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MIDI Show Control - Time Code Operation
A controller equipped with the MIDI circuit board will respond to the command of an external Show
Control synchronization system. Any system that will generate standard MIDI commands will oper-
ate the controller.
A Time Code Show can ONLY be stored to, and recalled from, the four TC MEM location.
The numerical sequence of the Cues is pre-mapped to standard MIDI commands. (NOTE ON).
The MIDI channel commands out of the Show Control System must match the Controller MIDI chan-
nel.
MIDI Standards
Since MIDI standards vary from different manufacturers and documentation, the Airburst Controller
MIDI code uses the following conventions;
•
There are 128 MIDI notes, lowest to highest.
•
The Airburst MIDI control module will number the notes 1 to 128, lowest to highest.
•
The 99 available Cues are mapped 1 to 99 to the first 99 MIDI notes, lowest to highest
•
There are 16 MIDI channels
•
The MIDI controller numbers the channels 1 to 16.
•
When synced to an external MIDI Show Control system, MIDI Note On 1 (lowest note) plus the
correct MIDI channel will upload Cue 1 from the Airburst controller to the slaves.
•
Cues can be loaded and fired in any order (out of sequence) by sending the corresponding MIDI
Note On command.
•
MIDI Notes must include a velocity of Hex 7F
•
MIDI note On 127 (second highest) plus the correct MIDI channel, will FIRE the most recent up-
loaded Cue, displayed on the TOP LINE of the LCD display.
The Cue on the TOP LINE of the LCD is ALWAYS the Cue that will be Fired.
The FIRE command is routed through an external Positive Enable device (Pickle) which must be acti-
vated.
Manufacturer Standards
•
Some manufacturers use 0 to 127 as the 128 note numbers.
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Some manufacturers use C-2 as the lowest note in music notation
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Some manufacturers use C-0 as the lowest note in musical notation.
•
Some manufacturers use 0 to 15 as MIDI channel numbers.
•
Be certain of the manufacturer’s standards when programming an external MIDI control device.
The commands must match the Airburst conventions.
Midi Input Data for Firing Control
The MIDI data input consists of a string of serial bits. For Ultratec equipment only basic control data
is required. The unit comes preset to MIDI channel 2. Internal dip switched can be changed to select
channels 2-16. MIDI channel 1 is not available. Typical MIDI devices generate notes from C-2 through
G8. The assignment of the octave designations is not fixed only middle C is defined as data 60 but
could be any octave number.
