Rocktron MIDI Mate User manual
MIDI Mate
Footswitchable MIDI Controller
May be covered by one or more of the following: U.S.Patents #4538297, 4647876, 4696044, 4745309, 4881047, 4893099 and 5124657. Other
patents pending. Foreign patents pending.
USER'S MANUAL
Version 2
PRECAUTIONS
NOTE:ITISVERYIMPORTANTTHATYOUREADTHISSECTIONTOPROVIDE
YEARSOFTROUBLEFREEUSE. THISUNITREQUIRESCAREFULHANDLING.
All warnings on this equipment and in the operating instructions should be adhered to and
all operating instructions should be followed.
Do not use this equipment near water. Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and
liquidsarenotspilledintotheunitthroughanyopenings.
The power cord should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused for a long period of
time.
DONOTATTEMPTTOSERVICETHISEQUIPMENT. THISEQUIPMENTSHOULD
BESERVICEDBYQUALIFIEDPERSONNELONLY. DONOTMAKEANYINTER-
NALADJUSTMENTSORADDITIONSTOTHISEQUIPMENTATANYTIME. DO
NOTTAMPERWITHINTERNALELECTRONICCOMPONENTSATANYTIME.
FAILURETOFOLLOWTHESEINSTRUCTIONSMAYVOIDTHEWARRANTYOF
THISEQUIPMENT,ASWELLASCAUSINGSHOCKHAZARD.
POWER REQUIREMENTS
This unit accepts power from the 9VAC/1.5A adaptor supplied with the unit.
OPERATING TEMPERATURE
Do not expose this unit to excessive heat. This unit is designed to operate between 32° F
and 104° F (0° C and 40° C). This unit may not function properly under extreme tempera-
tures.
Copyright ©1993
All Rights Reserved
Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................ 1
MIDI ................................................................................................................. 1
MIDI Channel .................................................................................................. 1
MIDI Commands ............................................................................................. 2
Quick Setup ........................................................................................ 4
Features and Operation ..................................................................... 6
BANK ACCESS ............................................................................................... 8
INSTANT ACCESS ....................................................................................... 10
CONTROLLER ACCESS .............................................................................. 11
Editing the MIDI Mate ................................................................... 14
Title Editing ................................................................................................... 17
MIDI Channel Editing .................................................................................... 19
Controller Assignment Editing ...................................................................... 21
Programmable Patch Changes Editing......................................................... 24
Factory Reinitialization .................................................................... 26
Expression Pedal "Y" Cords ........................................................... 28
MIDI Implementation ........................................................................ 29
1
CongratulationsonyourpurchaseoftheRocktronMIDIMate™!
The MIDI Mate™ provides many different features and modes of opera-
tion. Its modes of operation range from very simple (transmitting a single
programchangeon a single MIDIchannel)tocomplex (such as transmit-
ting six program changes on six separate MIDI channels, five control
changeson fiveseparateMIDIchannelsand acontinuouscontrolchange
on a separate MIDI channel). The MIDI Mate™ is capable of sending
threedifferentkinds of MIDIcommandson a specifiedMIDIchannel to
anyMIDIdevice.
To use the MIDI Mate™ to its full potential requires some under-
standingof MIDIcommands and specifications.
MIDI MIDI standsforMusicalInstrumentDigitalInterface,and isan
industrystandardsystemforcommunicationbetweenmusicalequipment.
Some MIDI devices only transmit MIDI messages, these are calledtrans-
mitters. There are other MIDI devices which can only receive MIDI
messages, these are called receivers. In addition, there are also MIDI
devices that both receive and transmit MIDI messages which can be called
receivers or transmitters. A receiver may be thought of as a MIDI "ear",
that is to say that it listens but never speaks. A MIDI transmittermay be
thought of as a MIDI "mouth", that is to say it speaks, but never listens. A
device that canboth transmit and receiveMIDI may be thoughtof as having
a MIDI "ear" and a MIDI "mouth" that allows it to both listen and speak.
A very simple MIDI setup requires only that there be aMIDI transmitter
and a MIDI receiver - one to speak and one to listen. More complex MIDI
setupsmay have devices that speak and listen to each other at the same
time. The MIDI Mate™ is a MIDItransmitter, capable of changing
parameters on MIDI receivers.
MIDI Channel
A MIDI channel is simply a way of encoding a command so that
multiple devices may talk to each other using the same physical wires.
Unlessmessagesareencodedforthesamechannel,thetransmitted
message will be ignored by the receiving device. By encoding signals in
this manner, the MIDI Mate™ can tell a particular receiving device to
perform a certain task while simultaneously telling a different receiving
Introduction
2
MIDI Mate™ Manual
device to do something else. Each receiving device only acts on the com-
mandintended forit.
MIDI Commands
Themostcommon type of MIDIcommandistheMIDIprogram
change (often called a patch change). This command is intended to recall the
programmed settings of a receiving device. A programmable device, such as
theRocktronProGAP™guitarpreamp,mayhaveparameterssuchasthegain
set to 40, the bass level set to 5dB, and the output level set to 10dB. These
settings can then be stored in preset #10. Each time the ProGAP™ receives
program change 10, these settings are recalled.
Another type of MIDI command is theMIDI control change. This
command is used to set a single parameter on a receiving unit to a specific
value. The preset of the receiving device is not changed, only the value of
the specified parameter. The specified parameter on the receiving device is
mapped to a number called acontrol number. A transmitting device sending
a control change will specify the MIDI channel, the control number, and the
value that the specified parameter should change to, or thecontroller value.
The controller value is a number from 0 to 127 that the receiving device
attaches to an actual parameter value.
