Understanding MIDI
Before looking at how ChordWalk works with DAWs, SF2 Sound Samples, synthesisers, and other MIDI-enabled playing devices, it’s helpful to understand what MIDI is and how it works in music creation.
What Is MIDI?
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a digital language used by music software and hardware to communicate musical information.
Importantly, MIDI does not transmit audio. Instead, it sends instructions such as:
Which note to play
When to play it
How long to hold it
How hard it is played (velocity)
Control changes such as modulation or expression
The sound itself is produced by the instrument or software that receives the MIDI data.
Why MIDI Is Powerful
Because MIDI only sends instructions, one application can control many different instrument sounds.
Using MIDI, ChordWalk allows you to:
Create rhythm, melody, and harmony
Play multiple virtual instruments at the same time
Use popular DAWs, built-in SF2 Sound Samples, or external synthesisers
Change instruments without changing the musical data
This makes MIDI extremely flexible for composing, arranging, and performing music.
MIDI Channels:
Keeping Everything Organised
Why MIDI Channels Exist
In a basic MIDI setup, all MIDI-enabled devices that are listening will receive the same MIDI data.
To allow different musical parts to control different instruments independently, MIDI Channels were introduced.
A single MIDI connection (or port) supports 16 independent MIDI channels.
Each channel acts like a separate lane for musical instructions.
By assigning:
A MIDI source (such as ChordWalk) to a specific channel
A receiving instrument to listen only to that channel
you can ensure that each instrument plays only the part intended for it.
Using MIDI Channels with ChordWalk
ChordWalk can route MIDI data created in any Creation Area and send it on any of the 16 MIDI channels available on a MIDI port.
This allows you to:
Pair individual MIDI streams with specific virtual instrument tracks in a DAW
Send different musical parts to multiple SF2 sound samples at the same time
Control several independent sounds on a multitimbral synthesiser
Each instrument listens only to its assigned channel, keeping all musical parts separate and organised.
Multitimbral Devices and General MIDI
Multitimbral Explained
A multitimbral device can play multiple different sounds at the same time, with each sound responding to a different MIDI channel.
For example:
Channel 1: Piano
Channel 2: Strings
Channel 3: Bass
All sounds play simultaneously from one device.
General MIDI Convention
In the General MIDI standard:
Channels 1–9 and 11–16 play standard instrument sounds
Channel 10 is reserved for percussion
Each note triggers a different drum sound
MIDI Ports, Virtual Ports, and Polyphony
MIDI Ports
MIDI channels operate within MIDI ports:
Each MIDI port supports 16 channels
Ports act as entry and exit points for MIDI data
You can create multiple virtual MIDI ports using tools such as LoopMIDI, giving you additional sets of 16 channels per port.
This is especially useful when running ChordWalk and a DAW on the same computer.
The ChordWalk Creator’s Guide explains how to set this up.
Polyphony
Polyphony refers to how many notes a device can play at the same time.
32-note polyphony → up to 32 simultaneous notes
64-note polyphony → up to 64 simultaneous notes
Polyphony affects how complex your music can be before notes begin to drop out.
Summary
MIDI is a language for musical instructions, not audio
MIDI channels allow multiple instruments to be controlled independently
Each MIDI port supports 16 channels
Multitimbral devices play multiple sounds using different channels
Polyphony determines how many notes can sound at once
ChordWalk uses MIDI channels to route musical parts cleanly and predictably
Understanding these basics will make it much easier to see how ChordWalk integrates with DAWs, sound libraries, synthesisers, and MIDI-enabled devices in the sections that follow.