GENERAL MIDI

General MIDI is an addition to the original MIDI specification. It follows a standard that assigns 128 instrument sounds that are assigned to specific numbers. There are sixteen specific families or types of instruments and eight instruments within each group. A separate group of percussion sounds is usually available on MIDI channel ten, and they are assigned to specific notes on a MIDI keyboard.

Any MIDI device that conforms to the General MIDI Standard will assign each instrument to a specific number and will allocate at least a 24 note polyphonic capability. The General MIDI Standard was created so that generic Standard MIDI Files created on a sequencer or notation application may be played back on another device while preserving the integrity of the original selection.

This Standard has also been integrated into the Quick-Time Movie format in the form of the Musical Instruments Extension . This program allows the tracks from a Standard MIDI File to be loaded as a Quick-Time movie that may be played back without a MIDI module. Plug-ins on a web browser will use the same extension to play MIDI files on the web. Quick-Time 3.0 now supports all 128 voices. Listed below is the complete list of the General MIDI Instruments. Some of the voices below are programmed to play a MIDI file with the selected sound by pressing on the link.

What is midi ?

Standard midi files