MIDI Show Control
Encyclopedia
MIDI Show Control, or MSC, is a significant Real Time System Exclusive extension of the international Musical Instrument Digital Interface
(MIDI) standard. MSC enables all types of entertainment
equipment to easily communicate with each other through the process of show control
.
The MIDI Show Control protocol is an industry standard ratified by the MIDI Manufacturers Association
in 1991 which allows all types of entertainment control devices to talk with each other and with computers to perform show control functions in live and canned entertainment applications. Just like musical MIDI, MSC does not transmit the actual show media - it simply transmits digital information about a multimedia performance.
) and/or preprogrammed timeline in a show control software application, the show control
ler transmits one or more MSC messages from its 'MIDI Out' port. A typical MSC message sequence is:
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 utilize 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. All MSC compatible instruments have a built-in MIDI interface and many now follow one of the various MIDI-over-Ethernet protocols.
in 1990, which included developers and designers from the theatre sound and lighting industry from around the world. This Forum created the MSC standard between January and September, 1990. This was ratified by the MIDI Manufacturers Association
(MMA) in January 1991, and the Japan MIDI Standards Committee
(JMSC) later that year, becoming a part of the standard MIDI specification in August, 1991. The first show to fully utilize the MSC specification was the Magic Kingdom Parade
at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
in September 1991.
|+ List of MIDI show control
(MSC) programs
|-
! Software !! Platform !! Company article !! Company website
|-
| SM-Designer || Windows || Richmond Sound Design
|| www.richmondsounddesign.com
|-
| Navigator || Windows || Fisher Technical Services || www.fishertechnical.com
|-
| ABEdit || Windows || Richmond Sound Design
|| www.richmondsounddesign.com
|-
| ShowMan || Windows || Richmond Sound Design
|| www.richmondsounddesign.com
|-
| ABShowMaker || Mac || Richmond Sound Design
|| www.richmondsounddesign.com
|-
| IMEASY || Windows Mac || || www.aegweb.com
|-
| Manager || Windows || || www.medialon.com
|-
| SFX || Windows || || www.stageresearch.com
|-
| V-Control || Windows Linux OS X || || www.vman.cc
|-
| showcontrolpro (scp) || Windows Mac || || www.showcontrolpro.co.uk
|-
| SAMSC || Mac || || www.samsc.com
|-
| Pure Data || Windows Mac GNU/Linux || || www.puredata.org
|-
| MAX/MSP || Windows Mac || || www.cycling74.com
|-
| TRAX || Mac || || www.dataton.com
|-
| GType || Windows || || www.mckenzieelectronics.com
|-
| ShowFlow || Windows || || www.mediamat.com
|-
| QLab
|| Mac OS X || || figure53.com
|-
| TJShow || Windows || || www.tjshow.com
|-
| CUE Showcontrol || Windows || || www.tegen-licht.nl/cue-showcontrol/
|-
| PCStage || Windows || || www.lowernab.co.uk
|-
| CSC || Windows || || www.ctrelectronics.co.uk
|-
| MultiPlay || Windows || || www.audiovisualdevices.com.au
|-
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
MIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
(MIDI) standard. MSC enables all types of entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
equipment to easily communicate with each other through the process of show control
Show control
Show control is the use of automation technology to link together and operate multiple entertainment control systems in a coordinated manner. It is distinguished from entertainment control , which coordinates elements within a single entertainment discipline such as lighting, sound, video, rigging...
.
The MIDI Show Control protocol is an industry standard ratified by the MIDI Manufacturers Association
MIDI Manufacturers Association
The MIDI Manufacturers Association is an organization where companies work together to create the standards that assure compatibility among MIDI products. The MMA is a U.S. organization established in 1985 by the original developers of the MIDI 1.0 Specification in 1983. Since 1985 the MMA has...
in 1991 which allows all types of entertainment control devices to talk with each other and with computers to perform show control functions in live and canned 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 managerStage management
Stage management is the practice of organizing and coordinating a theatrical production. It encompasses a variety of activities, including organizing the production and coordinating communications between various personnel...
) and/or preprogrammed timeline in a show control software application, the show control
Show control
Show control is the use of automation technology to link together and operate multiple entertainment control systems in a coordinated manner. It is distinguished from entertainment control , which coordinates elements within a single entertainment discipline such as lighting, sound, video, rigging...
ler transmits one or more MSC messages from its 'MIDI Out' port. A typical MSC message sequence is:
- the user just called a cue
- the cue is for lighting device 3
- the cue is number 45.8
- 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 utilize 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. 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, Charlie Richmond headed the USITT MIDI Forum on their Callboard NetworkCallboard Network
One notable event which occurred on this network was the creation of the MIDI Show Control standard between January and August 1990. This was done using the 'MIDI Forum' which was set up by Charlie Richmond. Several dozen participants from around the world logged in using a variety of means,...
in 1990, which included developers and designers from the theatre sound and lighting industry from around the world. This Forum created the MSC standard between January and September, 1990. This was ratified by the MIDI Manufacturers Association
MIDI Manufacturers Association
The MIDI Manufacturers Association is an organization where companies work together to create the standards that assure compatibility among MIDI products. The MMA is a U.S. organization established in 1985 by the original developers of the MIDI 1.0 Specification in 1983. Since 1985 the MMA has...
