SB AWE32 Developer's Information Pack
PART IV MIDI NRPN Implementation
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Copyright
Creative Technology Ltd., 1994-1996
Version 3.00
PART IV MIDI NRPN
Implementation
What Is MIDI Non-Registered-Parameter-Number?
Non-Registered Parameter Numbers are used to represent sound or performance parameters, and in the
case of the EMU8000, SoundFont Parameters. NRPN can be transmitted via MIDI, as it is itself a pair of
MIDI controller messages. NRPN consists of
NRPN MSB
MIDI Controller 99
NRPN LSB
MIDI Controller 98
NRPN MSB and LSB forms a value that indicates the desired sound parameter. After sending NRPN
MSB and LSB messages, MIDI controllers 6 (Data Entry MSB) and 38 (Data Entry LSB) are sent to pass
in the value for the sound parameter.
In general, to send a NRPN message, the following steps are required :
1. send NRPN MSB with MSB of sound parameter
2. send NRPN LSB with LSB of sound parameter
3. send Data Entry MSB with MSB of sound parameter value
4. send Data Entry LSB with LSB of sound parameter value
As NRPN and Data Entry messages are MIDI controller messages, any MIDI sequencer software that
supports editing of controller message are capable of sending them.
Take note that NRPN is MIDI channel oriented, in other words, the NRPN values only affect the current
instrument assigned on the MIDI channel where your NRPN values was sent.
How do I use SBAWE32 NRPN?
For SB AWE32 NRPN to be functional, NRPN MSB has to be 127, and NRPN LSB set to the desired
parameter to be controlled (see the following for a list of available NRPN LSB for each parameter).
Data entry MSB with Data entry LSB together forms a 14bit number. The middle value 8192 (0x2000,
Data MSB = 64 and Data LSB = 0) is taken as value 0. To convert from MSB and LSB to actual value,
here is the equation:
Actual value = (MSB * 128 + LSB) - 8192