will be affected byby a
a Pan
Pan
command
command (although
(although two
two more
more said
said they
they were
were planning
planning to
to implement
implement sustained-note
sustained-note
Pan
Pan onon their
their next
next models).
models). Though
Though one
one could
could imagine
imagine cases
cases where
where not-panning
not-panning would
would
be nice,
be nice, one
one should
should assume
assume (by
(by default)
default) a
a timely
timely response
response toto a
a Pan
Pan message.
message.
Use
Use of
of Bank
Bank Select
Select Messages
Messages
•0 Bank
Bank Select
Select (CC should be completely
(CC #0/32) should completely ignored
ignored in
in GM
GM Mode.
Mode.
Composer
Composers of
of GM
GM music
music files
files should
should not
not assume
assume that
that any
any
voices other
voices other than
than the
the GM
GM Sound
Sound Set
Set are
are available
available and
and should
should therefore
therefore not
not use
use Bank
Bank Select
Select
messages. Variations on
messages. Variations on GM voices can
GM voices can be
be accomplished by altering
accomplished by altering the
the playing
playing style
style or
or by
by
using
using controllers
controllers to
to introduce
introduce variations
variations into
into the
the music
music
Details:
Details!
Description
ofissuef
GM
GM Level
Level 11 defines
defines only
only a
a single
single Sound
Sound Set
Set of
of 128
128 instruments
instruments and
and does
does not
not mandate
mandate
the use of the Bank Select controller (CC #0/32). Yet many GM instruments
the use of the Bank Select controller (CC #0/32). Yet many GM instruments provideprovide
additional
additional sounds,
sounds, accessed by Bank
accessed by Bank Select
Select commands
commands (sometimes
(sometimes followed
followed by
by Program
Program
Changes),
Changes), and
and some
some GM
GM devices
devices automatically
automatically go
go out
out of
of GM
GM mode
mode when
when Bank
Bank Select
Select
messages
messages are
are received.
received.
Findings:
Findingsi
12
12 of
of the
the 14
14 hardware
respondents recognize
recognize the
the Bank
Bank Select
Select MSB
MSB (CC #0). Of
(CC #0). Of those,
those, 44
also
also recognize
recognize the
the Bank
Bank Select
Select LSB
LSB (CC #32). In
(CC #32). In 33 cases,
cases, they
they are
are followed by a
followed by a
Program
Program Change
Change command
command in in order
order to
to call
call up
up a
a “variation”
“variation” on on the
the sound — this
sound — this is
is the
the
GS approach. In 7 cases they choose non-GM banks, and in at least
GS approach. In 7 cases they choose non-GM banks, and in at least one case they one case they
specifically
specifically take
take the
the device
device out
out of
of GM
GM mode.
mode. These
These commands
commands are are much
much less
less
frequently
frequently used
used on
on percussion
percussion Channels:
Channelsi only
only 22 of
of the
the devices
devices recognize
recognize Bank
Bank Select
Select on
on
Channel
Channel 10,
10, and
and then
then to
to select
select a
a non-drum bank for
non-drum bank for the
the Channel.
Channel.
P age
Page 1111
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
Things
Things are
are different
different on
on the
the software
software side:
side1 12
12 of
of the
the software
software recipients
recipients do
do not
not use
use Bank
Bank
Select
Select at
at all.
all. Of
Of the
the others,
others, 3
3 use
use CC#0,
CC#0, and
and 33 more
more also
also use
use CC#32.
CC#32.
Note:
Note! CC#0
CC#0 and
and CC#32
CC#32 were
were defined
defined in
in 1990
1990 as
as the
the Bank
Bank Select
Select message
message and
and should
should
not
not be
be used
used for
for any
any other
other purpose,
purpose, separately
separately or
or together.
together. Transmission
Transmission of
of only
only CC#0
CC#0
or
or CC#32
CC#32 is
is not
not aa complete
complete Bank
Bank Select
Select message
message and
and should
should be
be discouraged.
discouraged.
Response
Response to
to Program
Program Changes
Chang
•0 Program
Program Changes
Changes received
received during
during a
a sustained
sustained note
note should
should not
not cut
cut off
off the
the note.
note.
Composers/Application
Composers/Application Recommendations:
Recommendations! Despite
Despite the
the fact
fact that
that most
most GM
GM hardware
hardware will
will not
not
cut
cut off
off notes
notes upon
upon receipt
receipt of
of a
a Program
Program Change
Change message,
message, the
the safest
safest course
course of
of action
action is
is still
still to
to
send
send these
these messages
messages during
during silent
silent portions
portions of
of the
the music.
music.
Details:
Details!
Some
Some developers
developers expressed
expressed concern
concern that
that devices
devices receiving
receiving aa Program
Program Change
Change in
in the
the
middle
middle of
of a
a sustained
sustained note
note could
could cause
cause the
the note
note to be cut
to be cut off?
off? This
This turned
turned out
out to
to not be
not be
a
a problem—
problem— only
only 2
2 of
of the
the 14
14 hardware
respondents report
report that
that a
a Program
Program Change
Change sent
sent
during
during a
a sustained
sustained note
note will
will cut
cut off
off the
the note.
note.
Aftertouch
Aftertouch
•0 Channel
Channel Pressure
Pressure (Aftertouch)
(Aftertouch) response
response is
is aa requirement
requirement ofof General
General MIDI,
MIDI, and
and should
should
be
be used
used to
to add
add vibrato
vibrato (or
(or tremolo,
tremolo, if
if more
more appropriate)
appropriate) toto voices.
voices. Manufacturers
Manufacturers should
should
assume
assume that
that developers
developers will
will use the full
use the fa]! range
range of Aftertouch values,
of Aftertouch values, so
so high values of
high values of
Aftertouch should
Aftertouch should not
not create
create unnatural
unnatural amounts
amounts of of vibrato.
vibrato.
•o Other
Other uses
uses of Aftertouch such
of Aftertouch such as
as volume
volume oror timbral
timbral change
change should
should be
be avoided.
avoided.
Composer
Recommendations: Composers
Composers of of GM
GM music
music files
files should
should not
not hesitate
hesitate to
to use
use
Aftertouch to
Aftertouch to add
add vibrato
vibrato to
to voices;
voices; however,
however, since
since there
there are
are no
no standards
standards as
as to
to how
how much
much
vibrato is
vibrato is to
to be
be applied
applied with
with a
a given Aftertouch value,
given Aftertouch value, it
it is
is probably
probably wise
wise to
to err
err on
on the
the
conservative
conservative side,
side, lest
lest listeners
listeners experience
experience seasickness
seasickness after
after aa few
few bars.
bars. Some
Some
manufacturers
manufacturers alsoalso have
have chosen
chosen to
to implement Aftertouch as
implement Aftertouch as tremolo
tremolo where
where appropriate
appropriate to
to
the
the instrument,
instrument, so so this
this should be considered
should be considered by
by composers.
composers.
Details:
Details!
Description
0f]ssue-’
Response
Response to
to Channel
Channel Pressure
Pressure (Aftertouch)
(Aftertouch) is
is a
a GM
GM requirement,
requirement, but
but no
no specifics
specifics are
are
given
given as
as to
to how
how a
a device
device should
should respond.
respond.
