MIDI

MIDI is the universal language of electronic music. It doesn't transmit audio — instead, it sends performance data: which notes are played, how hard (velocity), pitch bend, modulation wheel position, and hundreds of other control changes. MIDI allows a keyboard to control a software synth, a DAW to sequence hardware, or multiple devices to sync together. Key concepts include channels (16 per port), velocity (0-127), CC messages (continuous controllers), program changes (preset selection), and clock (tempo sync). Modern extensions like MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) allow per-note expression for instruments like the Roli Seaboard.