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

[Richard Wentk]

Probably "it depends". Sonically first in first out is likely to work best, since the notes don't have any other context you can use to tell them apart.

Matching velocity won't work because off velocity probably won't match on velocity.

Only a few synths support note off velocity. It's not a critical option, but I usually try to include as much flexibility as possible just in case it's useful.

Richard

On 13 Jan 2013, at 17:07, Ove Ridé <nitro2k01 at gmail.com> wrote:

> On 13 January 2013 14:19, François Best <francoisbest at gmail.com> wrote:
>> The only benefits of sending a note on with null velocity is if the synth
>> supports running status to improve speed, which there again might not be the
>> case for all synths.
>> To be safe, a note off will (should) work in any situation.
> 
> So today I learned about running status. Cool stuff!
> Well, I guess my question is, are there any notable examples of synths
> not supporting one or the other noteoff scheme? (It's the possible
> exceptions I'm looking for.)
> 
> On 13 January 2013 14:28, Richard Wentk <richard at wentk.com> wrote:
>> If your sequencer sends two notes pn the same pitch with the same channel - which can happen - sending two note offs will kill both.
>> 
>> This may not be what you want - the notes may have different durations.
>> 
>> In any case, the MIDI spec says ons should be paired with offs. That won't be true if you send two offs for each on.
> 
> This is interesting. I've only encountered this in the form of stuck
> notes. But this leads me to a second question. If you legitimately
> want to play two notes with the same pitch, how does the synth
> determine which note off belongs to which note on? Assuming for
> example that played notes are velocity sensitive, or evolve over time
> so the notes sound different from each other, this could be an
> important consideration. Matching velocity? First in, first out?
> -- 
> /Ove
> 
> Blog: <http://blog.gg8.se/>
> 
> "Here is Evergreen City. Evergreen is the color of green forever."
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