Oberheim MC 3000 Operating Manual
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Oberheim MC 3000 Operating Manual

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MC 3000
Midi Master controller
MANUALE OPERATIVO
OPERATING MANUAL
I - GB
Ver. AA4

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  • Page 1 MC 3000 Midi Master controller MANUALE OPERATIVO OPERATING MANUAL I - GB Ver. AA4...
  • Page 2 CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN WARNING! TO REDUCE THE DANGER OF ELECTRIC SHOCK: DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK) DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL This simbol is intended to This simbol is intended to alert alert the user to the presence...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    1.3.6. Using the mouse and its characteristics 1.3.7. The MC3000 MIDI ports and MIDI potential 1.3.8. The other items on the rear panel 2. Let's switch on the MC 3000 2.1. What the instrument does at switch-on 2.2. Setting the switch-on mode 2.3.
  • Page 4 MC 3000 Operating Manual 4. The EDIT operating mode 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Out channels (CFG) 4.3. Zone Definition (DEF) 4.4. Out Messages (MSG) 4.4.1. Introduction 4.4.2. Messages 1 4.4.3. Messages 2 4.5. Curves (CRV) 4.5.1. Introduction 4.5.2. Curves 1 4.5.3. Curves 2 4.6.
  • Page 5 MC 3000 Operating Manual 6.5. Edit Tables 6.5.1. Introduction 6.5.2. Port Names Table. 6.5.3. Program change Tables. 6.5.4. Sys-ex Tables 6.6. Edit curves. 6.6.1. Introduction 6.6.2. Dynamic curves 6.6.3. Aftertouch Curves 6.7. Tools 6.7.1. Introduction 6.7.2. Mouse Set up 6.7.3. Battery Status.

  • Page 6: General Presentation

    MIDI channels and lots of other parameters to be described in greater detail later. The MC 3000 is able to store no less than 1024 patches. They can all be programmed throughout by the user and recalled in real time, allowing the user to draw on a large quantity of data without having to wait for them to be loaded from a sequencer or a computer.

  • Page 7: The Display, The Write Key And The Function Keys

    MC 3000 Operating Manual Each zone key has a LED indicating its activation status; when it is off, the zone is not active, while when it is on the zone is active. When the LED flashes, the relative zone is in standby condition, meaning that the zone is not yet active, but is ready to be activated next time the key is pressed.

  • Page 8: The Numeric Pad And The Mode Keys

    MC 3000 Operating Manual 1.3.5 The Numeric pad and the mode keys. Moving to the right, we now come to the NUMERIC PAD, a combination of keys for selecting the patch number, also used to set a parameter at a given value directly, without using the encoder or the INC and DEC keys.

  • Page 9: Using The Mouse And Its Characteristics

    MC 3000 Operating Manual Program Mode Edit Mode Chain Mode Utility Mode 1.3.6 Using the mouse and its characteristics Mouse mat The mouse mat supplied with the instrument is housed inside the far right of the front panel. The MC-3000 requires a serial Mouse having the following characteristics: •...

  • Page 10: The Mc3000 Midi Ports And Midi Potential

    MC 3000 Operating Manual 1.3.7 The MC3000 MIDI ports and MIDI potential. Viewed frontally, the rear panel is structured as follows. Moving from right to left, we find 2 MIDI In ports, 2 THRU ports and 8 OUT ports, all consecutively numbered.

  • Page 11: What The Instrument Does At Switch-On

    2. LET'S SWITCH ON THE MC 3000 2.1 WHAT THE INSTRUMENT DOES AT SWITCH-ON What the MC 3000 does at switch-on depends on the settings the user has made. The user can choose between two types of switch-on: NORMAL switch-on and FAST switch- on.

  • Page 12: Setting The Switch-On Mode

    MC 3000 Operating Manual message becomes especially urgent, because the user may have lost all the data the instrument contained. N.B.: The estimated lifetime of the lithium batteries installed in the MC-3000 is about 4 years. However, specific conditions of use (such as high operating temperatures) may significantly shorten the battery lifetime.

  • Page 13: Selecting The Patch Which Will Automatically Appear At Switch-On

    MC 3000 Operating Manual Switch-on mode selection function • Use the cursor keys to move to the line where the words POWER ON TYPE appear: at this point the current function (NORMAL mode in the illustration) is selected, and the word NORMAL will be highlighted.

