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How to Assign MIDI Channels to Tracks

Assigning Musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) channels to tracks is commonly done when composing or arranging music for multiple instruments. Modern synthesizers generate a variety of musical instrument sounds. To assign a MIDI channel to a track implies designating a single musical instrument, or in some cases, a set of percussion instruments to play whatever music is stored in the track. To compose or arrange music using MIDI channels requires a MIDI sequencer--software for editing multiple MIDI or audio tracks. Many music notation programs include a MIDI sequencer for assigning MIDI channels to music staves.

Instructions

  1. MIDI Sequencer

    • 1

      Open a standard MIDI file in a sequencer or notation program. The file extension for standard MIDI files is "mid", but other extensions such as "kar" and "smf" are also used. In addition, many commercial music programs have proprietary file extensions such as "seq", "not" or "enc".

    • 2

      Go to the track view. Most sequencers have several views or windows with dialogue boxes and other configurable items. The most convenient way to view multiple MIDI tracks is to view them in the track view. If you assign MIDI channels using a notation program, go to the staff-setup window.

    • 3

      Highlight a track to be edited and go to the column labeled "Channel" or "Ch". Some sequencers have a drop-down list that displays MIDI channel numbers 1 through 16. Other sequencers allow you to type the MIDI channel number into a box.

    • 4

      Select the desired channel number for the highlighted track. You might also wish to assign an instrument for the selected channel. Depending on the sequencer, you can also set up values such as volume, pan, and key (transposition).

    • 5

      Highlight other tracks and assign a MIDI channel and other parameters that your sequencer offers. Remember that you can assign up to 16 MIDI channels.

Digital Music

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