Findings:
Findingsi
All but
All but one
one manufacturer
manufacturer recognizes Aftertouch, and
recognizes Aftertouch, and the
the majority
majority of
of them
them use
use it
it to
to
control
control either
either pitch-based
pitch-based vibrato
vibrato depth
depth or
or a
a more
more complex
complex set
set of
of vibrato
vibrato parameters.
parameters.
P age
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G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
Five
Five manufacturers
manufacturers said
said their Aftertouch response
their Aftertouch response was
was programmable,
programmable, and
and it
it is
is
probably
probably safe
safe to
to assume
assume that
that the
the default versions of
default versions of their
their GM
GM programs
programs map
map
Aftertouch to
Aftertouch to some
some form
form of
of vibrato.
vibrato.
Built-In
Built-In Effects
Effects &
& Response
Response to
to Effects
Effects Controllers
Controllers
•0 Although
Although notnot mandated
mandated byby GM,
GM, manufacturers
manufacturers should
should feel
feel free
free to
to provide
provide onboard
onboard
effects.
effects. The
The minimum
minimum suggested
suggested number
number ofof effects
effects is
is two
two —— Reverb
Reverb and
and Chorus
Chorus ——
though more may be provided, at the manufacturer’s
though more may be provided, at the manufacturer’s discretion.discretion.
•0 Controllers
Controllers 9191 and
and 93
93 should be used
should be used to
to set
set Reverb
Reverb and
and Chorus
Chorus send
send levels
levels in
in order
order to
to
maintain
maintain compatibility
compatibility with
with current
current defacto
defacto standards
standards (GS(GS and
and XG,
XG, among
among others).
others).
•0 Default
Default effects
effects send
send levels
levels (those
(those used
used on
on power-up
power-up or or upon
upon receipt
receipt of
of a
a GM
GM Mode
Mode On
On
message)
message) should
should be
be moderate
moderate (value
(value == 64
64 or
or less).
less).
•0 Unassigned
Unassigned Controllers
Controllers should
should not be used
not be used (to
(to switch
switch effects
effects or
or for
for any
any other
other purpose).
purpose).
Composer
Recommendations: If If including
including effects
effects controllers
controllers can
can enhance
enhance the
the playback
playback ofof a
a
file,
file, while
while at
at the
the same
same time
time the
the lack
lack of
of effects
effects will
will not
not harm
harm it,it, then
then composers
composers should
should feel
feel
free
free to
to use
use them.
them. Because
Because itit cannot
cannot bebe assumed
assumed thatthat effects
effects send
send oror return
return levels
levels will
will default
default
to
to any
any predictable
predictable value
value when
when a a GM
GM device
device isis turned
turned on
on or
or switched
switched to to GM
GM mode,
mode, composers
composers
should
should place
place initial
initial values
values —— for
for safety
safety purposes
purposes inin the
the lower
lower endend of
of the
the range
range —— for
for
Controllers
Controllers 9191 and
and 93
93 on
on all
all Channels
Channels in in “prep
“prep bars”
bars” at
at the
the beginning
beginning of of music
music files.
files.
Details:
Details!
Description
0f]ssue-’
Reverb,
Reverb, chorus,
chorus, delay,
delay, flanging,
flanging, EQ,
EQ, etc.
etc. are
are to be found
to be found in just about
in just about every
every GM
GM device
device
on
on the
the market,
market, since
since they
they can
can improve
improve the
the sound
sound significantly
significantly at
at relatively
relatively modest
modest cost.
cost.
GM
GM Level
Level 1,
1, however,
however, includes
includes not
not a
a single
single mention
mention ofof effects,
effects, and
and so
so manufacturers
manufacturers
are
are on
on their
their own
own as
as to
to what
what effects
effects to
to include,
include, and
and how
how to
to make
make them
them accessible
accessible to
to the
the
user.
user.
Findings:
Endingsl
A majority
A majority of
of music
music industry
industry respondees
respondees reported
reported their
their products
products have
have effects.
effects. 88 of
of the
the
respondents
respondents reported
reported their
their devices
devices could
could produce
produce two
two effects
effects simultaneously,
simultaneously, and
and 3 3
said
said theirs
theirs could
could handle
handle three
three or
or more.
more. The
The GS
GS (and base-level XG)
(and base-level XG) usage
usage of
of two
two
effects — reverb
effects — reverb and
and chorus
chorus —— are
are most
most common
common inin the
the GM
GM community.
community.
Virtually all
Virtually all of
of these
these devices
devices set
set their
their reverb
reverb and
and chorus
chorus send
send levels via CC#91
levels via CC#91 andand
CC#93,
CC#93, respectively.
respectively. Software
Software respondents
respondents are
are a bit more
a bit more conservative;
conservative; only
only 77 use
use
these
these controllers
controllers in
in their
their files.
files. Though
Though other
other effects
effects are
are available
available in
in some
some of
of the
the
hardware,
hardware, none
none ofof them
them were
were addressed by the
addressed by the software
software respondents.
respondents.
Only
Only one
one hardware
hardware respondent
respondent reported
reported that
that the
the effects
effects on
on their
their devices
devices are
are not
not
adjustable.
adjustable. 3
3 said
said they
they were
were adjustable
adjustable on
on a
a global
global or
or per-program
per-program basis,
basis, while
while 99 said
said
P age
Page 113
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G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
they
they were
were adjustable
adjustable on
on a
a per-Channel basis. Several
per-Channel basis. Several hardware
respondents use
use
unassigned
unassigned controllers
controllers or
0r NRPN’s
NRPN’s to
to select
select effects
effects programs
programs or
or variations,
variations, while
while others
others
use
use SysEx
SysEx messages.
messages.
The
The default
default settings
settings of
of the
the effects
effects varied
varied widely
widely among
among the
the hardware
hardware respondents,
respondents, and
and
effects
effects are
are not
not required
required for
for GM,
GM, soso no
no obvious
obvious recommendation
recommendation (other
(other than
than to
to follow
follow
the
the Sound
Sound Canvas
Canvas and XG guidelines)
and XG guidelines) is
is evident
evident from
from this
this survey.
survey.
Additional
Additional Notes
Notes About
About Controllers
Controllers
•0 Factory
Factory presets
presets should
should generally
generally be
be set
set up
up with
with all
all controllers
controllers (except Volume [CC
(except Volume #7]
[CC #7]
and Expression [CC
[CC #11]) set to 0 or 64 (center), as the case may be.
•0 The
The All Sound
Sound Off
Off (CC#120)
(CC#120) Channel
Channel Mode message
message is is recommended
recommended forfor all
all MIDI
MIDI
devices,
devices, though
though not
not listed
listed as
as a
a requirement
requirement inin the
the GM
GM System
System Level
Level 11 specification.
specification.
•0 Non-standardized
Non-standardized adjustments
adjustments should
should be
be made
made with
with NRPNs
NRPNs or or SysEx,
SysEx, asas defined
defined by
by the
the
MIDI
MIDI Specification.
Specification.
Composer
Composers of of GM
GM music
music files
files should
should assume
assume that
that the
the only
only
controllers
controllers available
available toto them
them are
are those
those listed
listed in
in GM
GM Level
Level 11 —
— with
with the
the addition
addition of
of Data
Data
Entry
Entry (CC#6
(CC#6 and,
and, if
if necessary,
necessary, CC #38) for
CC #38) for adjusting
adjusting RPNs.
