DAW Software Shootout-MIDI
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Setup & Record	Instrument Definitions	Predefined	MIDI instrument definitions translate program change commands into meaningful instrument names--piano, bass, trumpet, etc. It is common for MIDI sequencers to provide pre-defined instruments for popular MIDI synthesizers. Drum note names are particularly useful for editing drum note sequences.
		Custom	Even with predefined instruments definitions there will nonetheless be many cases where users will have a synth which is not pre-defined, so there should be a facility to easily create instrument definitions.
		Assign Patches, Banks, Devices	The sequencer should automatically transmit program change commands for each MIDI track at the beginning of playback.
	Drum Mapping		Drum maps allow you to assign drum names to midi notes (input mapping) and to reassign the note to a different output note (output mapping). This function is allows you to use different drum virtual instruments without changing the midi drum track.
	System Exclusive	Receive / Send	System exclusive data is part of the General MIDI standard for device-level communication with synthesizers. A common usage is receiving or sending a memory dump from a synthesizer. You also need to be able to store and retrieve SysEx data on your computer so an import/export function is necessary. The best SysEx functions also have editors for SysEx data.
		Import / Export
		Edit
	Mixing		Analogous to an audio mixer, functions to insert FX into a MIDI channel or replicate and send data to another channel are useful.
	Multi-Track Recording		Multitrack recording allows you to record audio or MIDI from different inputs to multiple tracks simultaneously.
	Step Recording		In MIDI step recording the sequencer accepts a note from a MIDI input, records it with a specified length, and then advances a specified interval and waits for the next note to be input. This function is useful, for example, when you want to input MIDI notes for a keyboard, but do not want to record at a real-time tempo.

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Processing	Real Time Processing	Event Filters	My times synthesizers transmit MIDI data that you may not want to receive in your music production software. Aftertouch and pitchbend controllers are common examples. Thus it is very useful to be able to filter which MIDI event types you wish to receive.
		Track/Mixer Controls	MIDI tracks typically have several sliders, volume and pan for example, that will send MIDI controller events when they are changed or when playback is initiated.,
		Event/Controller Automation	MIDI tracks also typically provide for a number of automation envelopes that will send MIDI controller and event commands as they are changed. Note that these controller events are not included in the MIDI clips and thus cannot be saved independently of the project.
		Note Processing	There are a number of note transformations that can be made in real time during MIDI recording and playback. Transpose, change velocity, and filters are a few examples.
		Arpeggiator	An Arpeggiator generates a series of MIDI notes, typically chord notes, based on the input notes of a sequence plus additional user-controlled parameters. Arpeggiators are useful for automatically creating melody or rhythm lines in dance and hip-hop music. "Basic" is defined as parameter-controlled only, whereas "Presets" refer to the capability to use stored note sequences.
	Batch Processing	Selection	It is reasonable to expect sophisticated selection functions for MIDI events--for example, "all notes between C4 and C6 with a velocity of less than 100".
		Edit Functions	Over the years sequencers have implemented a whole host of batch processing functions for manipulating MIDI data--transposing, velocity scaling, quantizing, etc. Thus you MIDI sequencer should provide a good array of these functions.
		Complex Processing	Complex processing refers to capability of applying programmatic logic to a series of events--"if a note is above C4, then generate a first-inversion chord with this note as the root", for example.
	MIDI FX Plug-ins		Conceptually MIDI FX have the same function as audio FX, except that they generate additional MIDI events to send to your synth instead of audio. Thus you can create echo, chords, arpeggios, etc.

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Editors	Event Editor		An Event Editor simply lists the MIDI events and allows you to change the values. Practically all sequencers have this editor, and it is typically used for troubleshooting, not for composing or arranging.
	Piano Roll/Drum Editor	Notes	Editing notes using the piano roll paradigm is the most basic function of a Piano Roll Editor, and most sequencers provide this function.
		Controllers	A Piano Roll Editor should also have the capability of displaying and editing note velocity and well as the controllers for a track, and most sequencers support this function.
		Edit Windows	It is common to have two piano roll editors, one as a separate window which has the most functionality and another which opens on the track in the timeline. The latter typically has less functionality but has the advantage of quick access as well as being able to see your MIDI events in relation to other tracks on the timeline.
	Staff Notation Editor	Clefs	Basic: Treble, Bass, Tenor, Grand Staff. Octave: Display of octave transposition. Drums: Percussion Clef
		Key & Meter	Capability of displaying key signatures and time signatures.
		Drum Notation	Capabilitiy of defining special note symbols for each percussion note.
		Guitar Tablature & Chords	Capability of displaying guitar tablature and chord grids.
		Display Quantize & Transpose	MIDI note timing and pitch often needs to be displayed differently than it is played.
		Page Layout	Ability to control page text layout such as title and author, staff spacing and grouping, page and bar numbering.
		Time Anchored Notation	Text (frequently lyrics) and chord notation anchored to points on the timeline.
		Embellishments	Dynamics: ff, pp, crescendo, etc. Note Symbols: staccato, tenuto, marcato, trill, modent, etc. Arrangement: Repeat, D.S., D.C., Simile, Coda, etc.

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Virtual Instruments	Types Supported		There are several standards for software synthesizer plug-ins, all of which are proprietary. VST is probably the most widely accepted.
	Freeze Synths		A Freeze Synth function creates an audio track from the output of a synth and its associated MIDI input. Being able to do this reduces CPU utilization.
	Instrument Categories	Piano & Keys	Pianos, electric pianos, clavinets, mallet instruments.
		Organ	Drawbar organs, rock organs, church organs, accordians.
		Synth Lead	Synthetic instruments frequently based on rich harmonic waveforms (square, saw, triangle) with distinct sounds suitable for lead parts.
		Synth Pad	Sustained instruments used for background harmony and atmosphere.
		Guitar & Plucked	Acoustic and electric guitars, banjos, and other plucked strings.
		Bass	Acoustic and synthetic basses.
		Drums & Percussion	Drum kits and other percussive instruments.
		Strings & Woodwinds	Acoustic and synthetic strings, both solo and emsemble.
		Brass & Reed	Acoustic and synthetic trumpets, horns, saxaphones, and other brass and reed instruments.
		Snyth FX & Ethnic	Soundscapes, vocals, and ethnic instruments such as shakuhachi, koto, and sitar.
	Drum Sequencer		A drum sequencer is a combination of drum kits and a pattern sequencer.
	Drum Pad		A drum pad allows you to assign drum samples to a software pad which can be configured to match and external MIDI pad controller.
	Instrument Tracks		An Instrument Track is a MIDI track which also supports a software synthesizer. This allows you to use a single track instead of two when you are routing MIDI to a soft synth.
	Instrument Layering		Instrument layering is the ability to route MIDI tracks to multiple virtual instruments. This feature allows you to layer different patches to create richer and more complex sounds.
	Rewire	Host	Rewire is a real-time software interface between two products. A rewire host can use a rewire client (or slave) as a plug-in.
		Client