History of MIDI
As the electronic keyboards became more widely used, it became clear that we needed a standard way to combine sounds digitally. Although the idea of a standardized interface surfaced in 1981, it was not until 1983 that the MIDI 1.0 Detailed Specification was created. MIDI was originally designed for keyboards, but it was flexible enough that it could be easily adapted to various other kinds of electronic instruments. It emerged as the standard that was needed to universalize and better yet revolutionize the electronic music industry. A year later the MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) was created to help keep this standard alive. It is composed of both designers and manufacturers of MIDI hardware and software. In 1991, the General MIDI Level 1 was introduced as an update to the original specifications. This version includes a minimum performance requirement and compatibility standards between device manufacturers and content providers. In 1999, yet another update was introduced and is called General MIDI Level 2. GM2 increases the number of sounds available and also the amount of control over the sound. It is also backwards compatible, meaning all GM2 devices are compatible with GM1 devices.