441 lines
16 KiB
HTML
441 lines
16 KiB
HTML
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<p>
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Ardour 2.X supported
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<a href="@@generic-midi-learn"><dfn>MIDI learning</dfn></a>
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for more or less any control. This was a nice feature that quite a few other
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DAWs are providing by now, but it didn't allow Ardour to work "out of the
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box" with sensible defaults for existing commercial MIDI
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controllers. In Ardour 3 and later versions, we have augmented the
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MIDI learn feature with the ability to load a <dfn>MIDI binding map</dfn>
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for a given controller, which can set up an arbitrary number of physical
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controls with anything inside Ardour that can be controlled.
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</p>
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<p>
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Currently (August 2016), we have presets for the following devices/modes:
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</p>
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<ul>
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<li>AKAI MidiMix (2 layouts)</li>
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<li>AKAI MPD-32</li>
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<li>AKAI MPK61</li>
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<li>AKAI MPKmini</li>
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<li>Alesis QX25</li>
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<li>Arturia KeyLab49</li>
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<li>Behringer BCF2000</li>
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<li>Behringer BCF2000 (Mackie Emulation mode; better to use
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Ardour's actual Mackie Control Protocol support)</li>
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<li>Behringer DDX3216</li>
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<li>Korg nanoKONTROL (3 layouts)</li>
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<li>Korg nanoKONTROL 2 (2 layouts)</li>
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<li>Korg Taktile</li>
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<li>M-Audio Axiom 25</li>
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<li>M-Audio Axiom 61</li>
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<li>M-Audio Axiom Air 25</li>
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<li>M-Audio Axiom Air Mini 32</li>
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<li>M-Audio Oxygen 8v2</li>
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<li>M-Audio Oxygen 25</li>
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<li>M-Audio Oxygen 49</li>
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<li>M-Audio Oxygen 61v3 (2 layouts)</li>
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<li>Novation Impulse 49</li>
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<li>Novation Impulse 61</li>
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<li>Novation LaunchControl XL</li>
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<li>Novation LaunchKey 25</li>
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<li>Novation LaunchKey 49</li>
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<li>Roland SI-24</li>
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<li>Roland V Studio 20</li>
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<li>WiiMote</li>
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<li>Xboard 61</li>
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<li>Yamaha KX25</li>
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</ul>
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At this time, new binding maps need to be created with a text editor.
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<p>
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MIDI binding maps are accessible by double-clicking <kbd class="menu">Edit
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> Preferences > Control Surfaces > Generic MIDI</kbd>. Ardour will
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retain your selection after you choose one.
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</p>
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<h2>Creating new MIDI maps</h2>
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<h3>The Basic Concept</h3>
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<p>
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Since the beginning of time (well, sometime early in the 2.X series),
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Ardour has had the concept of identifying each track and bus with a
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<dfn>remote control ID</dfn>. This ID uniquely identifies a track or bus
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so that when messages arrive from elsewhere via MIDI or OSC , we can determine
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which track or bus they are intended to control. See
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<a href="@@controlling-track-ordering">
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remote control IDs</a> for more information.
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You just need to know that there is a "first track" and its remote control
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ID is 1, and so on.
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</p>
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<h3>Getting Started</h3>
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<p>
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MIDI bindings are stored in files with the suffix ".map" attached to their
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name. The minimal content looks like this:
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</p>
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<pre>
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
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<ArdourMIDIBindings version="1.0.0" name="The name of this set of
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bindings">
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</ArdourMIDIBindings>
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</pre>
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<p>
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So, to start, create a file with that as the initial contents.
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</p>
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<p>
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The file should be located in the midi_maps sub directory located in
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the <a href="@@files-and-directories-ardour-knows-about">Ardour configuration directory</a>
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</p>
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<h3>Finding out what your MIDI control surface sends</h3>
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<p>
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This is the most complex part of the job, but its still not very hard.
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You need to connect the control surface to an application that will show
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you the information that the device sends each time you modify a knob,
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slider, button etc. There are a variety of such applications (notably
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<code>gmidimon</code> and <code>kmidimon</code>, but you can actually use
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Ardour for this if you want. Start Ardour in a terminal window, connect
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MIDI ports up, and in the Preferences window, enable "Trace Input" on the
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relevant MIDI port. A full trace of the MIDI data received will show up in
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the terminal window. (Note: in Ardour3, you get a dedicated, custom dialog
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for this kind of tracing.)
