Newbie question - changing tone

Question

Hi all,

I just started using MIDI Designer, and I am pretty new in MIDI too.

I got the "tone list" to my Roland FP50, but I have no idea how to send the message changing the tone.

In the table there is MSB, LSB and PC values, where should I put them and what kind of MIDI message should I send ?

I would appreciate your help in this matter.

Regards

Pawel

Comments

Hi there. Generally, the MSB, LSB and PC refer to Bank Change (MSB-LSB) and then Program Change. Here's a link to get you started. Please let me know if this gets you working:

http://mididesigner.com/qa/23/bank-change-then-program-change

I would first start with some buttons (as supercontrols of two buttons each) to try some things out.

Thanks!
Dan

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Thank you for your reply,
I read the manual, and I know how to send multiple commands.
Problem is, that I cannot understand the notation in the form, "0->127".
What's the value ?
Where should I put the values from MIDI implementation for my instrument? In the "default value" ?
The technical details are hidden from the user, but when I have to use spec sheet, I have to know how to send values.
Some explanation in the manual would be helpful.
As a matter of fact every user of MD has to work with MIDI commands, and implementation tables.
I am a computer programmer for 25 yrs and value in the form field "0->127" is real puzzle for me.
The MIDI commands has parameters, and there is no information in the manual where to put parameters.
Field description "MIDI On->Off" is enigmatic for me also.
I would appreciate more info about putting parameters to commands.
I managed to set different tone on my Roland, but the change I got is pretty random, it depends on the values I put randomly, because I have no idea where to put them, and if I should put them as one 16-bit value or two 7 or 8 bits.
Btw. How to change the default tone on the instrument ?
I changed the tone, but it changed only for notes sent by MIDI, and when I play on the keyboard I got the same default instrument.

Regards
Pawel

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Hi there. The "->" is an arrow.
1) 0->127 merely means that the off value is 0, and the on value of the control is 127. See: http://mididesigner.com/wiki/doku.php/manual:chapter-midi-properties-for-controls
2) If you're able to change tones at all on your Roland, we're on the way to figuring this out. Now you just need to figure out what values to put where. If you're seeing a 7-bit MSB, a 7-bit LSB and a 7-bit PC value, you would put the first two in for your Bank Change max value and the last one in for the program change. However: MIDI Designer expects you to put in ONE multi-byte max value for Bank Change max.

So: if you need to put in, say:

MSB=99, LSB=88

1) convert them to hex yourself if they're not already, so they're: 0x63 and 0x58
2) Use the MIDI Byte calculator to convert them: http://mididesigner.com/help/midi-byte-calculator/?midi_bytes=63+58

and the resulting value is 12760

and that should be your ON value for the bank change (set it to Send On Only)

Does that help?

Once we get all of this sorted, the other question -- about your Roland and which keyboard you're targeting -- should be asked in a separate, clean question so that Roland users here on these forums can help you.

Does that help? Thanks for your patience as we get you sorted.