How a device responds to a MIDI control change depends on both the
device and the parameter. Some devices will not understand a MIDI control
change and will simply ignore it. Other devices, like the Rocktron
ProGAP™, will respond to MIDI control changes. All of the parameters that
determinethesound of theProGAP™can be adjustedthroughMIDI control
changes. The ProGAP™ has 64 values for each parameter with each
parameter value corresponding to a different controller value. A convenient
way to perform MIDI control changes on these parameters is to use a
continuous controller. An expression pedal, volume pedal, fader, or any
potentiometer that can be plugged into the MIDI Mate™ qualifies as a
continuous controller. As the continuous controller resistance is changed, a
new controller value is sent to the receiving device. For example, if an
expression pedal is plugged into the MIDI Mate™, the pedal control number
is set to 10, and the ProGAP™'s output level is mapped to control number
10, moving the pedal back and forth causes the output level to change. To
achieve this, all that must be done is to match control numbers between the
parameter of the receiving device and the pedal of the transmitting device. It
isimportanttorememberthattheMIDIchannelsofthetransmittingand
receiving devices must also match.
3
The loop and controls on the Rocktron ProGAP™ can be changed
through MIDI control changes as well. Since the loop and controls can have
only an on or off status, they are conveniently called on/off controllers. For
on/off controllers, a control change command with a controller value of less
than 64 is interpreted to be off. A value greater than 63 is interpreted to be
on.
4
MIDI Mate™ Manual
To start using the MIDI Mate™ right away, use a 5 pin MIDI connec-
torandplugoneendintotheMIDIOUTjackof the MIDI Mate™. Plug the
other end into the MIDI IN jack of a MIDI receiving device. Plug the adaptor
supplied with the MIDI Mate™ into the POWER jack of the MIDI Mate™.
Plug the adaptor into a nearby compatible wall socket.
NowassignSET1'sMIDIchannelto the same MIDI channel of the
device that is receiving MIDI. Press the 2ND button so that the 2ND LED
lights.NowpresstheEDITFUNCTION SELECT "à"buttontwice, until
"MIDI Channels" scrolls across the display. Allow the scrolling to finish,
and "S1CH 1" will be displayed. This shows that SET1 is assigned to MIDI
channel 1. To change the MIDI channel to match a receiving device's MIDI
channel,usethe BANK (ADJUST)buttons. Whenfinished, press the2ND
buttontoturnoffthe2NDLED.
Now the MIDI Mate™ will send the program change displayed by
the three character display to any MIDI receiver on the same channel.
Quick Setup
Typical Quick Setup:
9VAC ADAPTOR
MIDI RECEIVING DEVICE
EXPRESSION PEDAL
PEDAL MIDI OUT POWER
9VAC-800mA
PHANTOM POWER
MID I IN
¼" STEREO TO
¼" STEREO CORD
See page 28 for information on
expression pedal cords.
5
The power cord may be plugged into a special MIDI "Y" cord (Rocktron
Part# 006-1097) to power the MIDI Mate through pins 6 and 7 of the MIDI
Mate MIDI OUT jack. Rocktron also has a 5 to 5 pin MIDI cable (Part# 001-
1095) and 7 to 7 pin MIDI cable (Part# RMM900) available to power the MIDI
Mate through phantom power on other products.
Rocktron also offers an expression pedal stereo "Y" cord (Part# 006-
1107).
Quick Setup using a MIDI "Y" cord:
MIDI "Y" CORD
EXPRESSION PEDAL
MIDI RECEIVING DEVICE
9VAC ADAPTOR
PEDAL POWER
9VAC-800mA
(PHANTOM POWER)
MIDI OUT
MIDI IN
¼" STEREO TO
¼" STEREO CORD
See page 28 for information on
expression pedal cords.
6
MIDI Mate™ Manual
Features and Operation
The MIDI Mate features:
• Three modes of operation-
Bank Mode - Allows you to change presets within a bank of ten
presets with the touchof a single button.
Instant Mode- Allows you to change instantly from preset 01 to 99
withthe touchof twobuttons.
Controller Mode - Allows you to change presets within a bank of 5
presets with the touch of a single button, as well as access 5 buttons
whichcansendMIDI on/off control commandswith the touchofa
singlebutton.
• Eight character personal titles for each preset.
• Display of current MIDI program.
• LED over each button for instant recognition of preset.
• Phantom power supply.
• Expression pedal ready.
• MultipleMIDIprogramchangesonseparate MIDI channels.
• Multiple MIDI control changes.
• User friendly editing procedure.
7
BANK
INSTANT
CONTROLLER
ACCESS 2ND 0 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9
BANK
(ADJUST)
EDIT PRESET
SELECT
EDIT FUNCTION
SELECT
STORE
These buttons provide
dual functions
Personal
title
Determines
the function
of the dual
function
buttons
Use to select
Bank, Instant or
Controller Access
modes
99 MIDI 99
MIDI 9999
MIDI 9999
Function of dual function buttons
with 2ND L.E.D. off
(This accesses the function printed below
each button)
Current program
number
Basic operating features...
Function of dual function buttons
with 2ND L.E.D. on
(This accesses the function printed above
each button)
TITLES
MIDI CHANNELS
CONTROLLER ASSIGN
PROGRAM CHANGES
TITLES
MIDI CHANNELS
CONTROLLER ASSIGN
PROGRAM CHANGES
BANK
I NST ANT
CO NTROL LE R
ACCESS 2ND 0 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9
BANK
(ADJUS T)
EDIT P RESET
SELECT
EDIT F UNCTI ON
SELECT
STO RE
BANK
I NST ANT
CO NTROL LE R
ACCESS 2ND 0 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9
BANK
(ADJUS T)
EDIT P RESET
SELECT
EDIT F UNCTI ON
SELECT
STO RE
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