MIDI configuration
From English DMXCWiki
2.1 MIDI Configuration at PC
The following components are required In order to control DMXControl via a MIDI interface successfully:
- A MIDI Device (or keyboard)
- A sound card/DSP card fitted in the PC with MIDI/joy-stick connections and with all required drivers installed for receiving MIDI signals
- A MIDI cable from the MIDI Device to the PC (as a rule, this will usually be a cable with 5 pin DIN connector on 1 end and a 15 pin Sub-D connector on the other)
- The DMXControl software.
To test whether the Device is correctly set-up and signals are arriving at the PC, we recommend the
MIDIOX software. You can find the program here: http://www.MIDIox.com/zip/MIDIoxse.exe
You can also test the functional ability of the interface with a MIDI Sequencer program.
USB MIDI keyboards are also available which do not require a sound card with MIDI connection or the corresponding cable. However, this solution has not been tested yet. (Possibly a MIDI-USB driver must be installed which then emulates the corresponding MIDI signals).
After successful connection of the Device, DMXControl should be started. To configure the settings for the keys on the MIDI keyboard click "Configuration" -> "MIDI remote control" from the Control centre of DMXControl (main window). Assuming that the keyboard was installed correctly you can select the correct connection at “MIDI in port”. The MIDI out port is not important for a "normal" MIDI keyboard.
2.2 MIDI banks in DMXControl
Several MIDI banks can be configured to select different configurations quickly. For example you can define a Bank in which the keys of the keyboard will be used to illuminate a band. On the other hand, another Bank can be defined for different scenes in a theatre play. Or you can use different banks because you would like to use different MIDI equipment at different
events. In this case every Device has its own Configuration, which is its own MIDI Bank. Finally you can simply use the different banks for changing between different area’s at the same event because you have prepared so many Effects, scenes, submasters etc. that you have more settings than available keys (e.g. 49 key music keyboard). It is left to the user how he would like to use the keyboard.
A new MIDI Bank must be created first. Click "add" and allocate a name for the new Bank. This name can be selected directly under "selected Bank" later.
Once this has been done, you can close and test the MIDI remote control, to ensure that data from the MIDI keyboard actually arrives at DMXControl. To do this open the MIDI remote control window from the main window of DMXControl by clicking "window" -> "MIDI remote control". The MIDI Bank you just made should be shown in this window. If this isn't the case, select the current Bank from the drop down menu. There may be several MIDI banks shown.
To activate the MIDI remote control put a tick in the “MIDI remote active” check box. Different values should be shown at the bottom of this window when a key is pressed on the MIDI keyboard. The following values are displayed
Message: The first number, indicates information about the MIDI event (e.g. note on/off ), the second number displays the used MIDI channel, starting at "0" to "15".
To control commands with a normal MIDI keyboard in DMXC, only one type of MIDI event is needed:
Note on/off.
Data 1: This value indicates the actual key, which is pressed at the MIDI keyboard.
Data 2: This value indicates the maximum value, which this key can accept, i.e. the value at which the channel is "fully" on.
These values are important for the MIDI Configuration and for the Configuration of keys with different events.
To configure a key, which is indicated under data 1, you have to remember the value of data 1 and
change to the MIDI remote control window again and click on control element "add":
After this you can rename the new control element. To avoid confusion, it is advisable to choose clear and meaningful names.
Now select "note on/off" under "MIDI status". The "MIDI channel" is the number, that was noted in the remote control window as the first number after "message". The "address" is the number that was noted at data 1. The "max. value" is the value of data 2. DMXControl should now "know" which key of the keyboard will be used, although no Command (Effect etc.) is assigned to it yet.
2.3 Assignment of commands to MIDI elements
You assign commands to MIDI elements in the lower part of the Configuration window. Here the newly created control element is listed, however, it is still disabled. Click on the word "disabled" and select from the different choices in the drop down. You should select the module, you would like to assign to the key of the keyboard. Depending on the choice of module the choices of "equipment/function" and "channel" change.
For example, if you select the "scenes library" module, you can choose from your scenes (if you have made scenes within DMXControl) under "equipment/function" and only one option "execute" remains in the list under "channel".
However, if you select the "Effect" module, you can choose an Effect under "equipment/function" and select from the list under "channel" whether the function assigned to the key is started and stopped or is started or stopped only. Here a small example:
When you have finished the Configuration, click on "Ok" and confirm that “MIDI remote active” is ticked in MIDI remote control. The Command configured should be executed correctly when pressing a key of the MIDI keyboard.
We wish you success in using the MIDI Device. Any notes and suggestions for this topic please send to info@dmxcontrol.de.
(Author: Daniel Miertz)
to be done:
- add description of MIDI learning feature