RPNs. Use
Use of
of non-standard
non-standard controllers
controllers
for
for special
special purposes
purposes should
should be
be restricted
restricted to
to systems
systems (applications)
(applications) where
where the
the MIDI
MIDI data
data is
is
not
not intended
intended for
for playback
playback on on other
other systems.
systems.
Details:
Details!
Appendix A
Appendix A presents
presents a
a detailed
detailed listing
listing of
of the
the controllers
controllers used
used in
in surveyed
surveyed GM
GM
hardware
hardware devices. What is
devices. What is clear
clear from
from this
this data
data is
is that
that virtually
virtually all
all such
such devices
devices
support
support all
all the
the controllers
controllers and
and Channel
Channel Mode
Mode messages
messages required by GM
required by GM Level
Level 1. Most
1. Most
also
also implement
implement those
those described
described inin Roland’s
Roland’s GS
GS and Yamaha’s base-level
and Yamaha’s base-level XG
XG command
command
sets
sets (including
(including Bank
Bank Select
Select [CC #0/32], Data
[CC #0/32], Data Entry
Entry [CC #6/38], Sostenuto
[CC #6/38], Sostenuto [CC #66],
[CC #66],
Soft
Soft Pedal
Pedal [CC #67], Reverb
[CC #67], Reverb Send
Send Level
Level [CC #91], and
[CC #91], and Chorus
Chorus Send
Send Level
Level [CC #93]).
[CC #93]).
Among software
Among software respondents,
respondents, 2
2 replied
replied that
that they
they include
include RPNs
RPNs inin their
their files,
files, and
and one
one
replied
replied that
that they
they use
use “unassigned”
“unassigned” (non-defined)
(non-defined) controllers
controllers for
for internal
internal functions.
functions.
Appendix B
Appendix B presents
presents aa summary
summary of
of common
common NRPN
NRPN messages
messages for
for “voice
“voice editing”.
editing”.
Additional
Additional Instrument
Instrument Sounds
Sounds (Extensions
(Extensions to
to GM)
GM)
•0 Additions
Additions (or
(or variations)
variations) to
to the
the GM
GM Sound
Sound Set
Set should
should not be accessible
not be accessible while
while the
the device
device
is
is in
in GM
GM mode.
mode.
•0 In
In order
order to
to maintain
maintain some
some degree
degree of
of standardization
standardization among
among GMGM devices,
devices, organization
organization of
of
and
and access
access to variation sounds
to variation sounds may
may bebe most
most appropriate
appropriate if
if done
done in
in the
the manner
manner ofof GS
GS
and/or
and/or XGXG specifications.
specifications.
Composer
Composers of
of GM
GM music
music files
files should
should assume
assume there
there are
are no
no
other sounds available besides the GM Sound Set, unless they are writing for specific
other sounds available besides the GM Sound Set, unless they are writing for specific
platforms.
platforms.
P age
Page 114
4
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
Details:
Details!
Exactly
Exactly half
half of
of the
the devices
devices surveyed
surveyed contain
contain from
from anywhere
anywhere from
from 32
32 to
to 500+
500+ additional
additional
sounds
sounds besides
besides the
the GM
GM sound
sound set.
set. There
There was
was nono apparent
apparent consensus
consensus on
on how
how these
these
sounds
sounds are
are laid
laid out:
out3 only
only two
two manufacturers
manufacturers (besides
(besides Roland)
Roland) mentioned
mentioned GS’s
GS’s
“variations”
“variations” scheme,
scheme, andand the
the rest
rest use
use their
their own
own structure. Yamaha has
structure. Yamaha has since
since
introduced
introduced aa largely
largely compatible
compatible structure
structure with
with their
their XG
XG format, but there
format, but there are
are sufficient
sufficient
variations
variations between
between XG XG and
and GS
GS (and
(and GM)
GM) to
to require
require and
and additional
additional document
document
describing
describing this
this issue.
issue.
Additional
Additional Drum
Drum Sounds
Sounds &
& Kits
Kits (Extensions to GM)
(Extensions to (3M)
•0 Extra
Extra drum
drum sounds
sounds (additions
(additions or
or variations
variations to
to the
the GM
GM Percussion
Percussion Map)
Map) should
should not
not be
be
accessible
accessible while
while the
the device
device is
is in
in GM
GM mode.
mode.
•0 In
In order
order to
to maintain
maintain some
some degree
degree of
of standardization
standardization among
among GMGM devices,
devices, organization
organization of
of
and
and access
access to variation sounds
to variation sounds may
may bebe most
most appropriate
appropriate if
if done
done in
in the
the manner
manner ofof GS
GS
and/or
and/or XG
XG specifications.
specifications.
Composer
Composers of of GM
GM music
music files
files should
should not
not use
use variation
variation kits
kits
(via
(via program
program changes,
changes, etc.)
etc.) or
or extended
extended drum
drum notes
notes unless
unless absolutely
absolutely sure
sure that
that they
they will
will not
not
result
result in
in unacceptable
unacceptable degradation
degradation of of the
the performance
performance on on dis-similar
dis-similar instruments.
instruments. For
For
example,
example, the
the gentle
gentle Roland brush snare
Roland brush snare sound
sound will be replaced
will be replaced with
with a
a strong
strong snare
snare hit
hit on
on
most
most GM
GM devices,
devices, which
which would
would generally
generally be
be unacceptable
unacceptable toto the
the composer.
composer.
Details:
Details!
The
The GSGS approach
approach toto drum
drum kits
kits is very popular:
is very popular3 77 devices
devices provide
provide extra
extra sets
sets in
in
conformity
conformity with
with the
the GS
GS guidelines,
guidelines, and
and subsets
subsets oror approximations
approximations of of the
the GSGS sets
sets are
are
found
found inin 8
8 more.
more. Only
Only 22 devices
devices reported
reported that
that they
they had
had no
no additional
additional drum
drum sounds
sounds
besides the
besides the standard
standard GMGM set.
set. But
But how
how thethe additional
additional sets
sets are
are accessed
accessed isis not
not as
as clear
clear
cut.
cut. 66 use
use Program
Program Change
Change commands
commands (as (as per
per GS),
GS), 22 use
use Bank
Bank Select
Select by
by itself
itself (a
(a
practice
practice specifically
specifically prohibited
prohibited byby the MIDI Specification),
the MIDI Specification), and
and 22 use
use aa combination
combination of of
the
the two. Almost all
two. Almost all devices
devices use
use notes
notes outside
outside of
of the
the GM
GM Percussion
Percussion Map
Map range
range toto access
access
additional
additional sounds, but it
sounds, but it is
is unclear
unclear ifif there
there is
is any
any consensus
consensus therein.
therein.
Response
Response to
to Note-off
Note-off on
on Channel
Channel 10
10 (Percussion)
(Percussion)
•0 Only
Only those
those two
two GM
GM percussion
percussion sounds
sounds whose
whose duration
duration is
is most
most naturally
naturally under
under player
player
control — long
control — long whistle
whistle and
and long
long Guiro
Guiro —— should
should respond
respond toto note-offs
note-offs on
on Channel
Channel 10.
