http://ps-2.kev009.com/ohland/M-ACPA_MIDI_Mapping/M-ACPA_MIDI_Mapping.html

I am kontused on the mapping of the percussion track. The README
suggests all three mappings use a percussion track.

General MIDI track maps Track 16 Input to Track 10 output. So what does
Channel Ten Input do?

IBM's README says that the Base synth "map channels thirteen through
sixteen as the IBM M-AUDIO MIDI SYNTH and also change the destination of
track sixteen to track ten."

I am konfuzed like Helga von Pain was beating on me with a riot baton.

More meditation required.

https://jeffpar.github.io/kbarchive/kb/084/Q84817/

FM Synthesizers will work best with the last four channels, 13-16.
Common sound cards in this category are the Media Vision Thunder Board
and the Sound Blaster I and II cards.

MIDI cards with genuine synthesizers (based on actual sampled sounds)
will work best with the first ten channels, 1-10. Common sound cards in
this category are the Roland LAPC-1, Roland Sound Canvas, and Turtle
Beach MultiSound card.

Louis Ohland wrote:
> https://jeffpar.github.io/kbarchive/kb/084/Q84817/

https://www.betaarchive.com/wiki/index.php/Microsoft_KB_Archive/127896

http://midi.teragonaudio.com/tutr/win95.htm#w3

Microsoft didn't have time to finish rewriting the MIDI Mapper for Win95
before the OS's release. Subsequently, MS created the IDFedit.zip
utility which you can download from my Web Site now. This utility can be
used to create an Instrument Definition File (ie, IDF) in which you
determine how the GM patch set and drum note assignments are remapped.
Then, you install this IDF as if it were another MIDI device upon your
system, and use it for MIDI IN and OUT.

http://midi.teragonaudio.com/midi/software/idfedit.zip

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiozIHQy5__AhVZAjQIHUMNAvs4PBAWegQIAxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.midi.org%2Fimages%2Feasyblog_articles%2F47%2Faudio_midi.pdf&usg=AOvVaw346O5QmCtqsLsI-KysHBpa

H8te the XBOX HUUGE link

Original Application Note from Crystal.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiozIHQy5__AhVZAjQIHUMNAvs4PBAWegQIEBAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.staroceans.org.s3.amazonaws.com%2FDC%2FHWBooks%2FUSB%2520Design%2520By%2520Example%2Fchapter11%2Fmiditut.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2sTSNqELdtzEch-S_9QmTS

http://www.cs.uccs.edu/~cs525/midi/midi.html

Use MIDI channels 13 through 16 for base-level synthesizer data
(reserve channel 16 for key-based percussion instruments).

Use MIDI channels 1 through 10 for extended synthesizer data (reserve
channel 1O for key-based percussion instruments).

https://web.archive.org/web/20090204141720/http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/midi/html/midi_mapper.html

MICROSOFT'S SPECIFICATION

Microsoft Corporation has produced their own version of the General MIDI
specification, complicating things somewhat. The Microsoft standards
require less of the equipment than the General MIDI standard. General
MIDI supports 32 notes sounding at the same time on all 16 MIDI
channels. Microsoft has defined two less capable devices -- a "basic"
device and an "extended" one.

Basic Device

A Basic device must be capable of playing 6 notes, in at least 3
different instruments, as well as 5 percussion notes. All sound cards,
including the original 8-bit sound cards, can do this. Basic devices
play the melodic instruments on channels 13 through 15, with the drums
on channel 16.

Extended Device

Extended devices must be capable of 16 melodic notes, using 9
instruments, plus 16 notes on 8 percussive instruments. Extended devices
use channels 1 through 9 for melodic sounds, with the drum track on
channel 10.

So... a MIDI channel can be analogous to a DMA channel, where a track
can be assigned to a channel.

OK. Still does not clarify the percussion [drum?] being assigned to
Channel 10. In, Out, double to the rear...

https://www.academictutorials.com/midi/midi-the-general-system.asp

The General MIDI system utilizes MIDI Channels 1-9 and 11-16 for
chromatic instrument sounds, while Channel number 10 is utilized for
"key-based" percussion sounds. These instrument sounds are grouped into
"sets" of related sounds. For example, program numbers 1-8 are piano
sounds, 9-16 are chromatic percussion sounds, 17-24 are organ sounds,
25-32 are guitar sounds, etc.

For the instrument sounds on channels 1-9 and 11-16, the note number in
a Note On message is used to select the pitch of the sound which will be
played. For example if the Vibraphone instrument (program number 12) has
been selected on Channel 3, then playing note number 60 on Channel 3
would play the middle C note (this would be the default note to pitch
assignment on most instruments), and note number 59 on Channel 3 would
play B below middle C. Both notes would be played using the Vibraphone
sound.

The General MIDI percussion sounds are set on Channel 10. For these
"key-based" sounds, the note number data in a Note On message is used
differently. Note numbers on Channel 10 are used to select which drum
sound will be played. For example, a Note On message on Channel 10 with
note number 60 will play a Hi Bongo drum sound. Note number 59 on
Channel 10 will play the Ride Cymbal 2 sound.

It should be noted that the General MIDI system specifies sounds using
program numbers 1 through 128. The MIDI Program Change message used to
select these sounds uses an 8-bit byte, which corresponds to decimal
numbering from 0 through 127, to specify the desired program number.
Thus, to select GM sound number 10, the Glockenspiel, the Program Change
message will have a data byte with the decimal value 9.

The General MIDI system specifies which instrument or sound corresponds
with each program/patch number, but General MIDI does not specify how
these sounds are produced. Thus, program number 1 should select the
Acoustic Grand Piano sound on any General MIDI instrument. However, the
Acoustic Grand Piano sound on two General MIDI synthesizers which use
different synthesis techniques may sound quite different.