Two Midi Ports - Edirol PCR-M30 Owner's Manual

Input / output devices

Two MIDI ports

* Two MIDI ports are available only when using a USB connection (p. 40-p. 41). When using a MIDI connection (p. 42), the
two ports are merged (combined into one) for output.
Some sequencer software that supports MIDI controllers lets you independently specify the MIDI
input port used for recording MIDI tracks (the "MIDI IN port") and the MIDI input port used to control
the software (the "CTRL IN port").
Sequencer software
Track Record on
Track
tracks
THRU
MIDI IN port MIDI OUT port
PCR
Sequencer software
Record on tracks
Track
Track
THRU
MIDI IN port
Sequencer software
Track Record on tracks
Track
THRU
MIDI IN port
MIDI sound module
PCR
The output destination of the MIDI messages transmitted when you operate the PCR-M30/50/80's
knobs, and buttons can be specified separately for each controller. (➔Assign MIDI messages (p. 56))
44
Software
synthesizer
CTRL IN port
MIDI sound module
Software
synthesizer
MIDI OUT port CTRL IN port
PCR
Software
synthesizer
MIDI OUT port CTRL IN port
PCR 1 PCR 2
fig.midi-port.e
Normally, you will connect your MIDI keyboard to the
MIDI IN port, and use it for recording your performance
on tracks or using the MIDI Thru function of your software
to play sound modules or soft synthesizers. The MIDI
messages sent here have the meaning that is assigned to
them by the MIDI specification. In other words, when you
play the keyboard, note messages will be transmitted and
recorded on the track, and the sound module that receives
these messages will produce sound.
fig.midi-port2.e
In contrast, the data received from the CTRL IN port is
used to operate your software in the same way as data from
your computer's mouse or keyboard; it will not be recorded
on the tracks or "thru-ed" to your sound module or soft
synthesizer. The MIDI messages sent here are interpreted
in a completely different way than defined in the MIDI
specification.
For this reason, messages that are input from the CTRL IN
port are not normally "thru-ed" to your sound module or
soft synthesizer.
For example, even if you play your keyboard to send a
note-on message, the software that receives this message
will not produce a note; instead, it might interpret this
message as meaning that the PLAY/STOP button had been
pressed.
The actual operation that will occur will depend on the
software you are using.
fig.midi-port3.e
Since the same MIDI message can be interpreted in
completely different ways, as described above, the software
lets you specify the MIDI IN port and CTRL IN port
separately so that the two types can be distinguished.
When the PCR-M30/50/80 is connected via USB, you can
select either of the two MIDI ports (PCR 1, PCR 2) as the
output destination for MIDI messages produced by the
fader and knobs, and buttons of the PCR-M30/50/80.
In other words, by assigning "PCR 1" as your software's
MIDI IN port and "PCR 2" as its CTRL IN port, you can do
things like using the button operations to control mixer
operations in your software while using the knobs to edit
your software synthesizer.