Table of Contents
Advertisement
MIDI
Ten years ago MIDI was still a strange new thing to most musicians and
computer users. Not any more, so I'll keep this part short.
The basics: MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, which is a 16-
channel serial data exchange and control system for musical devices. MIDI
works by supplying a way for the microprocessors in your various electronic
musical devices to pass messages back and forth over a special network of
cables. These cables, which are used only for MIDI data and nothing else, plug
into special five-pin DIN jacks which are typically labeled IN, OUT, and THRU.
The IN jack receives MIDI data. The OUT jack transmits it. And the THRU jack
automatically echoes and re-transmits whatever data is being received at the IN
jack (this last function has a special use I'll get to in a minute).
One of the important things to remember about MIDI is that data flow is strictly
one-way. Make sure you always plug the OUT jack of one instrument into the IN
jack of another, and vice-versa. The other choices — OUT to OUT, or IN to IN
— won't work.
If you'll look on the back of your NanoBass you'll see that it doesn't have an IN,
and OUT, and a THRU. Instead it has an IN and a combined OUT/THRU. There
are good reasons for this: (1) the NanoBass doesn't have a built-in keyboard or
anything else to play, so it doesn't really need an OUT jack; (2) combining OUT
and THRU jacks saves a little on the cost, bringing the unit's price down; and (3)
it makes the back panel less crowded.
How should you hook your NanoBass into your MIDI system? That depends on
how you intend to use it.
AS A SINGLE SLAVE (the IN Jack)
To play your NanoBass directly from any MIDI source — keyboard, drum pads,
woodwind controller, guitar controller, computer, etc. — just run a MIDI cable
from the MIDI OUT of the controlling device to the MIDI IN jack on the back of
the NanoBass. Then turn the NanoBass's MIDI CHANNEL knob to the same
MIDI channel (from 1-16) that the controlling instrument is transmitting on.
PLEASE NOTE: This is important to remember. The NanoBass can only
respond to one MIDI channel at a time. If it is set to receive on MIDI channel 2,
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––
NanoBass Reference Manual
15
- Quick Links:
- Power
- MIDI
- The Programs
- 4: MIDI Rules
Hide quick links:
Advertisement
Table of Contents
Need help?
Do you have a question about the NanoBass and is the answer not in the manual?