Microsoft has unveiled its inaugural in-box public preview of Windows MIDI Services, showcasing comprehensive support for the MIDI 2.0 standard. This release is part of build 27788 within the Windows 11 Insider Preview Canary Channel, a testament to its cutting-edge status. However, users should be aware of a known issue: an installation error identified as 0x8007000d and a failed .NET update marked by 0x80073712. Microsoft advises users to retry the build while avoiding the .NET update for a smoother experience.
Insights from the Development Team
The concept of Windows MIDI Services has been in the pipeline for some time. Pete Brown, Principal Software Engineer for Microsoft’s Developer Platform team, has been vocal about the technology since 2022, providing updates along the way. Notably, Microsoft opened the MIDI GitHub repository in 2023 and hinted at the forthcoming technology in October 2024.
Brown previously indicated that the Windows MIDI Services would debut in Windows Insider builds the following month. While it took until February for the feature to materialize in the Windows 11 Insider Canary Channel, this delay seems prudent, as Brown acknowledged, “We will have bugs.”
The Significance of MIDI
At its essence, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) serves as a standard for linking electronic instruments with devices like computers, facilitating music creation, editing, and recording. This update is particularly welcomed by those engaged in electronic music, although users should keep in mind that this is a preview in the Canary Channel, meaning not all functionalities may operate seamlessly. Microsoft encourages users to report any issues and compatibility challenges with existing hardware and software.
A musician friend of The Reg expressed enthusiasm about the development: “Having inbox MIDI 1.0 and 2.0 drivers means the end of badly written OEM drivers. The new multi-client MIDI implementation ensures you’re no longer locked into a single application, allowing for custom MIDI routing while still using a DAW. MIDI 2.0 is also a big deal — offering better connection speeds, two-way communication, and property exchange.” He also noted that Microsoft is “working on new inbox audio drivers” as part of this initiative.
Future Prospects
The technology is expected to extend to the latest supported versions of Windows 10 and 11 in the future, ideally before October, given the impending reduction in supported versions of Windows 10.
MIDI has often sparked debate within the tech community. For every enthusiast captivated by the nostalgic sounds of The Secret of Monkey Island theme played through MT-32 hardware, there are many who have engaged in spirited discussions over the merits of the Atari ST’s built-in MIDI capabilities versus the Commodore Amiga’s superior graphics.
Moreover, various projects aim to support MIDI technology, including mt32-pi, an evolving bare-metal MIDI synthesizer for the Raspberry Pi 3 and above. However, this project faced setbacks when its maintainer stepped down, citing what he described as “a sustained campaign of abuse.”
In the world of technology, sometimes silence can indeed be golden.
