MIDI Show Control

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MIDI Show Control, or MSC, is a real-time

Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) standard. MSC enables all types of entertainment equipment to communicate with each other through the process of show control.[1]

The MIDI Show Control protocol is an technical standard ratified by the MIDI Manufacturers Association in 1991 which allows entertainment control devices to talk with each other and with computers to perform show control functions in live and prerecorded entertainment applications. Just like musical MIDI, MSC does not transmit the actual show media - it simply transmits digital information about a multimedia performance.

How MSC works

When any cue is called by a user (typically a stage manager) and/or preprogrammed timeline in a show control software application, the show controller transmits one or more MSC messages from its 'MIDI Out' port. A typical MSC message sequence is:

  1. the user has just called a cue
  2. the cue is for lighting device 3
  3. the cue is number 45.8
  4. the cue is in cue list 7

MSC messages are serially transmitted in the same way as musical messages and are fully compatible with all conventional MIDI hardware, however many modern MSC devices now use Ethernet communications for higher bandwidth and the flexibility afforded by networks. Other performance parameters are also transmitted such as lighting desk submaster settings using MSC SET messages.

All cues that a media control device is capable of playing are assigned MSC messages within the Show Controller's cue list and they are transmitted from its 'MIDI Out' port at the appropriate show time, depending on the actions of the user and the show controller's internally timed sequences.

All MSC compatible instruments follow the MSC specification and thus transmit identical MSC messages for identical MSC events such as the playing of a certain cue on the media controller. Since they follow a published standard, all MSC devices can communicate with and understand each other, as well as with computers which have been programmed to understand MSC messages using the MSC Command Set.[2] All MSC compatible instruments have a built-in MIDI interface and many now follow one of the various MIDI-over-Ethernet protocols.

History

To create the MSC spec,

Magic Kingdom Parade at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
in September 1991.

MIDI Show Control software

Software Platform Company article
Martin M-PC Windows Martin Professional
SM-Designer Windows Richmond Sound Design
Navigator Windows Tait Towers
ABEdit Windows Richmond Sound Design
ShowMan Windows Richmond Sound Design
ABShowMaker Mac Richmond Sound Design
IMEASY Windows Mac
Manager Windows
SFX Windows
V-Control Open Source Show Control Windows Linux OS X
showcontrolpro (scp) Windows Mac
SAMSC Mac
Pure Data Windows Mac GNU/Linux
MAX/MSP Windows Mac
TRAX Mac
GType Windows
ShowFlow Windows
QLab Mac OS X
TJShow Windows
CUE Showcontrol Windows
PCStage Windows
CSC Windows
MultiPlay Windows
Isadora[3] Windows macOS Isadora (software)
Watchout Windows
Show Cue Systems Windows
Jands Vista Windows macOS
ChamSys MagicQ Windows macOS Linux

See also

References

  1. OCLC 1021889623.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
  2. ^ "Midi show control specification" (PDF). Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Troikatronix : Isadora".

External links

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