10.
Note:
Note-’ The
The MIDI
MIDI Specification
Specjfica t1'012 requires
requires that
that all
all Note-On
Note-011 commands
commands have
have aa
corresponding
correspondmg Note-Off command, and
Note-Offcommand, and it
it is
is assumed
assumed that
that all
all MIDI
MIDI transmitters
transmitters will
will
comply
comply with
With this
this requirement)
requirement)
Composer
Recommendations! There
There is
is little
little harm
harm (musically
(musically speaking)
speaking) sending
sending a a note-off
note-off
message
message to
to a
a drum
drum (one-shot)
(one-shot) that
that will
will be
be ignored, but composers
ignored, but composers of
of GM
GM music
music files
files should
should
also
also assume
assume that
that these
these messages
messages may
may not
not work
work on
on all
all GM
GM devices
devices and
and author
author accordingly.
accordingly.
Details:
Details:
P age
Page 115
5
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: GM
GM Synthesizer
Synthesizer Issues
Issues
Description
Descnpt1'011 of Issue:
0f]ssue-’
In
In musical
musical context,
context, percussion
percussion sounds
sounds are
are typically
typically of
of defined
defined length,
length, inin comparison
comparison to
to
other
other instruments
instruments which
which have
have aa variable
variable sustain
sustain segment
segment under
under composer
composer control. Are
control. Are
any
any of
of the
the percussion
percussion sounds
sounds in
in aa GM
GM device
device cut
cut off
off upon
upon receipt
receipt of
of a
a Note-off
Note-off
command?
command? This
This is
is of
of particular
particular importance
importance if
if composing
composing percussion
percussion tracks
tracks with
with drum
drum
pads
pads which
which have
have a
a short,
short, fixed-length,
fixed-length, note
note duration.
duration.
Findings:
Endingsi
Only
Only 33 of
of the
the 14
14 respondents
respondents said
said that
that any
any of
of their
their GM
GM percussion
percussion sounds
sounds respond
respond to
to
note-off
note-off commands.
commands. (Somewhat
(Somewhat more
more said
said this
this applies
applies to
to non-GM
non-GM percussion
percussion sounds.)
sounds.)
The
The sounds
sounds inin question,
question, when
when they
they were
were specified,
specified, included
included whistle,
whistle, long
long Guiro,
Guiro, and
and
open
open cymbals,
cymbals, with
with no
no apparent
apparent consistency.
consistency.
Mutually-Exclusive
Mutuallv-Exclusive Percussion
Percussion
•0 Two
Two mutually-exclusive
mutually-exclusive groups
groups for
for drum
drum sounds
sounds are
are recommended:
recommended: open/pedal/closed
open/pedal/closed hi-
hi-
hat and open/mute triangle. Additional groups of mutually-exclusive drum sounds
hat and open/mute triangle. Additional groups of mutually-exclusive drum sounds maymay
be
be included
included as
as long
long as
as those
those groupings
groupings make
make sense
sense musically.
musically.
Composer
Composers of
of GM
GM music
music files
files can
can assume
assume that
that the
the two
two above-
above-
named
named mutually-exclusive
groups are
are supported
supported by
by GM
GM devices
devices but
but should
should not
not assume
assume the
the
presence
presence of
of other
other groups.
groups.
Details:
Details:
Description
0f]ssue-’
In
In order
order to
to support
support realism
realism expectations,
expectations, manufacturers
manufacturers setset up
up certain
certain groups
groups of
of
sounds
sounds in
in the
the percussion
percussion set
set to be mutually
to be mutually exclusive,
exclusive, so
so that
that playing
playing aa sound
sound in
in the
the
group cuts off any other previously-played sound in the group (as would naturally
group cuts off any other previously-played sound in the group (as would naturally
happen).
Findings:
Endingsi
12
12 of
of the
the 14
14 respondents
respondents use use one
one or
or more
more mutually-exclusive
groups for
for their
their GM
GM
percussion
percussion sounds.
sounds. GS,
GS, for
for example,
example, mandates
mandates several
several mutually
mutually exclusive
exclusive groups:
groupsi
high/low
high/low whistle,
whistle, long/short
long/short Guiro,
Guiro, “open/mute”
“open/mute” cuica,
cuica, open/mute
open/mute triangle,
triangle, and
and
open/pedal/closed
open/pedal/closed hi-hat.
hi-hat. (Another
(Another pair,
pair, open/mute
open/mute surdo,
surdo, uses
uses sounds
sounds not
not included
included in in
the
the GM
GM Percussion
Percussion Map.)
Map.) Besides
Besides Roland,
Roland, one
one other
other manufacturer
manufacturer includes
includes all
all of
of the
the
GS
GS groups.
groups. 22 others
others include
include 33 of
of the
the GS
GS groups,
groups, and
and 22 more
more include
include 22 of
of the
the GS
GS groups
groups
(specifically
(specifically hi-hat
hi-hat and
and triangle).
triangle). 55 more
more have
have mutually-exclusive
mutually-exclusive groups but did
groups but did not
not
specify
specify what
what they
they were,
were, and
and one
one allows
allows users
users to
to define
define their
their own
own groups.
groups.
P age
Page 116
6
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: MMA
MMA GM
GM Music
Music File
File Issues
Issues
File
File Formats
Formats and
and Editing
Editing Capability
Capabilitv
•o SMFs
SMFs should
should be
be considered
considered editable,
editable, and
and if
if composers
composers want
want their files not
their files not to be editable
to be by
editable by
users,
users, they
they should
should use
use proprietary
proprietary formats.
formats.
•0 Files
Files which
which may be edited
may be edited should
should avoid
avoid Program
Program Changes
Changes within
within the body of
the body of the
the music,
music,
which
which could
could be
be lost
lost in
in editing,
editing, resulting
resulting in
in playback
playback with
with incorrect
incorrect sounds.
sounds. Likewise,
Likewise,
authors
authors should
should avoid
avoid controllers
controllers or
or notes
notes hanging
hanging over bar lines,
over bar lines, which
which could
could result
result in
in
unexpected
unexpected articulation
articulation and
and stuck
stuck notes
notes after
after editing.
editing.
The
The issue:
issue: What
What provisions
provisions need
need to be made
to be made so
so that
that GM
GM files
files can
can bebe edited
edited by
by users?
users? If
If a
a
GM
GM music
music file
file is
is user-editable,
user-editable, how
how can
can you
you enable
enable chunks
chunks of of files
files to
to be
be moved
moved around
around
while
while making
making sure
sure that
that Program
Program Changes
Changes and
and controller
controller messages
messages are are preserved
preserved in
in their
their
correct
correct places?
places? Can
Can editing be prevented?
editing be prevented?
Findings:
Findings: Exactly
Exactly half
half of
of the
the software
respondents said
said their
their files
files were
were not
not editable by
editable by
users.
users. Of
Of these,
these, 4 4 distribute
distribute files
files in
in a
a proprietary
proprietary (i.e.,
(i.e., non-translatable)
non-translatable) format,
format, and
and 5 5 are
are
read-only
read-only files,
files, either
either on
on a a CD-ROM,
CD-ROM, hidden
hidden in
in a
a CD-ROM
CD-ROM or or Windows
Windows Resource,
Resource, oror in
in an
an
unspecified
unspecified form.
form. One
One respondent
respondent puts
puts aa copyright
copyright notice
notice meta-event
meta-event into
into their
their files.
files.
