diff --git a/NuEVI.ino b/NuEVI.ino
index 64ce176..1ba42d3 100644
--- a/NuEVI.ino
+++ b/NuEVI.ino
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ int mainState;                         // The state of the main state machine
 
 int initial_breath_value;          // The breath value at the time we observed the transition
 
-byte activeMIDIchannel=1;          // MIDI channel
+byte activeMIDIchannel;          // MIDI channel
 byte activePatch=0;
 byte doPatchUpdate=0;
 
@@ -625,8 +625,8 @@ void setup() {
     doPatchUpdate=1;
   }
 
-  Serial3.begin(31250);   // start serial with midi baudrate 31250
-  Serial3.flush();
+  activeMIDIchannel = MIDIchannel;
+  midiInitialize(MIDIchannel);
 
   //Serial.begin(9600); // debug
 
diff --git a/midi.h b/midi.h
index 0f81a3b..21c7794 100644
--- a/midi.h
+++ b/midi.h
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 #define USE_MIDI_SERIAL
 
 //Set / get current midi channel
-void midiSetChannel(int channel);
-int midiGetChannel();
+void midiSetChannel(byte channel);
+byte midiGetChannel();
 
 void midiSendProgramChange(int patch);
 void midiSendControlChange(int ccParam, int ccValue);
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ void midiSendPitchBend(int value);
 void midiReset(); // reset controllers
 void midiPanic(); // turn all notes off
 
-void dinMIDIsendPitchBend(int pb, byte ch); //  Send din pitchbend
-void dinMIDIsendAfterTouch(byte value, byte ch); //  Send din aftertouch
+void midiInitialize(byte channel=1);
 
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/midi.ino b/midi.ino
index 933076a..63327f8 100644
--- a/midi.ino
+++ b/midi.ino
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 #include "midi.h"
 #include "hardware.h"
 
-int midiChannel = 1;
+int midiChannel;
 
 
-void midiSetChannel(int channel) {
+void midiSetChannel(byte channel) {
   midiChannel = constrain(channel, 1, 16);
 }
 
-int midiGetChannel() {
+byte midiGetChannel() {
   return midiChannel;
 }
 
@@ -63,6 +63,12 @@ void midiPanic() { // all notes off
   }
 }
 
+void midiInitialize(byte channel) {
+  MIDI_SERIAL.begin(31250);   // start serial with midi baudrate 31250
+  MIDI_SERIAL.flush();
+  midiSetChannel(channel);
+}
+
 
 
 //Serial midi functions