Boss Audio Systems GT-6 User Manual

MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, 
and is a world-wide standard for allowing electronic musical 
equipment to communicate by transmitting messages such as 
performance information and sound selections. Any MIDI 
equipped device is able to transmit applicable types of data 
to another MIDI equipped device, even if the two devices are 
different models or were made by different manufacturers.

In MIDI, performance information such as playing a key or 
pressing a pedal are transmitted as MIDI Messages.

First, we will explain briefly how MIDI messages are 
transmitted and received.

The following types of connector are used to convey MIDI 
messages. MIDI cables are connected to these connectors as 
needed.

fig.10-101

This connector receives messages from another 
MIDI device.

This connector transmits messages from this 
device.

This connector re-transmits the messages that 
were received at MIDI IN.

MIDI is able to independently control more than one MIDI 
device over a single MIDI cable. This is possible because of 
the concept of MIDI channels.

The idea of MIDI channels is somewhat similar to the idea of 
television channels. By changing channels on a television set, 
you can view a variety of programs. This is because the 
information of a particular channel is received when the 
channels of the transmitter and receiver match.

fig.10-102

MIDI has sixteen channels 1 – 16, and MIDI messages will be 
received by the instrument (the receiving device) whose 
channel matches the channel of the transmitter.

MIDI includes many types of MIDI messages that can convey 
a variety of information. MIDI messages can be broadly 
divided into two types; messages that are handled separately 
by MIDI channel (channel messages), and messages that are 
handled without reference to a MIDI channel (system 
messages).

These messages are used to convey performance 
information. Normally these messages perform most of the 
control. The way in which a receiving device will react to 
each type of MIDI message will be determined by the 
settings of the receiving device.

These messages are generally used to select sounds, and 
include a program change number from 1 to 128 which 
specifies the desired sound. The GT-3 also allows you to 
select any of the 340 different patch numbers in conjunction 
with bank select messages; a type of control change message.

These messages are used to enhance the expressiveness of a 
performance. Each message includes a controller number, 
and the settings of the receiving device will determine what 
aspect of the sound will be affected by control change 
messages of a given controller number. 

The specified parameters can be controlled with the GT-6.

T.V. information from many different broadcasting station is 
sent through an antena.

Select the channel of the 
broadcasting station you 
wish to watch