I guess at the most basic level, it can help to think of these profiles that way. But it’s not really how that works. They are similar in that they are both standards on the base protocol. But it’s also much more in that it’s using the built-in MIDI CI discovery and extensibility mechanisms in MIDI 2.0, and as a result, is far more dynamic than something like GM.
Incidentally, there’s a GM profile in with the profile specifications at Specs – MIDI.org and Profiles – MIDI.org
Pete
Microsoft
Yes, when I say they are alike I imply a certain level of abstraction. Before GM you could not move a midi file between synths and expect it to sound reasonably similar.
Before the profile you cannot move articulation commands between different instruments or libraries and expect it to trigger the same articulations.
Thanks, that generally helped me to understand what profiles are intended to be useful for on a practical level. I struggled with that so far.
There are some erudite replies in this thread. Very useful to people. Thank you.
Do people know that MIDI.org now have a working group for DAWs, where according to a blog they are discussing the potential of MIDI 2 controlling Quick controls and possible other unification of standards across the big boys in the Daws. Not much detail yet, but great to hear of weekly meetings of this kind.
DAW Working Group Meets Face To Face In Berlin – MIDI.org
Yes, the DAW working group and others related to plugins etc. have been meeting for a while to solve the hard problems. There’s a lot of good progress in these discussions, but meaningful standards do take some time to put together.
The MIDI Association’s boards and working groups are run by volunteers from the member companies, and get things done only through the participation of companies like Steinberg (there are Steinberg folks in that Berlin meeting photo, and we were at the Ableton offices). It’s one of the few places where you can see companies, who are otherwise fierce competitors, working together on behalf of us all. In addition, we work with AMEI, which is the Japanese equivalent of the MIDI Association, and includes companies like Yamaha, Roland, Korg, and Kawai.
We appreciate every member company which has donated their time and expertise to help make MIDI more useful to musicians.
Pete
Microsoft
MIDI Association Executive Board Chair
I presume that this is platform Agnostic so Mac OS will embrace all these changes into their OS too?
EDIT: Mac OS already support midi 2
Incorporating MIDI 2 into your apps | Apple Developer Documentation 
M
Yes this is about PC catch up with mac. SO discussion is about PC.