Yamaha ELB-01 Owner's Manual - Page 158

As shown in the illustration above, in an electronic instrument the sampled note (previously recorded note) stored in the tone generator section (electronic circuit) is played based on information received from the keyboard, and output through the speakers. So then what is the information from the keyboard that becomes the basis for note production? For example, let's say you play a "C" quarter note using the grand piano sound on the Electone keyboard. Unlike an acoustic instrument that puts out a resonated note, the electronic instrument puts out information from the keyboard such as "with what Voice," "with which key," "about how strong," "when was it pressed" and "when was it released." Then each piece of information is changed into a number value and sent to the tone generator. Using these numbers as a basis, the tone generator plays the stored sampled note. Example of Keyboard Information Voice number (with what Voice) 01 (grand piano) Note number (with which key) 60 (C3) Note on (when was it pressed) Timing expressed numerically (quarter note) Velocity (about how strong) 120 (strong) As described above, your keyboard performance and panel operations such as Voice selection are handled as MIDI events. All rhythm-related data-including rhythm patterns, auto accompaniment patterns, Rhythm Sequences, etc.-also consist of MIDI messages. MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) allows electronic musical instruments to communicate with each other, by sending and receiving compatible Note, Control Change, Program Change and various other types of MIDI data, or messages. 9 Connections 158 ELB-01 Owner's Manual