The ION Operating Environment supports the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standard. This option allows MIDI data to be sent to external devices, either directly via the keyboard, or automatically as events contained within the Edit Decision List. MIDI data from an external device can also be recorded and inserted into the EDL as executable events.

• As ION/MIDI allows you to communicate with various MIDI capable devices by entering up to 3, three digit "bytes" of data, virtually any command available within the MIDI 1.0 specification can be transmitted. You are not limited to "pre-programmed" functions. Multiple devices can be controlled by connecting the "MIDI THRU" output of the first device to the second, and so on.

• MIDI commands can be sent either by single keystroke or automatically by the computer. Eight "MIDI transmit buffers" can be automatically loaded with separate strings of MIDI commands that are used most often. With ION Sequence Keys, these buffers can be chained together or fired from the Edit Decision List.

• MIDI events can also be inserted directly into the EDL, according to desired time code reference points, and executed along with all other forms of EDL data. With the Edit Decision List's capability to execute multiple events in real time, hundreds of sounds can be tripped in sync with picture from source devices such as samplers. Real time routing of these sounds to various discrete record tracks is possible via simultaneous MIDI control of capable consoles

• A limited MIDI sequencer is also incorporated in the software. This allows you to "perform" sound effects or music stings to picture, and have the EDL record the time code/MIDI note relationship automatically. You can then edit your performance if you wish, and have ION play it back in sync with picture. Various unwanted MIDI messages can be automatically filtered out of the data recorded by the EDL

• A "MIDI Echo" function causes virtually all MIDI input data to be "echoed" to the MIDI output, regardless of the filter settings and the MIDI Input channel settings. "MIDI Echo" is useful for triggering samplers. By hooking the output of a MIDI keyboard to ION's "MIDI In", and ION's "MIDI out" to the input of the sampler, you can audition the samples before inserting them as events in the EDL

• The ION/MIDI module brings the control of outboard processing devices such as digital reverb, delay, and pitch change, as well as capable consoles, under the same operating platform as all other devices in the studio environment. This helps to remove the clutter of separate computers and monitors, and brings new functionality to other ION Compatible devices such as the Neve Flying Faders automation system, which gains MIDI capabilities through the ION Operating Environment!