More about MIDI-connection
A MIDI-connection is a digital serial electronic connection,
type current loop.
Explanation:
· ‘..... serial electronic....’: a two wired connection
across which digital data is send bit by bit.
· ‘digital....current loop’: the messages exist
of current pulses.
Connecting MIDI to Toddler
The Toddler can only accept MIDI messages. For that purpose
the Toddler has a MIDI input on the right side. The connector used is a
5-pin DIN (180 degree) male. Pin4=MIDI+, pin5=MIDI-. Note that pins 1,
2 and 3 are not used and should be left unconnected. Only in case a twisted
pair cable is used, pin 2 should be used to connect the shielding of the
twisted pair cable. The maximum length of the MIDI cable is 6 meters.
More about MIDI-messages
In a system where several devices are connected with
each other by means of a MIDI-connection, one of the devices is the MASTER.
This MASTER controls the others (SLAVES) by means of messages, which imply
several commands. In general not every message is meant for all connected
slaves; there are SLAVE specific messages.
Each SLAVE has a number between 1 up to 16 and SLAVE
specific messages involves also a number between 1 up to 16. This number
is called CHANNEL number and in this sense a SLAVE is called a CHANNEL.
So it must be possible to define for a SLAVE a channel number. A slave
selective message is called ‘CHANNEL MESSAGE’; this kind of messages involves
always a channelnumber.
Channel message of type: Program change
There are several types of channel messages. The Toddler
(from Toddler2 software version 3.2) acts only on type PROGRAM CHANGE.
This message exist of two bytes.
The first byte, STATUS BYTE, specifies the message type
and the channel number; the value is Cn[hex], n=channelnumber (1,...16).
The second byte is called the DATA BYTE; bit-7 is always
zero, byte value=0,...,127. |
Running status
The MIDI-handler of the Toddler knows ‘RUNNING STATUS’.
This means: when a status byte is received and processed, the MIDI-handler
remains in that status until a different status byte is received. This
means that during the time the status is not changed, one only have to
send data bytes in the succeeding messages. Further, the Toddler recognises
SYSTEM REAL-TIME messages, in that way that RUNNING STATUS remains maintained.
The relation table below is applicable in case of the
Toddler.
| MIDImessage = status
byte |
+ data byte |
--> start fade-in scene |
Cn[h]
Cn[h]
Cn[h]
,
,
Cn[h] |
0
1
2
,
,
99 |
Xxx
Xxx
Xxx
Xxx
Xxx
Xxx |
'n' is the under 'SET-UP' chosen MIDI-channelnumber.
[h] means hexadecimal.
Programming Toddler for MIDI-control
· To define a channelnumber to Toddler: set under
[SET-UP] for Remote control= the option MIDI. Select in the same
menu a channel number. (see page 10 in manuel Toddler)
· Record the desired scenes.
· Define under [assign] the relation between the
second byte of the MIDI-message and the scene that must be fade-in. (see
page 8 in manuel Toddler)
An example
For example: the Toddler is set on “MIDIchannel=4” and
“MIDI data= 14 fades in A03”. At the moment the MASTER sends the bytes
“0C4[h]” and “0E[h]” (E[h]=14 decimal), the Toddler reacts by cancelling
the going fade and fading in scene A03. |