MIDI

Receiving MIDI

MIDI Input is supported through the use of a special object, the MidiInHandler object. This object will open a connexion listening to incoming MIDI messages on any valid port. There are only a few types of messages you should be able to listen to:

• MIDI notes using the get_note(channel) method or its sibling, get_note_last(channel).
• MIDI control changes using the get_control(control, channel) method or its sibling, get_control_last(control, channel).

MIDI messages are stored in a dictionary of lists, meaning that you can store the last n values received for each valid route. The memory is 20 events long by default. The get_control and get_control_last methods are calling the same internal method, named _get. The difference is only that one flips the optional last boolean that will return the latest value received in the list.

Using Sardine to receive MIDI messages, thus, is fairly straightforward. Declare your MidiInHandler:

midi_in = MidiInHandler(port_name=config.midi)
bowl.add_handler(midi_in)

You can now safely start to peek at messages coming in using the methods described above:

# Listen to control n°50 on channel n°1, always get latest message
midi_in.get_control(control=50, channel=0, last=True)
midi_in.get_control_last(control=50, channel=0) # idem

Sending MIDI

By default, Sardine will connect to a MIDI port. There is no such thing as a Sardine instance without a link to MIDI. Having only one port means that you will be limited to 16 channels. While this may already be a lot for some, other users will want to do something with their collection of 123 synthesizers. You can manually open up new MIDI ports by tweaking your Sardine session from the Python side:

# Add a new MidiHandler focusing on a specific port
your_midi_port: str = "exact_name_of_midi_port"
your_midi = MidiHandler(port_name=your_midi_port)

# Add the MIDI port to the session fishbowl
bowl.add_handler(your_midi)

Done! You now have a new MIDI port. The tricky part is now to add new objects to play with! Here is how to do so:

# If Ziffers is imported, grab a reference to its parser!

if ziffers_imported:
    midi._ziffers_parser = z2

N2 = your_midi.send  # For sending MIDI Notes
PC2 = your_midi.send_program  # For MIDI Program changes
CC2 = your_midi.send_control  # For MIDI Control Change messages
SY2 = your_midi.send_sysex  # For MIDI Sysex messages

if ziffers_imported:
    ZN2 = midi.send_ziffers  # Connecting the new Ziffers parser

You now have access to an interface to play notes, control changes, program changes and sysex messages. If you want to use the shorthand notation, you will have to do one extra step:

# Boilerplate for using the newly creating MIDI port with the shorthand
# syntax for swimming functions

def sy2(*args, **kwargs):
    return _play_factory(your_midi, your_midi.send_sysex, *args, **kwargs)

def n2(*args, **kwargs):
    return _play_factory(your_midi, your_midi.send, *args, **kwargs)

def zn2(*args, **kwargs):
    return _play_factory(your_midi, your_midi.send_ziffers, *args, **kwargs)

def cc2(*args, **kwargs):
    return _play_factory(your_midi, your_midi.send_control, *args, **kwargs)

def pc2(*args, **kwargs):
    return _play_factory(your_midi, your_midi.send_program, *args, **kwargs)

The _play_factory() method is not a function you are supposed to use directly. This function is mapping a sender (d(), n()) to a function that can be understood by a player (Pa, Pb).

This is everything you need to open new MIDI ports and replicate the normal behavior of the Sardine MIDI port. If you want to go even further, feel free to deep dive into the midi object itself. It might contain some sweet methods that you want to use!