MIDI Solutions F8
The MIDI Solutions F8 8-input MIDI Footswitch
Controller provides eight 1/4" phone jack inputs for connection to footswitches
or contact closures which can be used to trigger MIDI events. Triggered MIDI events are merged with
incoming MIDI messages and sent to the MIDI output of the F8.
Triggered event types
are programmable and include:
-
Note
The F8 can be programmed
to send out up to eight Note-On messages when each footswitch is depressed,
with the corresponding Note-Off messages sent when the footswitch is
released. The MIDI channel is programmable (a single MIDI channel or all 16
MIDI channels), and the Note number and velocity of each Note is
programmable.
Rather than sending the Note-Off messages on release of the footswitch as
described above, the F8 can be programmed to send the Note-Off messages
after a programmable duration time, regardless of when the footswitch is
released. Or, the Note-Off messages can be sent out when the footswitch is
released after a minimum duration, or held until a maximum duration has
expired, or not sent out at all. Duration times are programmable from 8 -
1016 ms in 8 ms increments, and from 1 - 127 s in 1 s increments.
The F8 can also alternate between sending the Note-On and Note-Off messages
each time a footswitch is depressed by programming the Toggle parameter of
that footswitch to ON.
-
Control Change
Each footswitch input of the F8 can be
programmed to send out up to eight Control Change messages when the
footswitch is depressed, with a zero value of the Control Change messages
sent when the footswitch is released. The MIDI channel is programmable (a
single MIDI channel or all 16 MIDI channels), and the Control Change number
and value of each Control Change message is programmable.
Rather than sending the zero value on release of the footswitch as
described above, the F8 can be programmed to send the zero value after a
programmable duration time, regardless of when the footswitch is released.
Or, the zero value can be sent out when the footswitch is released after a
minimum duration, or held until a maximum duration has expired, or not sent
out at all. Duration times are programmable from 8 - 1016 ms in 8 ms
increments, and from 1 - 127 s in 1 s increments.
The F8 can also alternate between sending the programmed value and the zero
value each time a footswitch is depressed by programming the Toggle
parameter of that footswitch to ON.
-
Pitch Bend
Each footswitch input of the F8 can be
programmed to send out a Pitch Bend message of programmable value and MIDI
channel (a single MIDI channel or all 16 MIDI channels) when the footswitch
is depressed, with a zero pitch bend message or nothing sent when the
footswitch is released.
The F8 can also alternate between sending the programmed value and the zero
pitch bend value each time a footswitch is depressed by programming the
Toggle parameter of that footswitch to ON.
-
Program Change
Each footswitch input of the F8 can be
programmed to send out a Program Change message of programmable Program
Change number and MIDI channel (a single MIDI channel or all 16 MIDI
channels) when the footswitch is depressed. Nothing is sent on release of
the footswitch.
-
Start/Stop
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be
programmed to send out a MIDI Start message when the footswitch is
depressed, with a MIDI Stop message sent when the footswitch is released.
The F8 can also alternate between sending the Start and Stop messages each
time the footswitch is depressed by programming the Toggle parameter of
that footswitch to ON.
Read the F8 Application
Examples for more information on using the F8 as an external Start and
Stop control.
-
System Exclusive
Each footswitch input of the F8 can be
programmed to send out a System Exclusive message when the footswitch is
depressed, and/or another System Exclusive message when the footswitch is
released. The maximum length of each System Exclusive message is 20 bytes.
The F8 can also alternate between sending the two System Exclusive messages
with each tap of the footswitch by programming the Toggle parameter of the
footswitch to ON.
Other functions include:
-
Program Change INC/DEC
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be
programmed to operate as a Program Change INC control, on a selected MIDI
channel or all 16 MIDI channels. A tap of the footswitch causes the F8 to
increment its current Program number on the selected MIDI channel and send
out the new Program value (nothing is sent on release of the footswitch).
The Program number continues to increment with each tap of the footswitch
until it reaches 127, after which it wraps around to 0. If a Program Change
is received by the F8 at any time on the same MIDI channel, it will update
its current Program number to that value. This is useful when overriding
the F8 and jumping to other Programs since the new value is recognized
by the F8, and the next tap of the footswitch causes it to increment from
this new position.
A Program Change INC/DEC function can be created by programming a second
input of the F8 to operate as a Program Change DEC control. A tap of the
footswitch causes the F8 to decrement its current Program number on the
selected MIDI channel and send out the new value.
With the F8's eight footswitch inputs it's possible to set up different
combinations of INC/DEC controls on various MIDI channels, enabling control
of multiple devices that are receiving on separate MIDI channels.
-
Rechannelize
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be
programmed to control the Rechannelizing function, on a selected incoming
MIDI channel or all 16 incoming MIDI channels. In this mode depressing
the footswitch allows any number of notes to be entered corresponding to
the MIDI channel to rechannelize to. For example, to rechannelize to MIDI
channel 5, depress the footswitch, press any five notes (the notes don't
need to be played sequentially, they can be played at the same time to
allow them to be entered as quickly as possible), and then release the
footswitch. After releasing the footswitch, all incoming MIDI messages on
the selected incoming MIDI channel are rechannelized to the MIDI channel
that has just been entered. The power-up state is for all channels to pass
through unchanged.
