MIDI Enhancements
for Synclavier Release M Software
(Note: Some enhancements are VPK keyboard specific, see later release notes for later MIDI updates)
New Features:
Several features have been implemented in the Synclavier MIDI interface with Release M.
Selective
MIDI filtering
Sending
MIDI Overall Volume
Sending
and Recording MIDI Program Changes
MIDI
Echo
MIDI
Song Pointer
Selective MIDI filtering
With Release M, real-time effects controller messages sent and received through MIDI can be slectively filtered of activated. In addition, these selections are stored with memory recorder tracks, and only the active messages are sent with the tracks. You use the MIDI button, seven of the eight Expression Input buttons in the 5th panel of the VPK keyboard and the Partial Tuning buttonin the 1st panel to select MIDI filtering.
Filtering MIDI messages
The operation of the MIDI filter feature is similar to the operation of the Overwrite button. The following MIDI messages can be activated or filtered.
|
Expression
Input | MIDI
controller |
| *Partial
Tuning | Pitch Wheel |
| *Velocity |
Velocity |
|
Pressure | Pressure |
| Pedal 1 |
Overall Volume |
|
*Pedal 2 | Modulation
Pedal |
| *Mod
Wheel | Mod Wheel |
| *Ribbon |
No MIDI Equivalent |
|
*Breath Controller |
Breath Controller |
NOTE: Controllers marked with an asterisk (*) default to active for compatibility with earlier software.
To activate or deactivate a controller's MIDI input/output:
1. Connect MIDI devices as desired to MIDI inputs and outputs
2. Assign MIDI routing of the keyboard using the MIDI display or the MIDI button (VPK keyboard)
3. Set the MIDI device to receive on the correct MIDI channel
4. Press and hold the MIDI button.
The MIDI button and all active Expression Input buttons light, inactive controller buttons flicker, and the display window shows;
MIDI:0(number) C(number)
SELECT PATCHING
Deactivated controller movements made on the MIDI device will not affect the Synclavier Keyboard Timbre. Likewise, deactivated Synclavier controller movements will not affect the MIDI device. The controllers will continue to affect any parameters to which they are patched on either the Synclavier of the MIDI device.
The active or inactive state of any expression input is stored with the track, and affects the MIDI output channel to which it is routed.
Sending MIDI Overall Volume
When PEDAL 1 is activated at the MIDI output, MIDI overall volume messages are sent to the selected MIDI output channel. This feature allows you to simulate an auto-mix system for your MIDI devices. This information is only sent on the channel to which the keyboard or track is routed.
Sending and Recording MIDI Program Changes
MIDI program changes can be sent to external MIDI devices from the keyboard. These changes are also recorded in the Memory Recorder. and are sent to the external devices whever the sequence is played. This feature is extremely useful for changing MIDI-controlled digital delay and reverb units, synths and other MIDI devices form one setting to another.
To send or record MIDI program changes:
1. Connect MIDI devices as desired.
2. Assign MIDI routing of the keyboard using the MIDI Display or the MIDI button.
3. Press and hold the MIDI button.
The MIDI button and all active Expression Input buttons light, inactive controller buttons flicker, and the display window shows;
MIDI:0(number) C(number)
SELECT PATCHING
4. Continue to hold the MIDI button while you press Bank and a Timbre Select button (in the same way you would select a timbre).
5. Continue to hold the MIDI button while you press Entry and a Timbre Select button.
A program change message between 1 and 64 will be sent to the MIDI device indicated in the following table.
6. To send program change messages between 65 and 128, press and hold the Library button before pressing the final Timbre Select button. Add 64 to the value of the table below.
Table of MIDI Program Changes
| ENTRY | |||||||||
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 | ||
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 | |
|
2 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 | |
|
3 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 | |
| BANK |
4 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
32 |
|
5 |
33 |
34 |
35 |
36 |
37 |
38 |
39 |
40 | |
|
6 |
41 |
42 |
43 |
44 |
45 |
46 |
47 |
48 | |
|
7 |
49 |
50 |
51 |
52 |
53 |
54 |
55 |
56 | |
|
8 |
57 |
58 |
59 |
60 |
61 |
62 |
63 |
64 | |
|
Program |
Change |
Sent |
The MIDI program changes are stored with the track and affect the MIDI ouput channel to which the track is routed. Program changes can be viewed, added, edited and deleted from the Recorder Display (G-Page)
MIDI Echo
The MIDI echo feature turns the Synclavier MIDI Out port into a software controlled MIDI Thru port. When MIDI echo is turned on, a copy of all MIDI messages received at the MIDI In port are sent out through the MIDI Out port to which the keyboard timbre is routed, essentially turning the MIDI Out ports into MIDI Thru ports. There is a software delay of 15 milliseconds.
To Turn the MIDI echo feature off:
1. Press and hold the MIDI button
The button and the buttons of all selected MIDI filters light, the buttons of remaining available MIDI filters blink, and the display window shows the current keyboard MIDI routing, along with the message
SELECT PATCHING
2. Press Start.
The display window shows
MIDI ECHO:ON
MIDI messages are echoed at the MIDI Out ports.
3. Press Stop.
The display window shows
MIDI ECHO:OFF
MIDI messages are no longer echoed at the MIDI Out ports.
The default state of the MIDI echo feature is Off
MIDI Song Pointer
In Release M, the Synclavier sends and receives the MIDI song pointer. This allows a MIDI sequencer slaved to the Synclavier to start at a predetermined point in the sequence and maintain sync with the Synclavier. It also allows the Synclavier to start at a point within a sequence while slaved to a MIDI sequencer.
Sending a MIDI Song Pointer
In order to send a MIDI song pointer, the synclavier MIDI Sync Output must be set to On. When using SMPTE time code to drive the Synclavier, The MIDI song pointer is sent automatically with MIDI clock signals. When not using SMPTE, the song pointer must be sent manually. This allows the MIDI sequencer time to position itself before you start the Synclavier.
To Send a MIDI song Pointer:
1. From the MIDI display (J-Page), turn MIDI Sync to on (using the space bar) and check the MIDI routings and connections.
2. Use the Mark button to set a Mark point.
3. Hold the Mark button and press Start.
A MIDI song pointer message is sent through the selected MIDI Output.
4. Press Continue.
The MIDI sequencer and the memory recorder begin to play in sync.
If you press Start, rather than Continue, the MIDI sequencer starts playing at the beginning of the sequence, while the memory recorder starts playing from the specified mark point.
Receiving a MIDI song Pointer
In order receive a MIDI song pointer, the Synclavier MIDI Sync Input must be set to On. When the memory recorder receives a MIDI song pointer message, the mark point is set to a value equivalent to the MIDI sequencer position and the mark point status is set to On.
Since the memory recorder provides a count in measure while MIDI does not, there is always a one measure (one bar) difference beween the MIDI sequencer position and the memory recorder position.