Of
Of the
the files
files that
that are
are editable,
editable, all
all are
are provided
provided in
in SMF
SMF format.
format. Only
Only one
one respondent
respondent stated
stated
their
their files
files are
are in
in Type
Type 11 format,
format, and
and one
one stated
stated their
their files
files are
are in
in Type
Type 0
0 format;
format; the
the rest
rest
did
did not
not specify
specify a
a type.
type.
Only
Only one
one respondent
respondent said
said that
that documentation
documentation is is included
included with
with their
their software
software explaining
explaining
the
the issues
issues for
for editing
editing and
and providing
providing instructions
instructions on
on how
how to
to deal
deal with
with them.
them. One
One
respondent
respondent said
said “it
“it should
should be
be up
up to
to the
the sequencer
sequencer software”.
software”.
MIDI
MIDI Player
Plaver Control:
Control: Starting
Starting in
in the
the middle
middle
•0 MIDI
MIDI “player”
“player” oror driver
driver software
software should
should determine
determine whether
whether or or not
not a
a GM
GM music
music file
file can
can be
be
started
started in in the
the middle.
middle.
•0 Players
Players should
should bebe capable
capable of
of chasing
chasing controllers
controllers and
and program
program changes,
changes, either by scanning
either by scanning
the
the file backwards from
file backwards from the
the starting
starting point
point (“walking”
(“walking” the
the file)
file) or
or by
by using
using special
special setup
setup
files.
files. IfIf using
using the
the former
former method,
method, the
the scanning
scanning code
code must
must be
be fast
fast and
and have
have aa high
high level
level of
of
priority
priority in in order
order to
to avoid
avoid long
long delays.
delays.
The
The issue:
issue: Since
Since MIDI
MIDI is
is a
a serial
serial data
data stream,
stream, special
special care
care must
must be
be taken
taken when
when starting
starting a
a
sequence
sequence inin the
the middle,
middle, so
so that
that crucial
crucial commands
commands that
that normally
normally appear
appear at
at the
the beginning
beginning
of
of the
the sequence,
sequence, such
such as
as Program
Program Changes
Changes and
and controller
controller settings,
settings, are
are not
not overlooked
overlooked
when
when the
the music
music starts
starts to
to play.
play.
Findings:
Findings! 6 6 software
software application
application respondents
respondents hadhad aa simple
simple answer
answer toto this:
this3 they
they don’t
don’t
allow
allow files
files to
to be
be started
started in
in the
the middle.
middle. Of
Of those
those who
who do,
do, 5
5 said before they
said before they play
play the
the file
file
they
they scan
scan (or
(or “walk”)
“walk”) the
the file backwards from
file backwards from the
the designated
designated starting
starting point,
point, and
and transmit
transmit
appropriate
appropriate commands
commands as as they
they are
are found.
found. 33 allow
allow users
users to
to start
start the
the files
files at
at specific
specific
markers,
markers, and
and when
when they
they do,
do, a a special
special short
short setup
setup file
file containing
containing the
the necessary
necessary
information
information is is transmitted
transmitted first.
first.
P a g e 117
Page 7
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Re:
Re: MMA
MMA GM
GM Music
Music File
File Issues
Issues
File
File Data:
Data: Prep
Prep bars
bars
•0 Prep bars should
Prep bars should not
not be
be used
used where
where synchronization
synchronization and
and exact
exact starting
starting time
time is
is an
an issue.
issue.
•0 Prep bars should
Prep bars be as
should be as short
short as
as possible
possible (a
(a few
few clock
clock ticks
ticks should
should suffice
suffice in
in most
most situations)
situations)
The
The issue:
issue: It
It can be helpful
can be helpful for
for aa GM
GM sequence
sequence toto be
be preceded
preceded with
with aa preparatory
preparatory (or
(or
“prep”) bar of
“prep”) bar of some
some length
length so
so that
that the
the Turn
Turn GM
GM System
System OnOn message
message can be transmitted
can be transmitted
and
and initial
initial values
values for
for controllers,
controllers, Program
Program Changes,
Changes, pitchbend, Aftertouch, and
pitchbend, Aftertouch, and other
other
parameters
parameters can
can bebe set before the
set before the music
music starts
starts to
to play.
play. But
But prep bars can
prep bars can cause
cause problems
problems
when
when there
there are
are timing
timing issues
issues to be considered,
to be considered, such
such as
as if
if MIDI
MIDI file
file is
is used
used in
in sync
sync with
with
some visual. Should
some visual. Should such
such aa bar
bar be
be used,
used, and,
and, if
if so,
so, how
how long
long should
should it be?
it be?
Findings:
Findings! There
There is
is a
a lot
lot of
of variation
variation found
found in
in how
how prep
prep bars
bars are
are used.
used. Of
Of those
those who
who use
use
them,
them, 66 use
use one
one complete
complete 4/4 4/4 bar
bar or
or more,
more, while
while 44 try
try to
to minimize
minimize the
the amount
amount of
of time
time
necessary
necessary to
to start
start a
a file by making
file by making thethe prep bar very
prep bar very short,
short, measured
measured in
in a
a few
few clock
clock “ticks”
“ticks”
— for
— for example,
example, 99 ticks
ticks where
where 11 tick
tick == 1/480 beat.
1/480 beat.
Obviously
Obviously if if music
music isis to be synced
to be synced with visuals or
with visuals or used
used for
for scene
scene transitions
transitions — — prep
prep bars
bars
should
should bebe not
not bebe used,
used, oror at
at least
least kept
kept as
as short
short as
as possible.
possible. Composers
Composers should
should bear
bear in
in
mind
mind that
that rarely
rarely will
will all
all 16
16 MIDI
MIDI Channels
Channels be be called
called upon
upon toto play
play on
on the
the downbeat
downbeat ofof a
a
sequence,
sequence, soso only
only the
the tracks
tracks playing
playing at
at the beginning need
the beginning need to
to be
be initialized
initialized right
right away,
away,
and
and the
the time
time required
required to to do
do that
that in
in most
most cases
cases will
will be
be negligible.
negligible. The
The initialization
initialization
information
information for for other
other tracks
tracks can be transmitted
can be transmitted after
after the
the sequence
sequence starts,
starts, as
as long
long as
as it
it is
is
sent before they
sent before they need
need toto play.
play.
File
File Data:
Data: Pickup
Pickup bars
bars
•0 Pickup
Pickup bars
bars should
should be
be as
as brief
brief as
as possible,
possible, set
set to
to the
the minimal
minimal time
time signature
signature required
required
(generally, 1/4
1/4 or 3/8 will suffice).
•o A
A time
time signature
signature meta-event
meta-event should be inserted
should be inserted atat the
the end
end ofof the
the pickup bar in
pickup bar in order
order to
to set
set
the
the correct
correct time
time signature
signature for
for the
the body
body of
of the
the music
music toto follow.
follow.
