Behringer U-Control UMX250 User Manual download pdf (Page 5)

5 U-CONTROL UMX250 User Manual

1.4 System requirements

For USB operation, a current WINDOWS PC or MAC with a USB connection is

sucient. Both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 are supported.

◊ The UMX250 supports the USB MIDI compatibility of WINDOWS XP,

Vista and MAC OS X operating systems.

◊ The UMX250 can also be operated as a stand-alone MIDI controller

with no PC connected. Software control via MIDI is also possible,

provided your computer has a MIDI interface.

2. Introduction to MIDI

2.1 MIDI control for beginners

Application possibilities for the UMX models are truly wide-ranging. We’ll start

with a couple of general explanations and examples that should quickly let you

get a good understanding of MIDI basics.

The denition of the MIDI standard began in 1982 with the cooperation of various

international companies (MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface). At that

time, musicians were looking for a possibility of managing the communication of

electronic musical instruments of dierent makes with one another.

What exactly does the UMX250 do?

Simply put, this is a remote control for all kinds of MIDI equipment. Using the

faders, rotary knobs and buttons, the foot pedal and the keyboard, an entire

array of control instructions can be generated, which in turn can control the most

diverse functions of external devices.

What kinds of equipment can I control with

theUMX250?

You can basically control any device supporting the MIDI format. Both hardware

and software MIDI devices are controlled in exactly the same way. The only

dierence is in the wiring.

Here are a couple of suggestions on how you can use your UMX250:

◊ Editing sound parameters of (virtual) synthesizers, sound samplers,

GM/GS/XG sound generators.

◊ Controlling parameters on effects equipment/software plug-ins such

as effects processors, reverbs, compressors, equalizers.

◊ Remotely controlling software mixers (volume, panorama,

mute functions, etc.).

◊ Remotely controlling transport functions (playback, forward, stop, etc.)

on sequencers, hard disk recorders, drum computers, etc.

◊ Live control of volume and sound parameters on expanders.

◊ Remotely controlling groove boxes, step sequencers, MIDI generators

and other “live” software.

◊ Program changes and volume control on sound generators (just like on

a master keyboard).

◊ Can be used by band keyboardists, solo entertainers, organists,

electronic music performers, DJs, sound engineers, home/project

studio owners, theater technicians, etc.

And how does it work?

Remote control is realized by assigning the individual control elements of

the UMX250 to individual MIDI parameters. Whenever one of these control

elements is operated, the UMX250 generates the control data assigned to this

control element, which are then transferred to external devices over a data link.

Thus,forexample, the VOLUME/DATA fader is factory-set to send data controlling

the volume level of a channel.

The data connection is usually a standard MIDI cable with a 5-pin DIN plug on

each end. Such cables should not exceed a length of 15 meters. With the UMX250

there is one more data connection available: the USB cable to the host computer.

Here, the cable should not exceed a length of 5 meters.

The data transmission takes place over 16 channels.

The control data generated by the individual control elements are also called

MIDI messages, which can be divided into 3 major groups:

◊ Channel Messages: Here, channel-specic control information is

transmitted. An example of a channel message is the note-on instruction.

Assoon as a key is played on the keyboard of the UMX250, the device

generates an instruction which contains the pitch, channel number

and velocity. The receiving sound generator “knows” which tone has to

beplayed.

◊ System Messages: These messages are not channel-specic but relate to

the entire system to which they are sent. They are divided into 3 groups:

System Exclusive Messages (for operating system backup, updates,

management of memory contents); System Real-Time Messages (e.g. for

remote control of other devices); System Common Messages (e.g. for the

synchronization of several devices).

◊ Control Messages: Also known as Control Changes or Controllers,

abbreviated as “CC… (Control Change)”. There are 128 controllers in total,

which are numbered from 0 to 127. Controllers are always channel-specic.

• Please refer to Table 6.1 to nd out which type of controller you are currently

working with.

• MIDI data are only control data and contain no audible audio information!

The data transmission takes place over 16 channels.

What settings do I have to make? Where? How?

Basically, which control element generates which controller must be set on the

UMX250, and how incoming controller commands should be interpreted must be

set on the receiving device.

Regarding controller assignment, there are two possible principles:

◊ You use the preset controller configuration set in the factory

(see Fig. 3.1, (10)). In this case, you only need to make the assignments

on the receiving device.

◊ You use your own controller configuration set up in ASSIGN mode.

How to assign controllers to the UMX250 is described in

Chapter 4 “Operation”.

2.2 USB mode and stand-alone operation

The UMX250 can be operated as a USB interface or stand-alone device. The two

modes are dierent with respect to the MIDI signal ow.

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Behringer U-Control UMX250 User Manual Page 5

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