Yamaha AR-80 - Manual (Page 168)

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MIDI
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a worldwide standard that allows virtually all
modern electronic instruments to communicate with each other and control each other’s functions.
For example, you could play different sounds on a connected synthesizer from the keyboards of the
AR-80. In another application, a rhythm machine can be programmed to play its rhythms in perfect
synchronization with the tempo set on the Electone.
For two MIDI instruments to properly communicate with each other, they must be connected by
MIDI cables. In a very basic example, the MIDI OUT terminal on the AR-80 (on the rear panel)
could be connected to the MIDI IN of a MIDI keyboard or tone generator, allowing you to play
the sounds on the connected device from the keyboards of the AR-80.
The instruments communicate with each other by sending “messages” or MIDI data. These
messages are transmitted over one of sixteen different MIDI channels. Provided the MIDI
channels are set properly and provided the connected instrument has “multi-timbral” capability,
you can play separate sounds on the instrument from each keyboard and Pedalboard of the AR-
80.
Similarly, by connecting the MIDI IN terminal of the AR-80 to the MIDI OUT of another device
(such as a keyboard or sequencer) and setting the proper MIDI transmit and receive channels,
you can play the Voices of the AR-80 from that device.
AR-80
IN OUT
Synthesizer
IN OUT
MIDI
Connect the MIDI IN of the AR-80 (on the rear panel) to the
MIDI OUT of the other device, and connect the MIDI OUT of
the AR-80 to the MIDI IN of the device.