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</p>
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<h3>Types of Bindings</h3>
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<p>
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There are two basic kinds of bindings you can make between a MIDI message
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and something inside Ardour. The first is a binding to a specific parameter
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of a track or bus. The second is a binding to something that will change
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Ardour's state in some way (the "something" could either be called a
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function or an action, see below).
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</p>
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<h4>Binding to Track/Bus controls</h4>
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<p>
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A track/bus binding has one of three basic structures
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</p>
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<code>
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<Binding <em>msg specification</em> uri="<em>… control address …</em>"/></br>
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<Binding <em>msg specification</em> function="<em>… function name …</em>"/></br>
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<Binding <em>msg specification</em> action="<em>… action name …</em>"/>
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</code>
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<h4>Message specifications</h4>
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<p>
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You can create a binding for either 3 types of channel messages, or for a
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system exclusive ("sysex") message. A channel message specification looks
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like this:
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</p>
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<code>
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<Binding channel="1" ctl="13" …
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</code>
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<p>
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This defines a binding for a MIDI Continuous Controller message involving
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controller 13, arriving on channel 1. There are 16 MIDI channels, numbered
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1 to 16. Where the example above says <code>ctl</code>, you can alternatively
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use <code>note</code> (to create binding for a Note On message) or
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<code>pgm</code> (to create a binding for a Program Change message).
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</p>
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<p>
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Continous Controlers (CCs) have coninued to evolve for different controlers.
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The use of Encoders, RPN, NRPN, and controller buttons that give a 0 value
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when released instead of toggling are now supported. These all have their
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own type. The whole list of CC types are:
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</p>
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<p>
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<ul>
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<li>ctl - sets a CC to the value sent (works the same as
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<code>note</code> with the <code>momentary</code> parameter set)</li>
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<li>ctl-toggle - for CC controls that send a 127 for button press
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and 0 for button release. The release is ignored and the value is
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toggled with each press. (works the same as <code>note</code>)</li>
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<li>ctl-dial - passes the CC value to the controlled object</li>
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<li>rpn - The CC value may be a 14 bit value</li>
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<li>nrpn - The CC number and the value may both be 14 bit values</li>
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<li>rpn-delta - The value is expected to be a signed 14bit value
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that is added to the current value. For use with encoders</li>
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<li>nrpn-delta - The value is expected to be a signed 14bit value
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that is added to the current value. For use with encoders</li>
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<li>enc-r, enc-l, enc-2 and enc-b - For 7 bit encoders.
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<a href="@@generic-midi-and-encoders"> Learn more about working
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with encoders </a></li>
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</ul>
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</p>
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<p class="note">
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Ardour 5.12 has a bug with the encoder detection where the first
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encoder message resets the control to 0. Setting "Enable Feedback"
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on allows encoders to work as expected.
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</p>
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<p>
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You can also bind sysex messages:
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</p>
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<code>
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<Binding sysex="f0 0 0 e 9 0 5b f7" ….</br>
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<Binding sysex="f0 7f 0 6 7 f7" ….
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</code>
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<p>
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The string after the <code>sysex=</code> part is the sequence of MIDI bytes,
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as hexadecimal values, that make up the sysex message.
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</p>
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<p>
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Finally, you can bind a totally arbitrary MIDI message:</p>
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<code>
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<Binding msg="f0 0 0 e 9 0 5b f7" ….</br>
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<Binding msg="80 60 40" ….
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</code>
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<p>
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The string after the <code>msg=</code> part is the sequence of MIDI bytes, as
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hexadecimal values, that make up the message you want to bind. Using this is
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slightly less efficient than the other variants shown above, but is useful for
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some oddly designed control devices.
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</p>
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<p class="note">
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As of Ardour 4.6 it is possible to use multi-event MIDI strings such as
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two event CC messages, RPN or NRPN.
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</p>
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<p class="note">
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The <code>sysex=</code> and <code>msg=</code> bindings will only work with
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<code>function=</code> or <code>action=</code> control addresses. They
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will <em>not</em> work with the <code>uri=</code> control addresses.
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Controls used with <code>uri=</code> require a <em>Value</em> which is
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only available in a known place with channel mode MIDI events.
