OVERHYPING MIDI

[Steve Pescatore]

> 
>   MIDI since 1986 (yes, over 10 years), and have yet to run into any of
>   the problems some of you are trying to suggest. C'mon - get real ...
>   a "noticeable" delay from 8 note-on messages? At what speed ... 220bpm?

MIDI has been a very nice way of handling things for quite some time, but 
let's keep in mind how dated it is: When MIDI was in its infancy, the 
fastest thing a typical consumer could afford was _maybe_ a 286. Also 
look at the difference in top-of-the-line in the early 80s (Prophet - 1st 
MIDI, Juno60, etc) to  top of the line now (Trinity, Nord Lead, etc...) 
The difference in all of these factors is enormous. IMHO it is coming 
time for a new way of doing things. It's not all about delay, it also has 
to do with the fact that MIDI is, quite simply, a pain in the ass. it 
makes no sense anymore to have dedicated one-way communications between 
each node in the system when much better ways of networking (which is 
what MIDI is - another form of networking) exist and could be adapted for 
new uses (maybe not easily, but is any new technology really _easy_?). 
Also, with the growing popularity of using computers to make emusic, why 
not use something that lends itself a bit better to actually making the 
most out of the computer with tasks such as programming, multimedia, who 
knows, maybe even the internet, vr, whatever.... 

>     My suggestion is this - if MIDI is such a pain, try going back to when
>   there was NO protocol except CV/GATE. If MIDI is such a limitation, go back
>   to playing MANUALLY ... I doubt most of you who are whining the loudest
>   could do anywhere close to what your sequencers and the like are doing
>   by ACTUALLY PLAYING LIVE. 

what? even if i was saying that MIDI is a BAD protocol why on earth would i 
want to go with no protocol at all? i personally use a mix of all of the 
above - MIDI, CV/Gate, and live. and by the same token, if another 
technology were to come along, i don't imagine i would sell everything i 
own, screaming "it's all obsolete!!" just because it doesn't support the  
latest greatest... i think i see your point here, but you're not making a 
valid argument by saying "deal with it, or do without it!"

>    I'm not trying to cause problems, I'm just sick of the whining. It's
>   like listening to audiophiles whining about the "inferior" sound quality
>   of CD's. (yeah, bring back viynl ..<chk> viynl.. <chk ...POP!> and $2500
>   turntables ... GET REAL, PEOPLE!)
> 
the vinyl/CD debate really isn't a good analogy. in that case, it's 
personal preference over which one sounds better. what i'm arguing is 
that - as a result of the overwhelming leaps forward in computer 
technology in the past 15 years - an old technology is becoming even 
older and i think it's time that we start considering newer, more innovative 
ways of doing things. do you want to use MIDI forever? Or would you like it if 
someone came up with a way for you to have the capabilities at your 
fingertips to do new exciting things that you can't conceive yet? I'll take 
the latter.

okay, now i'll get off my soapbox. (i apologize for keeping this thread 
going, but i felt it necessary to make a couple more points)

--steve.

--Steve Pescatore
pescator at rtp.dg.com