MIDI

There are several other MIDI parameters that determine how your VS-2480 behaves in a MIDI environment. You can save and restore scenes, user routings, and user effect patches via MIDI. Access the MIDI Parameter screen, shown in Figure 19.16, from the Utility menu.

Figure 19.16. The MIDI Parameter screen

There are three main sections of the MIDI Parameter screen.

SETUP

The MIDI OUT jack may be switched from MIDI OUT operation to a MIDI THRU function. This may be useful in situations where the VS-2480 is a slave and another slave unit requires the MIDI signal. Setting the MIDI OUT to the THRU mode allows daisy-chaining of MIDI devices, as the VS-2480 will simply repeat any MIDI messages it receives and add no MIDI information of its own.

SysEx. (System Exclusive)

SysEx. is a standard MIDI abbreviation of system exclusive and refers to MIDI messages that are solely intended for specific device control. The settings you choose in this section determine the behavior of advanced features in the VS-2480's interface.

The Device ID refers to the VS-2480's own MIDI IN. The Control Local switch determines if the faders will "fly" ”that is, respond to bank selection, scene, and Automix data. When set to OFF, the VS-2480 continues to regulate the mix as it normally would, executing Automix fader commands internally, but the faders themselves do not physically move.

The SysEx.Rx and SysEx.Tx switches determine if the VS-2480 will receive (Rx) and/or transmit (Tx) system exclusive messages. The VS-2480 can transmit or respond to MIDI SysEx messages that represent fader, EQ, dynamics, scenes, and effects parameters. This data stream can be recorded on an external MIDI sequencer, if desired, and then played back into the VS-2480, which will adjust its controls in response to the received messages. The Mixer Control Type setting, when set to EXCL (Exclusive), exposes almost every variable of every Input and Track Channel, even more than what is included in the Automix list. When the Mixer Control Type setting is set to C.C. (Control Change), the VS-2480 may receive scene program change messages, effects program change messages, and effects control change messages. Reception of these three types of messages may be selectively enabled by the three off/on boxes.

MMC (MIDI Machine Code)

MIDI Machine Code messages include those that control the transport or place the machine in Record mode. The VS-2480 may be either the MMC master (transmits MMC messages) or it may be an MMC slave (responds to MMC messages). MMC messages may be received from the MIDI IN jack or from either R-BUS port.

BlkDmp (Bulk Dump)

The Bulk Dump feature is used to share VS-2480 data via a MIDI SysEx dump of data. This data can be received and saved as a file on a PC with a MIDI interface or a MIDI sequencer. The data may then be reloaded into the VS-2480 at a later time. This feature is useful for those times when you must update the OS and for sharing scene data between projects. Figure 19.17 shows the Bulk Dump dialog box.

Figure 19.17. The MIDI Bulk Dump dialog box

The Bulk Dump dialog box is divided into three sections. Multiple sections may be enabled simultaneously . In the example above, scene 1 and all user effects patches will be transmitted. Refer to Figure 19.18 for a representation of a Bulk Dump Transmit progress screen.

Figure 19.18. A MIDI bulk dump transmit in progress

To receive bulk data, press F2(BULKRx), and a waiting message will appear. Once the MIDI data begins to arrive , the VS-2480 displays what is being downloaded, as shown in Figure 19.19.

Figure 19.19. A MIDI bulk dump reception in progress

After all the data has been sent, you must press or click EXIT to let the VS-2480 know there is no more data. The VS-2480 will present a data confirmation screen, as shown in Figure 19.20.

Figure 19.20. The MIDI data verification dialog box

This semi-cryptic message is a verification that you do indeed wish to replace the current VS-2480 data with the data that was just received via the bulk dump. Press or click YES to apply the received data to the VS-2480's memory.

During the bulk dump process, the VS-2480 will remind you that you need to enable SysEx. if you have forgotten. If no data has arrived when a bulk reception is terminated by pressing Enter, the VS-2480 notifies the user of this fact.