(MMA) in January 1991, and the Japan MIDI Standards Committee
Japan MIDI Standards Committee
The Japan MIDI Standards Committee is the body that ratifies and proposes MIDI standards within the Japanese manufacturing and developer community. It now operates within the Association of Musical Electronics Industry . The JMSC ratifies MIDI as Japanese Industrial Standards through the Japanese...
(JMSC) later that year, becoming a part of the standard MIDI specification in August, 1991. The first show to fully utilize the MSC specification was the Magic Kingdom Parade
Magic Kingdom Parade
The Magic Kingdom Parade is a large theatrical presentation at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World which dates back to the beginning of the theme park....
at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom Park is one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort located near Orlando, Florida. The first park built at the resort, Magic Kingdom opened Oct. 1, 1971. Designed and built by WED Enterprises, the park's layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland in Anaheim, California...
in September 1991.
MIDI Show Control software
{| class="wikitable"|+ List of MIDI show control
Show control
Show control is the use of automation technology to link together and operate multiple entertainment control systems in a coordinated manner. It is distinguished from entertainment control , which coordinates elements within a single entertainment discipline such as lighting, sound, video, rigging...
(MSC) programs
|-
! Software !! Platform !! Company article !! Company website
|-
| SM-Designer || Windows || Richmond Sound Design
Richmond Sound Design
Richmond Sound Design Ltd. is a theatre sound design and show control systems and software developer and manufacturer. It was founded in 1972 by Charlie Richmond. The company began as a manufacturer of specialty mixers and theatre sound design consoles...
|| www.richmondsounddesign.com
|-
| Navigator || Windows || Fisher Technical Services || www.fishertechnical.com
|-
| ABEdit || Windows || Richmond Sound Design
Richmond Sound Design
Richmond Sound Design Ltd. is a theatre sound design and show control systems and software developer and manufacturer. It was founded in 1972 by Charlie Richmond. The company began as a manufacturer of specialty mixers and theatre sound design consoles...
|| www.richmondsounddesign.com
|-
| ShowMan || Windows || Richmond Sound Design
Richmond Sound Design
Richmond Sound Design Ltd. is a theatre sound design and show control systems and software developer and manufacturer. It was founded in 1972 by Charlie Richmond. The company began as a manufacturer of specialty mixers and theatre sound design consoles...
|| www.richmondsounddesign.com
|-
| ABShowMaker || Mac || Richmond Sound Design
Richmond Sound Design
Richmond Sound Design Ltd. is a theatre sound design and show control systems and software developer and manufacturer. It was founded in 1972 by Charlie Richmond. The company began as a manufacturer of specialty mixers and theatre sound design consoles...
|| www.richmondsounddesign.com
|-
| IMEASY || Windows Mac || || www.aegweb.com
|-
| Manager || Windows || || www.medialon.com
|-
| SFX || Windows || || www.stageresearch.com
|-
| V-Control || Windows Linux OS X || || www.vman.cc
|-
| showcontrolpro (scp) || Windows Mac || || www.showcontrolpro.co.uk
|-
| SAMSC || Mac || || www.samsc.com
|-
| Pure Data || Windows Mac GNU/Linux || || www.puredata.org
|-
| MAX/MSP || Windows Mac || || www.cycling74.com
|-
| TRAX || Mac || || www.dataton.com
|-
| GType || Windows || || www.mckenzieelectronics.com
|-
| ShowFlow || Windows || || www.mediamat.com
|-
| QLab
Qlab
QLab is a multimedia playback cue-based software designed for theatre and live entertainment.- History :QLab is a multimedia playback software created by a company based in Baltimore, Maryland, known as Figure 53. Version 1.3.5 of the software was released on May 25, 2007, for use on Macintosh OSX...
|| Mac OS X || || figure53.com
|-
| TJShow || Windows || || www.tjshow.com
|-
| CUE Showcontrol || Windows || || www.tegen-licht.nl/cue-showcontrol/
|-
| PCStage || Windows || || www.lowernab.co.uk
|-
| CSC || Windows || || www.ctrelectronics.co.uk
|-
| MultiPlay || Windows || || www.audiovisualdevices.com.au
|-
See also
- Musical Instrument Digital InterfaceMusical Instrument Digital InterfaceMIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
(MIDI) - Show controlShow controlShow control is the use of automation technology to link together and operate multiple entertainment control systems in a coordinated manner. It is distinguished from entertainment control , which coordinates elements within a single entertainment discipline such as lighting, sound, video, rigging...
- Sound designSound designSound design is the process of specifying, acquiring, manipulating or generating audio elements. It is employed in a variety of disciplines including filmmaking, television production, theatre, sound recording and reproduction, live performance, sound art, post-production and video game software...
- Theatre lighting
External links
- MIDI Manufacturers Association
- MSC 1.0 PDF (still a valid subset, is now superseded by V1.1)
- The Show Control Mailing List subscription page.