MIDI™ Turns 30

30 years ago, two competing synthesizer manufacturers engaged in a nearly unprecedented collaboration resulting in new technology that still today continues to revolutionize the music world. The MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) will preview its yearlong “MIDI Makes Music” 30th Anniversary celebration at 2013 International CES (Booth #5109) with a new video about the past, present and future of MIDI technology.

Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI1) is the GRAMMY®-winning2 technology that enables people to use electronic musical instruments along with computers and mobile devices to compose, record, notate, arrange, perform and learn about music. More than 700 companies produce products with MIDI technology – everything from electronic keyboards, guitars and drum sets, to video game consoles, cell phones, computers and tablets.

The “MIDI Makes Music” campaign, sponsored by a coalition of leading industry companies and organizations including, Roland, Yamaha, Gibson, Fishman, Dave Smith Instruments, Korg, Dream, Mediamation, NAMM, AES, Keyboard Magazine, Electronic Musician Magazine and Robertson Communications, is designed to educate consumers about the benefits of MIDI technology. Resources, videos, company links and more can be found at www.midi.org/midi30

“The story of MIDI technology is very important to tell because it’s not just a proven technology, but one that has widespread support in the international consumer electronics industry and will remain a valuable technology for CE products into the future,” said Tom White, president, MMA. “We are grateful to all of our sponsors, MMA Members and the millions of MIDI users and fans to help us celebrate this significant milestone.”

About the MMA
The MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) is a non-profit organization formed in 1985 to encourage companies implementing MIDI to make their products interoperable through compliance with MMA Recommended Practices. MMA publishes the official MIDI Specification, provides education about MIDI, licenses MIDI trademarks, and promotes the use of MIDI technology for new applications and in various industries. For more information, please visit www.midi.org

1 The name originates from “Musical Instrument Digital Interface,” but is actually pronounced “mi-dee”.
2 2013 Technical GRAMMY to Dave Smith and Ikutaro Kakehashi for the invention of MIDI