The
The issue:
issue: Often
Often aa sequence
sequence will
will start
start out
out with
with aa “pickup” —a
“pickup” — a group
group of
of notes
notes shorter
shorter than
than
a
a bar
bar line
line that
that precede
precede the
the first bar, such
first bar, such as
as the
the three
three eighth-notes
eighth-notes at
at the beginning of
the beginning of
“Seventy-Six
“Seventy-Six Trombones.”
Trombones.” Should
Should this
this pickup
pickup bebe in
in a
a short bar by
short bar by itself,
itself, or
or should
should it
it be
be
the
the last
last part
part of
of a
a standard-length bar which
standard-length bar which has
has blank
blank space
space at
at the
the beginning?
beginning?
Findings:
Findings: 5 5 software
respondents said
said they
they use
use aa full bar at
full bar at the beginning of
the beginning of the
the
sequence,
sequence, andand leave
leave the beats before
the beats before the
the pickup blank. 4
pickup blank. 4 said
said they
they give
give the
the pickup
pickup bar
bar its
its
own
own time
time signature,
signature, equivalent
equivalent to
to its
its length
length (in
(in the
the above
above example,
example, 3/8),
3/8), and
and then
then change
change
the
the time
time signature
signature forfor subsequent
subsequent bars.
bars. 4 4 said
said that
that it
it depended
depended on on the
the situation,
situation, and
and 33 on
on
whether
whether thethe start
start time
time oror synchronization
synchronization of of the
the sequence
sequence waswas critical.
critical. One
One said
said they
they
don’t
don’t concern
concern themselves
themselves withwith the
the barlines
barlines at at all,
all, and just “let
and just “let the
the notes
notes fall
fall where
where they
they
may”.
may .
7)
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Re:
Re: MMA
MMA GM
GM Music
Music File
File Issues
Issues
File
File Data:
Data: SMF
SMF Marker
Marker Event
Event
•0 Markers
Markers (an
(an SMF
SMF Meta
Meta Event)
Event) may be used
may be used for
for any
any purpose, but a
purpose, but a specific
specific response
response to
to
markers
markers should
should not
not be
be assumed.
assumed.
The
The issue:
issue: The
The correct
correct use
use of
of Markers
Markers (Meta-Events
(Meta-Events under
under the
the Standard
Standard MIDI
MIDI Files
Files
Recommended
Recommended Practice)
Practice) is
is unclear
unclear in
in the
the SMF
SMF document.
document. How
How are
are they
they being
being used?
used?
Findings:
Findings: 3 3 software
respondents said
said they
they use
use markers
markers along
along with
with a
a short
short setup
setup file
file (as
(as
described
described inin the
the previous
previous topic)
topic) for
for alternate
alternate starting
starting points.
points. 2
2 use
use them
them toto synchronize
synchronize
sound
sound effects,
effects, visuals,
visuals, etc.
etc. (audio
(audio and
and other
other non-MIDI
non-MIDI events
events are
are being
being considered
considered for
for
inclusion
inclusion in
in a
a future
future version
version ofof SMF).
SMF). 22 use
use them
them for
for internal
internal purposes,
purposes, and
and 22 will
will use
use
them
them in
in their
their products’
products’ “next
“next evolution.”
evolution.” One
One respondent
respondent uses
uses them
them to
to designate
designate loop
loop
points,
points, and
and another
another puts
puts them
them onon a
a separate
separate track
track where
where they
they denote
denote program
program changes
changes
(no
(no details
details were
were given
given on
on this
this rather
rather odd
odd statement).
statement).
File
File Data:
Data: Other
Other Meta-Events
Meta-Events
•0 Copyright
Copyright information
information (text)
(text) should
should be placed
placed in
in the
the MIDI file using
MIDI file using the
the Copyright
Copyright Meta-
Meta-
Event.
Event.
•0 Song
Song Titles
Titles should be placed
should be placed onon the
the MIDI
MIDI file
file using
using the
the Sequence/Track
Sequence/Track Name
Name event
event on
on the
the
first
first track
track or
or in
in a
a Type
Type 00 file.
file.
•0 Meta-Events
Meta-Events should
should not
not be
be used
used for
for proprietary
proprietary purposes
purposes (except
(except when
when used
used in
in closed
closed
systems
systems such
such as video game
as video game consoles
consoles where
where the
the files
files can
can not
not be
be played
played on
on an
an incompatible
incompatible
device.)
device.)
The
The issue:
issue: How
How are
are other Meta-Events being
other Meta-Events being used?
used?
Findings:
Findings: The
The largest
largest number
number of of respondents
respondents byby far — 77 —
far — — are
are using
using the
the Copyright
Copyright
Notice
Notice Meta-Event.
Meta-Event. One
One other
other is
is putting
putting aa copyright
copyright notice
notice within
within the
the track
track name
name list.
list. 5
5
are
are using
using Meta-Events
Meta-Events forfor unspecified
unspecified oror internal
internal purposes.
purposes. 44 are
are using
using Lyrics.
Lyrics. 3
3 are
are
using
using Track
Track Names,
Names, andand 3
3 are
are using
using “Titles,”
“Titles,” presumably
presumably Sequence/Track
Sequence/Track NameName onon the
the
first
first track
track or
or in
in aa Type
Type 0
0 file.
file. One
One is
is using
using Cue
Cue Points
Points for
for alternate
alternate starting
starting points.
points.
File
File Data:
Data: Channel
Channel Assignments
Assignments
•0 No
No specific
specific assignment
assignment scheme
scheme (including
(including the the many
many GS,
GS, XG
XG and variants) can
and variants) can be
be
recommended
recommended as as a
a sole
sole scheme
scheme forfor all
all musical
musical performances.
performances. However,
However, new
new Meta-Events
Meta-Events
could be added
could be added to
to the
the Standard
Standard MIDI
MIDI File
File Recommended
Practice in
in future
future to
to identify
identify
parts
parts regardless
regardless of
of Channel,
Channel, allowing
allowing file
file players
players to
to intelligently
intelligently map
map parts
parts to
to playback
playback
Channels
Channels asas needed
needed to
to provide
provide the best possible
the best possible user
user interaction.
interaction.
The
The issue:
issue: Besides
Besides the
the restriction
restriction that
that Channel
Channel 10
10 be
be reserved
reserved for
for key-based
key-based percussion,
percussion,
are
are there
there any
any other
other ways
ways to
to designate
designate Channels
Channels for
for specific
specific instruments
instruments in
in a
a General
General
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Re:
Re: MMA
|\/||\/|A GM
GM Music
Music File
File Issues
Issues
MIDI
MIDI sequence
sequence that
that make
make sense?
sense? That
That way,
way, a
a user
user (or
(or aa hardware
hardware file
file player)
player) can
can know
know
how
how tracks
tracks are
are assigned
assigned (and
(and which
which to
to mute
mute or
or solo,
solo, for
for example)?
example)?
Findings:
Findings: 11
11 respondents
respondents said
said they
they use
use no
no special
special designations
designations for
for MIDI
MIDI Channels
Channels in
in a
a
sequence.
sequence. Of
Of the
the others,
others, each
each had
had their
their own
own idea
idea of
of how
how Channels
Channels should
should be
be used.
used.
