[sdiy] midi clock

[Jim Johnson]

On 12/4/02 at 9:03 AM John Speth wrote:

>> I discovered this too, the same way, while writing MIDI 
>> filters.  I then read, I
>> think here, that most MIDI controllers do this note-on with 
>> zero vel thing instead
>> of note-off.  My first cut of the code was written for 
>
>I have a vague memory the reason for this is that very early in the MIDI
>days, some major manufacturer misinterpreted the spec and ignored note off
>msgs.  This mistake had critical mass and everybody had to follow suit.
>There were few players during that time and even fewer major players.

Not at all. The "note-on" overload was designed in from the beginning, as
an optimization when using running status when sending a series of notes,
without intervening controllers, etc.

You're thinking of the "All Notes Off" fiasco. All notes off was originally
intended as an "all sound off" message, but Roland misinterpreted it, and
decided to send all notes off after all keys were released. Why anyone
would want this is beyond me.

Jim Johnson 
jamos at technotoys.com