[sdiy] MIDI, note off or note on with zero velocity?

[Tom Wiltshire]

On 13 Jan 2013, at 14:38, Andrew Simper <andy at cytomic.com> wrote:

> On 13 January 2013 21:12, Ove Ridé <nitro2k01 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> It's time for this question again (?). Which of the two options is the
>> safest bet if you had to choose to send only one? Are there any cases
>> where it's detrimental to send BOTH on a note off? For example if
>> there are synthesizers that will crash or otherwise misbehave if that
>> is done.
>> 
>> --
>> /Ove
> 
> I would choose note on with zero velocity since you can save bytes by
> using the "running status" encoding and not having to re-send the
> message type between successive note on and offs. This lowers latency
> for regular MIDI signals but won't really make any difference if
> things are down USB or in the box.

I agree with Andy. It boils down to whether it's more important to reduce latency, or have the flexibility of separate release velocity.

As he said, within a synth (say, main processor talking to voices) you could use the "proper" note off and use (or give yourself the option of using) separate release velocity. If you're sending data over a genuine ol' skool 5 pin DIN MIDI connection, you probably want it to go as fast as it can, and the saving from running status given by using Note-On-with-zero-velocity becomes worthwhile.

Either way, you have to choose. Doing both at once is not an option. Could you let the user select?

HTH,
Tom