The MIDI Association is the world’s top non-profit trade organization that connects the companies who develop new MIDI products and specifications with all the people across the globe who use MIDI products to create captivating music and art.
Join members of the Transport working group as the highlight the latest progress on MIDI 2.0 transports for Bluetooth, Web MIDI and updates to the Network spec to add remote management capabilities.
The MIDI Project Container File format is intended to deliver multiple tracks of MIDI data and other media. The set of tracks and media used in the file are enumerated and arranged in a Manifest file in XML format.
Media types supported include:
● MIDI Clip Files (for MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0)
● Musical Notation (MusicXML or PDF )
● Audio Files
● Video Files
● Lyrics: may be in MIDI Clip Files and/or in Musical Notation files.
● Metadata - XML and MIDI Message
The MIDI Association is working on a modular set of MIDI 2.0 DAW Control Profiles intended to eventually replace Mackie Control with a unified industry standard for all hardware and software.
The modular approach was taken because of the wide variety of capabilities of DAW controllers from simple start, stop and record buttons to elaborate devices with multiple displays.
The MIDI Association has worked on two Drum Profiles in 2025.
The Default Drum Note Map Profile specifies 62 Drum/Percussion Sounds mapped to Specified Note Numbers.
This is the common GM based mapping in many Drum Machines and Synthesizers since the 1980s.
This Profile was adopted in the fall of 2025.
The Drum Performance Profile is focused on the more advanced features available in electronic drums kits which have positional sensing for cymbals and drums and complex hihat configurations.
The Drum Performance Profile design is complete and it should be approved in Q1 of 2026.
The Piano Profile standardizes the velocity and pedal curves and the registered controllers used to control a piano's performance via MIDI.
The model is based on the acoustic piano which is why it was important to have Kawai, Steinway and Yamaha involved in the project.
Join Kawai Artist David Snyder and Steinway Artist John Beasley as they explore the creative possibilities that the Piano Profile opens up.
The MIDI Association will show a working demo of the Orchestral Articulation Profile at NAMM 2026.
This profile will standardize the method for embedding articulations directly into the MIDI 2.0 Note On message.
Chuck Sutton live on Push 3 & the Orchid
Cloudchord (Derek VanScoten) is a producer, guitarist, and genre-bending architect of atmospheric dance and chillhop, blending jazz, classical guitar, and left-field hip-hop into a blissfully hypnotic sound that has earned over 100 million streams and an Emmy for his documentary scoring work.
Youngteam
Will’s relationship with the guitar began early and quickly grew into a lifelong pursuit of musical expression, shaped by jazz studies with LA session icon Steve Watson and further refined at the New School for Jazz in New York.
DATSUNN is a prolific content creator and producer known for Twitch streams, viral beat-making videos, and collaborations with brands like Native Instruments and Roland, drawing listeners in with an entrancing blend of classic hip-hop, soul, and R&B.
OddKidOut
OddKidOut is a Philadelphia-based multi-instrumentalist, DJ, and producer whose dark, percussion-driven electronic sound grew from a childhood spent drumming in touring bands before evolving into finger-drumming and Ableton-based production, creating music for the underdog with a signature blend of grit and lush atmosphere.
The MIDI Association is proud to invite NAMM attendees to a special Lifetime Achievement Awards Ceremony honoring pioneers whose work helped define MIDI, computer music, and modern music production.
• Chris Adam — Co-founder of C-Lab and Emagic, key architect behind Notator and Logic
• Roy Elkins — Connector of artists, technology, and community across the global music ecosystem
• Greg Hendershott — Founder of Cakewalk, who democratized MIDI sequencing on personal computers
• David Kusek — Founder of Passport Designs and pioneer of computer music and MIDI education
• Gerhard Lengeling — Co-founder of C-Lab and Emagic, creator of Logic and architect of modern DAWs
• Dave Oppenheim — Co-founder of Opcode Systems and pioneer of MIDI sequencing and DAW workflows
• Charlie Steinberg — Founder of Steinberg, visionary behind modern MIDI sequencing and virtual studios
• Emile “Dr. T” Tobenfeld — Algorithmic music innovator who expanded MIDI’s creative boundaries
Join us at The MIDI Association Booth 10302 at the front of Hall A as we highlight The MIDI Innovation Awards winners for 2025.
Meet all the musical instrument, software and app innovators at NAMM! Everyone gets the mic in this networking session. Introduce yourself, connect faces to names, then break to network one on one.
SoundGirls was established to provide women working in professional audio a community to come to for support and advice, and for empowerment and inspiration.
Our goal is to raise awareness about MIDI in education at schools (secondary, college and university, and pro schools), MIDI Musical Instrument manufacturers and Dealers who sell MIDI products.
We think everyone should be able to experience the joy of making music.
We brought together music accessibility experts from all over the world to meet regularly & discuss how to make digital musical instruments more accessible.
Rampd will bring a number of artists to perform at The MIDI Association Booth 10302 on Saturday, January 24 right after the Music Accessibility event.
41st CSUN Assistive Technology Conference
Dates: March 11 – March 13, 2026
Location: Anaheim Marriott, Anaheim, CA, USA
The MIDI Association: Booth 1312
The MIDI Association booth at Super Booth 2026 is:
Booth O243
We will feature demos of the latest MIDI specifications and a special music accessibility demo