PIRATE MIDI BRIDGE6 User manual
1. Unboxing
You can watch the video version of this chapter here.
Woo! Your new MIDI controller has arrived!
In the box you should find:
1x BRIDGE6 MIDI controller (obviously)
1x 2 metre USB type A to type C cable (black)
4x Self-adhesive rubber feet
1x ‘Getting Started’ card
1x Flexiport Warning card
The box and getting started cards are completely recyclable, so please make sure to
dispose of them responsibly if you don’t keep them.
Now, let’s stop drooling and plug it in!
2. Device Layout
Your BRIDGE6 is a masterpiece of design and engineering (just ask us!). Here
is an overview of the device.
The features of each input/output are detailed in “4. Connectors”
From left to right:
●USB (type-C)
○Power
○USB MIDI In/Out
●TRS MIDI In (6.35mm / ¼” TRS)
○Dedicated MIDI Input (only)
●DIN5 MIDI Out
○Dedicated MIDI Output (only)
●9v DC (2.1mm centre-negative)
○Power
●TRS Flexiports x2 (6.35mm / ¼” TRS)
○MIDI Out
○Expression In
○Ext Switch In
○Switch Out
○Tap Tempo Output
○Sync Pulse Out
○Device Link
●Footswitches
○Six silent footswitches are the main interface on the BRIDGE6. Rated for
over 100,000 presses each, they are able to send different MIDI message
stacks for different press types (Toggle On, Toggle Off, Press, Release,
Double Press, Hold, Hold Release).
Each switch is able to send 176 MIDI messages per bank:
■Toggle On: 48
■Toggle Off: 48
■Press: 16
■Release: 16
■Hold: 16
■Hold Release: 16
■Double Press: 16
●OLED Display
○A large graphical display allows us to display symbols and icons to
make the user interface easier to use.
The beauty of an OLED is the crisp, high-contrast display. Easily readable
from a distance with no need for an annoying backlight.
By default, the OLED shows the bank name in the centre, and each
switch label is set to “FS ‘x”. Switch labels and bank names are editable
through the onboard menus and the app.
●RGB LEDs
○Each switch is paired with a curved light pipe that houses 2 independent
RGB LEDs. This means you can choose from millions of colours per
switch and combine different LED states/colours to create your own
custom interface.
Note: Changing colours is possible in the device menus, but is limited to
preset colours. For free choice, use our app.
3. Power & Navigation
You can watch the video version of this chapter here.
You can power your BRIDGE6 with either a USB cable, or a centre-negative 9v DC jack
(2.1mm) commonly used for guitar pedals.
The BRIDGE6 uses smart power switching so you can have both plugged in at once,
and if you need to remove one or the other, the unit will seamlessly switch power
sources without shutting down or restarting.
If you’re using a 9v DC power supply, please make sure
it is able to supply the required 200mA.
Basic Navigation
Bank Up & Bank Down
As indicated by the arrows at the bottom of the OLED screen, pressing switches 2 & 3
at the same time will advance to the next bank (Bank Up) and pressing switches 1 &
2 at the same time will go to the previous bank (Bank Down). This is indicated by the
two arrows displayed on the screen (visible on below diagram)
There are 100 banks (0-99). Banking up from bank 99 will return you to bank 0.
Banking down from bank 0 will send you to bank 99.
Opening the Menu
To enter the menu, press and hold down switches 1 & 4 simultaneously (as pictured
below). You will know you’ve entered the menu when the screen layout changes.
Press switch 1 or switch 3 to navigate the menu (note the arrows on screen).
Press switch 2 to select or set (like an ‘enter’ or ‘return’ key on a computer).
Press switch 4 to ‘go back’ to the previous menu screen.
Hold switch 4 on any menu screen to completely exit the menu.
Second-Screen Settings
When editing parameters like MIDI message details, LFO settings etc. there may be a
second (or third) screen of settings. To access these pages, use the left and right
arrows on switch 5 & 6 to navigate across the screen.
You can see an example of a screen with left and right arrows below. The active area
(“type”) is highlighted with a box. This highlight box will move as you navigate with
switch 5 & 6.
These pages are “circular” and navigating across in one direction will eventually bring
you back to the place you started.
That’s the end of the basic navigation instructions. After this you should be able to
figure out how to navigate all the menus and settings. You can watch the video linked
at the top of this page if you’d like to cover the content again in a different format.
4.1 Overview of Connectors
From left to right:
●USB (type-C)
○The BRIDGE6 can be powered by USB, and is also a class-compliant USB
MIDI device. This means it will be recognised as a MIDI device without
any drivers. Use it with your DAW, plugins, or music apps.
●TRS MIDI In
○A ¼” (6.35mm) TRS Jack designated as a dedicated MIDI input. This
Input conforms to the MIDI Specification.
●DIN5 MIDI Out
○A DIN5 Jack designated as a dedicated MIDI output. This MIDI output
conforms to the MIDI Specification and can power CME WIDI products.
●9v DC (centre-negative)
○A 2.1mm centre-negative barrel jack (common with standard guitar
pedal power supplies). Requires 200mA.
●TRS Flexiport 2
○A ¼” (6.35mm) TRS jack with 8 modes (and counting):
■MIDI Out
(can power CME WIDI devices)
■Exp In
(Single Expression Pedal Input)
■Exp-Doubler In
(Enables two expression pedal inputs per Flexiport with our
Exp-Doubler device)
■Ext Switch
(1, 2, or 3 switches supported)
■Switch Out
(Send TRS switch emulation to non-MIDI devices with an external
control jack - Helix, Boss, etc)
■Tap Tempo Out
(MIDI Clock as switch output)
■Sync Pulse Out
(Square wave output for syncing non-MIDI devices to MIDI Clock
such as Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator series)
■Device Link
(connect multiple PIRATE MIDI devices together)
●TRS Flexiport 1
○A ¼” (6.35mm) TRS jack with 8 modes (and counting):
■MIDI Out
(can power CME WIDI devices)
■Exp In
(Single Expression Pedal Input)
■Exp-Doubler In
(Enables two expression pedal inputs per Flexiport with our
Exp-Doubler device)
■Ext Switch
(1, 2, or 3 switches supported)
■Switch Out
(Send TRS switch emulation to non-MIDI devices with an external
control jack - Helix, Boss, etc)
■Tap Tempo Out
(MIDI Clock as switch output)
■Sync Pulse Out
(Square wave output for syncing non-MIDI devices to MIDI Clock
such as Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator series)
■Device Link
(connect multiple PIRATE MIDI devices together)
4.2 Flexiports
The extreme flexibility of the BRIDGE6 is due partly to the two Flexiports we’ve
included. The Flexiport is a multi-function TRS port that we’ve designed (and
named) to give you a truly flexible experience with our devices.
Flexiports will be included in most PIRATE MIDI devices and will offer the same
functionality across all devices so if you see the name Flexiport you know what
it does.
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