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</p>
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<h4>Control address</h4>
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<p>
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A <dfn>control address</dfn> defines what the binding will actually control.
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There are quite a few different things that can be specified here:
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</p>
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<p class="note">
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Enable Feeback applies to these "Control Addresses" only.
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</p>
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<table class="dl">
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<tr><th>/route/gain</th>
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<td>the gain control ("fader") for the track/bus</td></tr>
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<tr><th>/route/trim</th>
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<td>the trim control for the track/bus (new in 4.1)</td></tr>
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<tr><th>/route/solo</th>
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<td>a toggleable control for solo (and listen) of the track/bus</td></tr>
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<tr><th>/route/mute</th>
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<td>a toggleable control to mute/unmute the track/bus</td></tr>
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<tr><th>/route/recenable</th>
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<td>a toggleable control to record-enable the track</td></tr>
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<tr><th>/route/panwidth</th>
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<td>interpreted by the track/bus panner, should control image "width"</td></tr>
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<tr><th>/route/pandirection</th>
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<td>interpreted by the track/bus panner, should control image "direction"</td></tr>
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<tr><th>/route/plugin/parameter</th>
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<td>the Mth parameter of the Nth plugin of a track/bus
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>/route/send/gain</th>
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<td>the gain control ("fader") of the Nth send of a track/bus</td></tr>
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</table>
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<p>Each of the specifications needs an address, which takes various forms too. For track-level controls (solo/gain/mute/recenable), the address is one the following:</p>
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<table class="dl">
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<tr><th>a number, e.g. "1"
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</th>
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<td>identifies a track or bus by its remote control ID
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>B, followed by a number
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</th>
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<td>identifies a track or bus by its remote control ID within the current bank (see below for more on banks)
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>S, followed by a number
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</th>
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<td>identifies a selected track in order they have been selected, S1 should be the same track as the Editor Mixer
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>one or more words
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</th>
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<td>identifies a track or bus by its name
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</td></tr>
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</table>
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<p>
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For send/insert/plugin controls, the address consists of a track/bus
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address (as just described) followed by a number identifying the plugin/send
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(starting from 1). For plugin parameters, there is an additional third
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component: a number identifying the plugin parameter number (starting from
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1).
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</p>
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<p>
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One additional feature: for solo and mute bindings, you can also add
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<code>momentary="yes"</code> after the control address. This is useful
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primarily for NoteOn bindings—when Ardour gets the NoteOn it
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will solo or mute the targetted track or bus, but then when a NoteOff
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arrives, it will un-solo or un-mute it.
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</p>
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<h4>Bindings to Ardour "functions"</h4>
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<p class="note">
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There is currently no feedback available for functions.
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</p>
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<p>
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Rather than binding to a specific track/bus/plugin control, it may be useful to
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have a MIDI controller able to alter some part of Ardour's
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state. Ardour's Generic MIDI support provides a small number of
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easily-used "functions" to do the most common operations, using a
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binding that looks like this:
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</p>
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<code>
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<Binding channel="1" note="13" function="transport-roll"/>
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</code>
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<p>
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In this case, a NoteOn message for note number 13 (on channel 1) will
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start the transport rolling.
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</p>
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<p>
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Note that a much greater number of operations are possible using
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actions, described below.
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</p>
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<p>
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The following function names are available:
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</p>
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<table class="dl">
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<tr><th>
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<code>transport-stop</code>
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</th>
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<td>stop the transport
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>
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<code>transport-roll</code>
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</th>
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<td>start the transport "rolling"
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>
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<code>transport-zero</code>
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</th>
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<td>move the playhead to the zero position
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>
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<code>transport-start</code>
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</th>
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<td>move the playhead to the start marker
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>
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<code>transport-end</code>
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</th>
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<td>move the playhead to the end marker
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>
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<code>loop-toggle</code>
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</th>
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<td>turn on loop playback
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>
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<code>rec-enable</code>
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</th>
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<td>enable the global record button
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>
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<code>rec-disable</code>
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</th>
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<td>disable the global record button
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>
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<code>next-bank</code>
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</th>
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<td>Move track/bus mapping to the next bank (see Banks below)
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</td></tr>
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<tr><th>
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<code>prev-bank</code>
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</th>
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<td>Move track/bus mapping to the previous bank (see Banks below)
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</td></tr>
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</table>
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<h4>Binding to Ardour "actions"</h4>
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<p class="note">
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It is not possible to have feedback available for actions because
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these represent keyboard shortcuts which are input only.
