No it doesn't have to, version 1 was very inefficient, MIDI 2 uses the same cable and is backward compatible, encoding is improved, cool thing it's bidirectiona

No it doesn't have to, version 1 was very inefficient, MIDI 2 uses the same cable and is backward compatible, encoding is improved, cool thing it's bidirectional. edit: from midi wesite --> Can MIDI 2.0 provide more resolution? Yes, MIDI 1.0 messages are usually 7 bit (14 bit is possible by not widely implemented because there are only 128 CC messages). In MIDI 2.0 velocity is 16 bit. The 128 Control Change messages, 16,384 Registered Controllers, 16,384 Assignable Controllers, Poly and Channel Pressure, and Pitch Bend are all 32 bit resolution.