Re: MIDI "Controller" Support (was: Rationale for ignoring common
Re: MIDI "Controller" Support (was: Rationale for ignoring common
- Subject: Re: MIDI "Controller" Support (was: Rationale for ignoring common
- From: Mike Kent <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 12:35:29 -0700
>
> I've often been asked why my stuff does not support CC7 (Volume). I
>
> replied "uhm, please, try in Logic" and they knew why. (Because the
>
> host already uses it for channel volume)
>
>
Ouch, this is my pet peeve! ;-)
>
>
I use my volume pedal extensively. I want it to affect the synth's
>
output level, not the Logic channel strip...you could also connect
>
volume to a different control source (I believe Expression is
>
sometimes used...
A "volume" pedal is really an "expression" pedal. As you play a synth, the
movement of the pedal is controlling musical expression. It is adding
musical expressiveness to what you play, somewhat like velocity on a piano,
breath in a wind instrument, etc.
On the other hand, "Volume" is a master output level kind of function.
MIDI makes 2 controllers available specifically for this purpose. Controller
#7 is Volume and Controller #11 is Expression.
- CC#7 is meant to be used for setting the volume of
one MIDI channel in relation to the other channels.
- CC#11 is used to set volume for one channel relative to
itself, for each section of a song, musical phrasing, etc.
The pedal on your synth should be set to send Controller 11. Controller 7
should set the master output level.
Using both controllers gives you the most flexible setup. Your pedal on
CC#11 allows you to input musical control, crescendos/decrescendos, all
expressive kind of input. CC#7 is then a master volume.
To change the master volume of one channel in mix, you can change CC#7. This
allows you to retain all of the musically expressive "volume" changes that
you inputted via CC#11.
This is Roland's fundamental rule for implementing CC#7 and CC#11. I admit
that our own product designers do not always implement this way as a
default. When we do not, it is often because so many other products do not
implement this idea and we try to be compatible.
Does it make sense for everyone to adopt this thinking? I do think it was
the intent of the MIDI specification.
Most or perhaps ALL MIDI instruments should support both CC#7 and CC#11.
Of course, that may not answer whether the CC#7 should control the Logic
channel or the synth output itself. Maybe MIDI really needs one more
controller for track volume?
Regards,
Mike.
-----------------------------------------------
| Mike Kent, Manager of Technical Relations |
| Roland Corporation |
| Email: email@hidden |
| Tel: (604)543-2973 Fax: (604)543-2983 |
-----------------------------------------------
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