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</p>
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<p>
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You can also bind a sysex or arbitrary message to any of the items
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that occur in Ardour's main menu (and its submenus). The <a
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href="@@list-of-menu-actions">
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list of actions</a> shows all available values of <em>action-name</em>.
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<p>
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To create a binding between an arbitrary MIDI message (we'll use a
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note-off on channel 1 of MIDI note 60 (hex) with release velocity
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40 (hex)), the binding file would contain:
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</p>
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<code>
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<Binding msg="80 60 40" action="Editor/temporal-zoom-in"/>
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</code>
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<p>
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The general rule, when taken an item from the keybindings file and
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using it in a MIDI binding is to simply strip the
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<code><Action></code> prefix of the second field in the
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keybinding definition.
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</p>
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<h3>Banks and Banking</h3>
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<p>
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Because many modern control surfaces offer per-track/bus controls
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for far fewer tracks & busses than many users want to control,
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Ardour offers the relatively common place concept of <dfn>banks</dfn>. Banks
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allow you to control any number of tracks and/or busses easily,
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regardless of how many faders/knobs etc. your control surface has.<br>
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To use banking, the control addresses must be specified using the
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<dfn>bank relative</dfn> format mentioned above ("B1" to identify
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the first track of a bank of tracks, rather than "1" to identify
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the first track).
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</p>
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<p>
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One very important extra piece of information is required to use
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banking: an extra line near the start of the list of bindings
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that specifies how many tracks/busses to use per bank. If the
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device has 8 faders, then 8 would be a sensible value to use for
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this. The line looks like this:</p>
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<code>
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<DeviceInfo bank-size="8"/>
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</code>
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<p>
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In addition, you probably want to ensure that you bind something
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on the control surface to the <code>next-bank</code> and
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<code>prev-bank</code> functions, otherwise you and other users
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will have to use the mouse and the GUI to change banks, which
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rather defeats the purpose of the bindings.
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</p>
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<h3>The Selected Strip</h3>
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<p>
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Often times one wants to just deal with the strip currently
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selected by the GUI (or the control surface). In the same way as with
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banks above the selected strip can be designated with <em>S1</em>.
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</p>
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<h2>A Complete (though muddled) Example</h2>
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<pre>
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
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<ArdourMIDIBindings version="1.0.0" name="pc1600x transport controls">
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<DeviceInfo bank-size="16"/>
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<Binding channel="1" ctl="1" uri="/route/gain B1"/>
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<Binding channel="1" ctl="2" uri="/route/gain B2"/>
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<Binding channel="1" ctl="3" uri="/route/send/gain B1 1"/>
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<Binding channel="1" ctl="4" uri="/route/plugin/parameter B1 1 1"/>
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<Binding channel="1" ctl="6" uri="/bus/gain master"/>
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<Binding channel="1" note="1" uri="/route/solo B1"/>
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<Binding channel="1" note="2" uri="/route/solo B2" momentary="yes"/>
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<Binding channel="1" note="15" uri="/route/mute B1" momentary="yes"/>
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<Binding channel="1" note="16" uri="/route/mute B2" momentary="yes"/>
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<Binding channel="1" enc-r="11" uri="/route/pandirection B1"/>
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<Binding channel="1" enc-r="12" uri="/route/pandirection B2"/>
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<Binding sysex="f0 0 0 e 9 0 5b f7" function="transport-start"/>
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<Binding sysex="f0 7f 0 6 7 f7" function="rec-disable"/>
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<Binding sysex="f0 7f 0 6 6 f7" function="rec-enable"/>
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<Binding sysex="f0 0 0 e 9 0 53 0 0 f7" function="loop-toggle"/>
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<Binding channel="1" note="13" function="transport-roll"/>
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<Binding channel="1" note="14" function="transport-stop"/>
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<Binding channel="1" note="12" function="transport-start"/>
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<Binding channel="1" note="11" function="transport-zero"/>
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<Binding channel="1" note="10" function="transport-end"/>
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</ArdourMIDIBindings>
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</pre>
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<p>
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Please note that channel, controller and note numbers are specified as
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decimal numbers in the ranges 1-16, 0-127 and 0-127 respectively
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(the channel range may change at some point).
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</p>
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