The MIDI Protocol: System Messages

An overview of MIDI System messages and how they can support MIDI programming and synchronization in your studio.


I ran away from an explanation of system messages in my previous video on MIDI Messages, instead focusing entirely on channel messages. In this video, though, I’m back to talk about System Exclusive Messages, System Common Messages, and System Realtime Messages, and how you can implement them for additional musical control.

0:00 Introduction
0:22 Quick Review of bits and bytes
0:57 Channel vs. System Messages
1:59 Categories of System Messages
2:36 System Exclusive (SysEx) Messages
4:50 System Common Messages
5:08 Song Select, Song Position Pointer
6:38 MIDI Time Code
7:31 Time Code Quarter Frame Message
9:10 Tune Request Message
9:58 System Real Time Messages
10:41 Active Sensing
11:25 Reset Message
11:56 MIDI Clock, Start, Continue, & Stop
12:39 MIDI Sync Demo in Max
13:06 MIDI Sync Demo in Logic Pro X
13:26 Wrap-up

MIDI Protocol 1: Bits, Bytes, and Binary


MIDI Protocol 2: MIDI Messages