An All-Notes-Off message on the current MIDI channel is sent out on
depression of the footswitch to turn off any notes that may still be
playing before switching to the new channel. Any notes played on the
current MIDI channel while the footswitch is depressed are not echoed to
the F8's MIDI Out, allowing the new channel information to be entered
without being heard. Also, once a channel has been entered it is possible
to toggle between the original and new MIDI channel without having to
reenter the channel each time.
A preset MIDI channel to rechannelize to if no notes are entered can also
be specified, allowing desired MIDI channels to be called up quickly
without entering them by playing notes. This is useful for selecting
various MIDI channels by tapping different footswitches.
-
Transpose
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be
programmed to control the Note Transpose function. In this mode depressing the footswitch allows a note to be entered corresponding to the
transpose interval. For example, to transpose up by a major third depress
the footswitch, press the E above middle C, and then release the
footswitch. After releasing the footswitch, all incoming MIDI Notes are
transposed by the selected interval. The Transpose function can be applied
to notes on a selected MIDI channel, or all 16 MIDI channels. The power-up
state is for incoming notes to pass through untransposed.
An All-Notes-Off message on the selected MIDI channel is sent out on
depression of the footswitch to turn off any notes that may still be
playing before switching to the new key. Any notes played on the selected
MIDI channel while the footswitch is depressed are not echoed to the MIDI
Out, allowing the new transpose interval to be entered without being heard.
Also, once an interval has been entered it is possible to toggle between
the original and new interval without having to reenter the interval each
time.
-
Tap Tempo
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be
programmed as a Tap Tempo input. When programmed for this function, the F8
continuously sends out MIDI Timing Clock messages at a tempo corresponding
to the most recent taps of the footswitch. For example, to send out MIDI
clock messages at a tempo of 120 bpm, tap the footswitch at 1/2 second
intervals. The F8 continues to send out MIDI timing clock messages at the
current tempo until a new tempo is entered by retapping the footswitch.
-
Note-On Filter
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be
programmed to operate as a Note-On Filter control. In this mode depression of the footswitch causes the F8 to filter incoming Note-On
messages. An All-Notes-Off message is sent on depression of the footswitch
to turn off any notes that may still be playing.
The Note-On Filter function can be applied to messages on a selected MIDI
channel or all 16 MIDI channels. With the F8's eight footswitch inputs,
this allows different combinations of MIDI channels to be filtered by
pressing different combinations of switches.
The F8 can also alternate between filtering/not filtering the Note-On
messages with each tap of the footswitch by programming the Toggle
parameter of that footswitch to ON. Or the F8 can be programmed to filter
Note-On messages only when the footswitch is released by programming the
Polarity parameter of that footswitch opposite to its normal operation.
MIDI Echo and
Footswitch Toggle parameters are selectable on/off.
The F8 includes a MIDI Echo parameter which
can be programmed to ON or OFF. When MIDI Echo is ON, all MIDI messages
appearing at the MIDI In of the F8 are echoed to its MIDI Out. When MIDI
Echo is OFF, messages appearing at the MIDI In of the F8 are filtered, and
not echoed to its MIDI Out.
Each footswitch input of the F8 includes a
Toggle parameter which can be programmed to ON or OFF. When Toggle is OFF,
the footswitch performs its release and depress operations normally. When Toggle is ON, the footswitch alternates between the release and
depress operations with each tap of the footswitch.
The
Polarity
of each footswitch can be determined automatically on power-up, or programmed
to normally-open or normally-closed. It's also possible for the F8 to send
out the state of its footswitches immediately on power-up rather than
waiting for each to be depressed.
The Polarity of each footswitch input of the
F8 can be programmed to Automatic, Normally-open, or Normally-closed. In
Automatic mode, the F8 automatically determines the polarity of the
footswitch on power-up. In Normally-open or Normally-closed modes, the F8
forces the polarity of the footswitch to operate in the selected mode,
regardless of its power-up position.
The F8 is programmed by
sending it MIDI System Exclusive messages (read the
Programming FAQs
for more details). This is easily done with the MIDI Solutions Programming Tools
software. Once programmed, the F8's
settings are retained even after power is removed. The F8 can be
reprogrammed with new settings as often as needed.
The F8 is MIDI-powered, and
requires no batteries or power supply to operate with most MIDI products (for more information read
the Power FAQs). A MIDI indicator LED lights up when the product is
powered and flashes when MIDI data passes through it.
rear panel
Weight: 1.9 kg (4.2 lb)
Dimensions: 483 x 171 x 44 mm (19" x 6.75" x 1.75")
Learn more about the MIDI Solutions F8
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