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8:7 Introduction to BFD2 automation
Overview
BFD2 allows you to change most of its controls over time by using hardware controllers or messages from your host. MIDI con-
tinuous controllers (MIDI CCs), MIDI notes and host automation parameters can be assigned to the available software controls.
MIDI CCs and host automation
MIDI CCs and host automation both have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. BFD2 supports both methods so it’s
entirely up to you which to use.
MIDI continuous controllers allow a maximum resolution of 128 steps. While RPN and NRPN commands allow higher resolutions,
it is relatively rare for hardware MIDI controllers to support them, because of the complexity required to program these functions.
Host automation, on the other hand, allows far higher resolution for continuous parameter control. The amount of resolution can
vary depending on the capabilities of the host and the plugin format, as well as any hardware control surfaces used. It tends to be
anything from 14-bit (16,384 steps) to 32-bit floating point (effectively continuous).
While it is easy to ‘draw’ host automation curves onto track lanes in your host, hardware controllers for this type of automation
tend to be expensive and specialized.
Also, the controls available for plugins on these hardware automation devices tends to be rather fiddly and uncustomizable,
usually having to page through many parameters to reach the one you need at any one time. MIDI controllers tend to be easier
to customize to your needs, and because they are cheaper they make it affordable to have more dedicated hardware controls at
once.
MIDI note automation
BFD2 allows you to map MIDI notes to software controls. This is very useful for button type controls. You can also assign a con-
tinuous control such as a fader or knob to a MIDI note – the note toggles the control between minimum and maximum values.
Parameter MIDI learn function in the status bar
Virtually all BFD2 faders, knobs and buttons can be assigned to MIDI quickly and intuitively by using the controller learn function
in the BFD2 Status bar. This function is covered in section 1:5.
Automation mapping page
The automation mapping page gives you a complete overview of all MIDI assignments, as well as the ability to assign controls
manually to MIDI CCs, MIDI notes and host automation parameters.
While you can assign MIDI CCs and notes to BFD2 controls via the controller learn function in the status bar, the automation
mapping page is the only area in BFD2 that allows you to assign host automation parameters to the software controls.
Multiple mappings
BFD2 allows you to assign any one software parameter to two possible automation parameters:
1. ONE MIDI CC or MIDI note
2. ONE host automation parameter
It is inadvisable to send MIDI and host automation values at the same time, because the BFD2 parameter would keep ‘jumping’
between values sent by the two sets of messages.
Setting a unique MIDI channel for MIDI automation
You can specify a separate MIDI channel for MIDI automation events, by using the Controller MIDI channel setting in the BFD2
Session preferences.
This is useful because if you want to assign a lot of buttons to MIDI notes, for example, you may run out of notes because they
are already used by articulation assignments and Grooves (although you can, as discussed elsewhere, assign the Groove engine
to its own MIDI channel too).
This MIDI channel setting also applies to the controller learn function. Once set, BFD2 receives MIDI only on the specified chan-
nel when making controller learn assignments.
If you create some MIDI automation assignments and subsequently change the Controller MIDI channel setting, all current as-
signments receive on the new MIDI channel, regardless of what channel was used when first creating the mappings.
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