You probably have your MIDI System set up already. But you might have to make adjustments to it to make full use of the Studio Module. Please read through the following check list:
• For each device from which you plan to get and send settings, you must have two way communication. In other words, the MIDI Out of the computer must be connected to the MIDI In of the device and the MIDI Out of the device must be connected to the MIDI In of the computer. You can very well have this connection happening via a MIDI Patchbay, and if you have an interface with multiple inputs, you can put some devices on one input and some on another.
• For devices which either can't send out their settings via MIDI, or for which you don't need to do this, you can forget about the return connection (MIDI Out on the device to MIDI In on the computer), these units can make use of the Studio Module anyway.
• Try to avoid chaining too many devices via their respective MIDI Thrus. This might lead to lost or corrupted data. Use a MIDI Thru box instead, if needed. Try to create as "clear" a signal path as possible between each device and the computer.
• If you have a programmable MIDI Patchbay to which you can send Program Change to select between MIDI Routings, first program this with one Patch that you use for your normal MIDI recording. Then make up additional patches, one for each device in your rig, which give bidirectional communication between the computer and the device. Make sure that only one device at a time is connected to the computer. Make note of the numbers of these patches, and also make sure you know which MIDI Channel to send Program Change messages to the MIDI Patchbay on. If necessary, set up the Patchbay so that it reacts to Program Change messages.
• If you have a programmable MIDI Patchbay that does not react to Program Change messages, still make up the settings as above, but simply make a list on paper of how to switch in each device.
• Make sure that all devices that are on the same Output have unique Global MIDI Channel numbers. A Global MIDI Channel is an overall MIDI Channel setting used for different things. If your synth can store for example several multitimbral setups (for example called Combis, Performances or Multis) you can probably switch between these by sending Program Change messages on this MIDI channel. If the device can be switched between a multitimbral ("many sounds") mode and a monotimbral ("one sound") mode, this channel might also be used to play one sound in the monotimbral mode. And finally, requests for System Exclusive data might rely on this MIDI Channel number. See the Setup chapter for more detail).
• If the device has two MIDI Channel settings, one for receiving and one for transmitting, make sure they are set to the same number.• Make sure no instrument is set to Omni On mode (sometimes called just Omni mode, or "All" mode). This is a mode where it receives data on all MIDI Channels, and this is probably not too useful in a sequencer setup anyway.
• Make sure all devices that you plan to access via the Studio Module react to Program Change numbers. Often there are many Program Change On/Off switches, one global and several local ones in each multitimbral setup.
• If your device uses a so called Program Change map, either disable this or reset it to its default value. The Studio Module can not take Program Change maps in consideration when selecting Patches! The only exception to this rule is if something else is stated in the driver Info box (see page 84).
• Make sure the devices for which you plan to exchange settings are set to Receive and Send System Exclusive data. In some devices this is a function which has to be activated each time you turn on the instrument!
• If a Device has a MIDI Thru, MIDI Echo or MIDI Merge function (we do not mean a MIDI Thru connector) which makes it send out a copy of everything it receives via its MIDI In to its MIDI Out, make absolutely sure this function is turned off!
• Some devices have a switch on the back panel for switching one of the MIDI jacks between MIDI Out and MIDI Thru. Make sure this is set to MIDI Out.OK, all set? Please proceed to the next chapter, "The Setup Window".