Bank Select

Command Location: Staves Menu / Staff Manager

Some MIDI devices contain more than 128 instruments. MIDI Patch (instrument) commands only allow you to select between 128 instruments. The Bank Select method allows you to switch between banks of 128 instruments.

For example, if a MIDI device has 256 instruments they will likely be divided into two banks, each of 128 instruments. In order to access instrument number 129, you would have to access the first instrument in the second bank. You would therefore send a bank select message to switch to the second bank on the MIDI device, followed by a patch message to switch to the first instrument in the current bank.

Most devices use only the Bank 0 select method, but you can use the Bank 32 method to access devices with more than 128 banks.