Latest Windows 11 build adds full MIDI 2.0 support and improved performance

In a nutshell: The MIDI 2.0 standard was introduced in 2020, nearly 40 years after the original version. MIDI remains a crucial technology for musicians and music producers, and its utility on PCs is set to expand as Microsoft plans to enhance support in Windows.

Microsoft recently released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27788 to users in the Canary Channel. This update could be a significant milestone for musicians using Windows, as it introduces major improvements to the Musical Instrument Digital Interface MIDI standard.

MIDI, a foundational music technology dating back to 1983, defines a communication protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that allow multiple musical instruments to work together. Microsoft is undertaking a complete rewrite of MIDI support for Windows, delivered through the open-source Windows MIDI Services project.

If you’ve ever played an electronic instrument or arranged music in MIDI format, you may find the new Windows MIDI Services technology particularly exciting. Microsoft states that the new stack supports both MIDI 1.0 and the more advanced MIDI 2.0 standard. It is compatible exclusively with 64-bit operating systems and finally extends full MIDI support to all modern Windows architectures, including Arm64-based Copilot+ PCs.

The MIDI 2.0 standard introduces high-speed data transmission, high-fidelity messages, endpoint discovery and negotiation, and more. Windows 11’s new MIDI stack further enhances performance with improved timing, reduced jitter in data exchange, and a faster MIDI driver that supports both MIDI 1.0 and 2.0 devices. It also features automatic API translation between the two versions, ensuring seamless compatibility.

Microsoft is making a concerted effort to provide first-class MIDI support in Windows 11. The standard remains widely used, not just in music production but also in certain industrial applications. The new USB MIDI 2.0 class driver, included with Preview Build 27788, was developed in collaboration with the Association of Musical Electronics Industry of Japan and AmeNote. According to Microsoft, it ensures compatibility with both MIDI 2.0 and legacy MIDI 1.0 devices.

However, the latest Windows 11 preview isn’t just about MIDI improvements. Microsoft is also introducing a “seamless” 1-click resume feature for OneDrive, allowing users to quickly pick up where they left off when switching between devices. Additionally, the Microsoft Store now supports selective installation for certain games, enabling users to save SSD space by skipping unwanted components, such as single-player campaigns or high-resolution textures in multiplayer-focused titles like Call of Duty and Halo.

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