Since
Since each
each file
file is
is designed
designed forfor a
a different
different purpose,
purpose, there
there is
is no
no assignment
assignment method
method which
which
would
would serve
serve all
all users.
users. Instead,
Instead, aa recent
recent proposal
proposal isis that
that the
the file
file could
could bebe encoded
encoded with
with
information
information which
which indicates
indicates which
which ofof the
the common
common musical
musical “parts”
“parts” appears
appears onon which
which
Channels
Channels at at which
which times.
times. For
For example,
example, the
the file
file could
could include
include an
an event
event which
which reports
reports that
that
following
following segment
segment on on Channel
Channel 2 2 contains
contains the
the Bass
Bass Part,
Part, while
while the
the segment
segment on on Channel
Channel 33
is
is the
the Right-Hand
Right-Hand Piano
Piano Part,
Part, Channel
Channel 4 4 is
is the
the Left-Hand
Left-Hand Piano,
Piano, etc.
etc. This
This can be changed
can be changed
throughout
throughout thethe piece
piece asas necessary,
necessary, and
and the
the parts
parts may
may bebe assigned
assigned to to totally
totally different
different
Channels
Channels in in another
another piece.
piece. This
This will
will enable
enable devices
devices (and
(and users)
users) toto easily
easily determine
determine what
what
parts
parts to
to play/mute
play/mute (etc.)
(etc.) in
in music-minus-one,
music-minus-one, musicmusic education,
education, andand other
other applications.
applications.
However,
However, this
this is
is not
not yet
yet an
an MMA
MMA recommended
recommended practice.
practice.
File
File Data:
Data: Multiple
Multiple Devices
Devices (non-GM
(non-(5M hardware)
hardware)
•0 Authors
Authors wishing
wishing to
to address
address multiple
multiple platforms
platforms should
should create
create different
different files
files for
for the
the different
different
platforms.
platforms.
•0 Files
Files authored
authored to
to Microsoft’s
Microsoft’s (now
(now defunct)
defunct) “Dual-Mode”
“Dual-Mode” format
format should
should be
be marked
marked using
using
Microsoft’s
Microsoft’s Mark-MIDI
Mark-MIDI utility.
utility.
•0 Files
Files authored
authored for
for Roland
Roland GS
GS or Yamaha XG
or Yamaha XG should
should include
include the
the appropriate
appropriate (GS (GS or
or XG)
XG)
reset
reset events,
events, but
but the
the GM
GM System
System OnOn message
message isis still
still required
required for all GM
for a_ll GM devices.
devices. See
See
Roland
Roland or Yamaha guidelines
or Yamaha guidelines for
for the
the correct
correct usage
usage ofof these
these messages.
messages.
•0 MIDI
MIDI file
file players
players should be capable
should be capable ofof remapping
remapping music
music files based upon
files based upon thethe identity
identity and
and
configuration
configuration of of the
the target
target device
device (new Meta-Events may
(new Meta-Events be added
may be added toto the
the Standard
Standard MIDI
MIDI
File
File Recommended
Practice for
for this
this purpose).
purpose).
The
The issue:
issue: Composers
Composers writing
writing for
for PC
PC applications
applications may
may need
need to
to write
write music
music that
that can
can be
be
played
played on
on multiple
multiple (not just GM)
(not just GM) formats.
formats. Should
Should they
they combine
combine all
all of
of the
the formats
formats they
they
want
want to
to address
address in
in one
one file.
file.
Findings: Apparently there

Findings: Apparently there are
are many
many ways
ways to
to address
address this
this issue.
issue. Three
Three respondents
respondents
produce
produce different
different versions
versions for
for the
the various
various platforms
platforms they
they want
want to
to address.
address. Three
Three depend
depend
on
on system
system software
software (i.e.
(i.e. Microsoft’s
Microsoft’s “MIDI
“MIDI Mapper”)
Mapper”) to
to send
send data
data to
to different
different devices.
devices.
Three
Three respondents
respondents use
use proprietary
proprietary Channel-mapping
Channel-mapping schemes
schemes and/or
and/or voice-allocation
voice-allocation
algorithms.
algorithms. One
One respondent
respondent uses
uses aa single
single format
format and
and depends
depends onon the
the software
software driver
driver to
to
mimic
mimic General
General MIDI
MIDI onon other
other formats. Yet another
formats. Yet another respondent
respondent claims
claims that
that tracks
tracks for
for
different
different platforms
platforms are
are assignable by a
assignable by a port
port event.
event.
Microsoft’s
Microsoft’s Multimedia
Multimedia PCPC (MPC)
(MPC) specification
specification for
for Windows
Windows 3.0
3.0 and
and 3.1
3.1 called
called for
for the
the use
use
of
of aa “Mark-MIDI”
“Mark-MIDI” flag
flag to
to specify
specify if
if the
the file
file included
included “Base”
“Base” (Channels
(Channels 13-16,
13-16, with
with
percussion
percussion on
on 16)
16) or
or “Extended”
“Extended” (Channels
(Channels 1-10,
1-10, with
with percussion
percussion onon 10)
10) performance
performance data
data
(or
(or both).
both). The
The Windows
Windows 9595 multimedia
multimedia documentation,
documentation, however,
however, recommends
recommends that
that this
this
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Re:
Re: MMA
|\/||\/IA GM
GM Music
Music File
File Issues
Issues
flag be omitted
flag be omitted from
from music
music files,
files, since
since GM
GM Level
Level 11 (using
(using all
all 16
16 Channels,
Channels, with
with percussion
percussion
on
on 10)
10) is
is specified
specified as being the
as being the minimum
minimum performance
performance standard.
standard.
Microsoft’s
Microsoft’s MIDI
MIDI File
File Player
Player (MCI
(MCI Sequencer)
Sequencer) has
has been
been written
written to
to recognize
recognize MPC
MPC
formatted
formatted files
files and
and ignore
ignore the base data
the base data in
in favor
favor of
of playing
playing only
only the
the extended
extended data
data on
on the
the
GM
GM device
device (eliminating
(eliminating the
the need
need to
to disable
disable certain
certain Channels
Channels to to avoid
avoid doubling-up
doubling-up of
of
instruments).
instruments). This
This practice
practice should be followed
should be by all
followed by all file
file players,
players, and be extended
and be extended to
to apply
apply
to
to GS
GS and
and XG
XG file
file formats
formats as
as well.
well.
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Second R evision
Revision
APPENDIX A:
APPENDIX
Voice
Voice editing
editing
The
The important
important issue
issue of
of GM voice and
GM voice and drum
drum sound
sound editing
editing may
may become
become standardized
standardized in in the
the
future,
future, at
at which
which time
time RPNs
RPNs will
will likely be assigned
likely be assigned for
for that
that purpose.
purpose. Until
Until that
that time,
time,
manufacturers
manufacturers areare free
free to
to assign
assign NRPNs
NRPNs (the
(the “proprietary”
“proprietary” equivalent
equivalent of
of RPNs)
RPNs) forfor this
this
purpose.
purpose. The
The following
following NRPNs
NRPNs are
are common
common to to both
both GS
GS and
and XG,
XG, but
but will
will also
also likely
likely have
have anan
unpredictable
unpredictable effect,
effect, or
or no
no effect,
effect, on
on GM
GM products:
productsi
MSB LSB Description

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
01h 08h Vibrato rate
01h 09h Vibrato depth
01h 0Ah Vibrato delay
01h 20h Filter cutoff frequency
01h 21h Filter resonance
01h 63h
63h Envelope attack rate
01h 64h
64h Envelope decay rate
01h 66h
66h Envelope release rate
18h rr Pitch coarse of specified drum sound
1Ah
lAh rr Level of specified drum sound
1Ch
lCh rr Panpot of specified drum sound
1Dh
t rr Reverb send level of specified drum sound
1Eh
lEh rr Chorus send level of specified drum sound
Note:
Note: rr = drum sound note number
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APPENDIX B:
APPENDIX
Fat
Fat Labs
Labs Instrument
Instrument Testing
Testing Specifications
Specifications
The
The following
following outlines
outlines the
the testing
testing requirements
requirements forfor Fat
Fat Labs
Labs Certification.
