There are many computer programs which are designed to take advantage of the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) specifications to control multiple synthesizer parts.

Many devices which are more modern than the MIDI specification store far more than 128 programs.

In the MIDI specification, the pitch wheel may send 16,384 possible variation values.

Only a few extensions of the original official MIDI 1.0 specification are described here; for more comprehensive information, see the MMA web site.

GM also specified the response to certain other MIDI messages in a more controlled manner than the MIDI 1.0 specification.

This agreement can come either because both follow the published MIDI specifications, or in the case of non-standard functionality, because the message meanings are agreed upon by the two manufacturers.

The original MIDI specification included approximately 120 virtual controller numbers for real-time modifications of live instruments or their audio.

Devices typically do not respond to every type of message defined by the MIDI specification.

Further, the synth's MIDI specification is surprisingly polished for an instrument of this vintage (unlike most earlier Roland synths, and even its direct successor, JX-10).

GM imposes several requirements beyond the more abstract MIDI 1.0 specification.