FS8M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 3
If it ever becomes necessary to replace it, you can order one from Rivera or make it
yourself. It does not require shielded cable, and the pins are wired straight through.
(1-1, 2-2 etc.)
MIDI IN
Standard MIDI input. Use this to connect any standard MIDI controller.
MIDI THRU
Standard MIDI thru, passes data from the MIDI IN to additional MIDI gear.
The Midi Channel Selector Switch
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
The Interface uses a rotary switch to select the MIDI channel. It is a high quality switch,
and is much easier to use than the DIP switches used by some manufacturers.
Unfortunately, it is numbered in a way that can create confusion.
As shown on the diagram, the switch is numbered from 0-15.
Most MIDI devices define the MIDI channels as 1-16
So, it is necessary to add 1 to the number on the switch to get the MIDI channel
SWITCH POSITION 5 = MIDI CHANNEL 6
So, why is the switch labeled wrong?
In the world of electronics and programming, it is not labeled wrong.
It selects one of 16 four digit binary numbers, 0-15 is 0000-1111 in binary.
It is labeled correctly for what it does.
Internally, MIDI gear uses channels 0-15.
Long ago, MIDI manufacturers decided that musicians would be uncomfortable.
with channel zero, so they decided to add a 1 to the actual value.
Counting From Zero
As you may or may not know, computer programmers start counting from zero instead
of one.
Most people would count a list of items like this:
One, two, three, I have three items.
A programmer would do the same if he was counting the items, but if he was using
numbers as names he would name the first item "item number zero," the second would