Certification. Fat
Fat Labs
Labs certifies
certifies
sound
sound cards
cards to be compatible
to be compatible with
with music
music written
written for
for GM
GM instruments
instruments (specifically
(specifically the
the Roland
Roland
Sound
Sound Canvas).
Canvas). Their
Their testing
testing process
process is
is provided
provided here
here as
as aa reference
reference for
for companies
companies curious
curious
about
about what
what has
has already been done
already been done to
to validate
validate GM
GM compatibility, but is
compatibility, but is not
not an
an endorsement
endorsement by by
the
the MMA
MMA ofof this
this particular
particular process.
process.
General
General
a.
a. The
The instrument
instrument system
system must
must comply
comply with
with thethe Level
Level 11 General
General MIDI
MIDI spec.
spec.
b. Polyphony
b. Polyphony lower
lower than
than 2424 simultaneous
simultaneous voices
voices will
will be
be acceptable
acceptable ifif listening
listening toto test
test files
files
reveals
reveals that
that the
the formula
formula used
used for
for dynamic voice allocation
dynamic voice allocation gives
gives a
a suitable
suitable performance.
performance.
c.
0. The
The instrument
instrument system
system mustmust default
default at
at power-up
power-up to to General MIDI mode.
General MIDI mode.
d.
d. The
The instrument
instrument system
system must
must default
default at
at power-up
power-up to to aa bend
bend range
range equal
equal to
to 22 half-steps.
half-steps.
e.
e. The
The instrument
instrument system
system mustmust respond
respond to to controllers
controllers forfor Mod
Mod Wheel, Volume, Pan,
Wheel, Volume, Pan, Sustain
Sustain
Pedal,
Pedal, Pitch
Pitch Bend
Bend Range,
Range, and All Notes
and All Notes Off.
Off. If
If it
it is
is claimed
claimed that
that the
the instrument
instrument system
system has
has
reverb
reverb and
and chorus,
chorus, itit must
must respond
respond toto controllers
controllers for for those
those effects
effects as
as well.
well.
f.
f. The
The instrument
instrument system
system must
must respond
respond toto Controller
Controller 77 while
while notes
notes are
are sustained.
sustained.
g.
g. For
For uses
uses in
in advanced
advanced DOS DOS games,
games, the
the instrument
instrument system
system must
must have
have an MPU-401 interface
an MPU-401 interface
in
in hardware,
hardware, or or must
must place
place minimal
minimal enough
enough demands
demands on on the
the host
host system
system that
that we
we can
can bebe
reasonably
reasonably sure
sure that
that all
all known
known software
software using
using General
General MIDIMIDI will
will work
work with
with the
the instrument
instrument
system.
system.
Individual
Individual Timbres
Timbres
After the
After the instrument
instrument system
system is
is set
set to
to a
a reference
reference level
level and
and tuning
tuning standard,
standard, each
each timbre
timbre will be
will be
subjected
subjected toto the
the following
following tests:
tests3
a. Volume at
a. Volume Velocity 64,
at Velocity 64, Different
Different Octaves.
Octaves. ForFor each
each octave
octave (4
(4 are
are tested:
tested1 middle
middle C,C, 2
2 octaves
octaves
below, 2
below, 2 octaves
octaves above,
above, and
and oneone note
note that
that floats
floats to
to 4
4 octaves
octaves above
above or below middle
or below middle C,C,
depending
depending on on the
the expected
expected range
range ofof the
the instrument),
instrument), a a velocity
velocity offset
offset of
of not
not more
more than ±5
than :|:5
must
must produce
produce a a perceived
perceived volume
volume thatthat matches
matches the
the Sound
Sound Canvas
Canvas forfor most
most listeners.
listeners.
b. Volume at
b. Volume at C3,
C3, Different Velocities. For
Different Velocities. For each
each velocity
velocity (3
(3 are
are tested:
tested: 17,
17, 64,
64, and
and 127),
127), a
a
velocity offset
velocity offset of
of not
not more
more than
than £5 ±5 must
must produce
produce a a perceived volume that
perceived volume that matches
matches thethe Sound
Sound
Canvas
Canvas forfor most
most listeners.
listeners.
c.
c. Envelope.
Envelope. TimeTime values
values for A, D,
for A, D, and
and RR must
must bebe within
within 10%
10% of
of the
the Sound
Sound Canvas's;
Canvas's; for
for
sustain,
sustain, a velocity offset
a velocity offset of
of not
not more
more than ±5 must
than £5 must produce
matches
the
the Sound
Sound Canvas
Canvas for for most
most listeners.
listeners.
d.
d. Intonation.
Intonation. Intonation
Intonation should
should be be within ±5 cents
within :|:5 cents of
of the
the Sound
Sound Canvas.
Canvas. For For timbres
timbres such
such as
as
"Honky-Tonk
"Honky-Tonk Piano,"
Piano," that
that vary
vary from
from the
the reference
reference pitch,
pitch, the
the instrument
instrument may may bebe less
less detuned
detuned
than
than the
the Sound
Sound Canvas.
Canvas.
P age
Page 2
233
G
GMM L evel
Level 11 D eveloper
Second R evision
Revision
Percussion
Percussion
Each
Each percussion
percussion instrument
instrument willwill be
be subjected
subjected to
to the
the following
following tests:
tests2
a. Volume at
a. Volume at C3,
C3, Different Velocities. For
Different Velocities. For each
each velocity
velocity (3
(3 are
are tested:
tested: 17,
17, 64,
64, and
and 127),
127), a
a
velocity offset
velocity offset of
of not
not more
more than
than £5±5 must
must produce
produce aa perceived volume that
matches the
the Sound
Sound
Canvas
Canvas for
for most
most listeners.
listeners.
b. Envelope.
b. Envelope. Time
Time values
values for A, D,
for A, D, and
and RR must
must be
be within
within 10%
10% of
of the
the Sound
Sound Canvas's;
Canvas's; for
for
sustain,
sustain, a velocity offset
a velocity offset of
of not
not more
more than ±5 must
than £5 must produce
matches
the
the Sound
Sound Canvas
Canvas forfor most
most listeners.
listeners.
c.
c. Panning.
Panning. Percussion
Percussion instruments
instruments mustmust be
be panned
panned toto produce
produce a a perceived
perceived placement
placement that,
that,
for
for most
most listeners,
listeners, matches
matches that
that of
of the
the Sound
Sound Canvas.
Canvas.
P age
Page 2
244

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