  • Page 14: The Program Operating Mode

    MC 3000 Operating Manual 3. THE PROGRAM OPERATING MODE 3.1 INTRODUCTION As already mentioned, this operating mode is automatically selected in switch-on. On many other keyboards, its equivalent is known as the Play mode, meaning that the keyboard is ready to be played. The keyboard also plays in the other modes, but the program and chain modes are the typically "live"...

  • Page 15: List

    MC 3000 Operating Manual 3.3 LIST If LIST is selected using the corresponding function key F2 from the TOP PAGE or from any other successive page in the program mode, the second page of the program mode, called the LIST PAGE, appears. The top of the page shows the name of the page, the current operating mode and the number of the selected patch.

  • Page 16: View

    MC 3000 Operating Manual Once the group required is displayed, the chosen patch can be selected using the cursor keys or the encoder, and as soon as the choice is confirmed with ENTER the instrument switches to the desired patch, which will appear with its TOP PAGE The usefulness of the LIST page lies in the rapid consultation it allows.
  • Page 17 MC 3000 Operating Manual Selection of zone B and detailed information about its key range. Selection of zone C and detailed information about its key range. Selection of zone D and detailed information about its key range. Press F1 or ESC to leave this function and go to the TOP PAGE.

  • Page 18: Introduction

    MC 3000 Operating Manual For the procedure for making the modifications in this page, refer to the EDIT section of this manual, point 4.3 Press ESC twice to go back to the TOP PAGE 3.5 INFO 3.5.1 Introduction F4, below the rectangle marked INFO, can be pressed on any program mode page to select the last page of the mode, the INFO page.
  • Page 19 MC 3000 is switched off. On the other hand, the volumes you assign to the zones in the EDIT environment can be saved and recognized as base volumes, so whenever you switch on the instrument and select that specific patch, the zones will retain the variations in volume you have made.

  • Page 20: Prg (Send Program Change) Function

    EDIT page corrisponding to the section present on the display. If ESC is pressed during display of the INFO video page, the MC 3000 returns to the TOP PAGE; use the dedicated function keys to move directly to the Program Mode functions analyzed previously.

  • Page 21: Solo Function

    MC 3000 Operating Manual • OUTPUT PORT: Selects the MIDI OUT port on which the Program Change is to be sent (from 01 to 08). The name attributed to selected port, which can be defined by the user, also appears beside the number (see UTILITY - Tables section of this manual).
  • Page 22 MC 3000 Operating Manual When the WRITE key on the front panel of the instrument is pressed, the display will show the following video page: Modifies the Modifies the patch comment patch name field • The CURRENT LOCATION field indicates the current Memory location (bank and number) and the name of the patch it contains.
  • Page 23 MC 3000 Operating Manual • F5 (CAPS) enables/disables the CAPITAL LOCK condition (shown in the top right-hand corner of the display). With this function enabled, the letters selected using the numeric pad will be capitals; in OFF they will be lower case letters.
  • Page 24 MC 3000 Operating Manual 4.2. OUT CHANNELS (CFG) This section, also known as the setup section, allows the user to define the activation status, MIDI channel and OUTPUT PORT of each zone Zone selection Zone status MIDI OUT Port TX Channel...
  • Page 25 MC 3000 Operating Manual Zone selection Back to the Configuration Page After using the cursor keys to locate in the ZONE field, the user can use the encoder or INC and DEC to select the zone to be edited. With the cursor in the LO-KEY or HI-KEY fields, the encoder or INC and DEC can be used to select the lowest and highest notes of the zone respectively, thus setting its range.
  • Page 26 MC 3000 Operating Manual The first page to appear when the section is selected is the MESSAGES 1 page. From left to right, the top of the display shows the name of the page, the name of the current patch and the lights which indicate the zones' activation status.
  • Page 27 MC 3000 Operating Manual The last line of this video page (identified as CC) contains the main zone control parameters, which will be sent when the patch is recalled. The parameters concerned relate to the VOLUME level (corresponding to the value of Control Change 7), the positioning within the stereo panorama PAN-POT (control change 10), and the level of the Reverb effect (REV, control change 91) and the Chorus effect (CHO, control change 93).
  • Page 28 After locating in the SYS N field, the user can select the desired exclusive system table by turning the encoder or pressing the INC and DEC keys. The MC 3000 offers the user 16 preset tables in the instrument memory, P1-P16, and 48, U17-U64, which can be programmed by the user himself in the UTILITY mode.
  • Page 29 MC 3000 Operating Manual the user must access the UTILITY mode in the DYNAMIC CURVES page of the EDIT CURVES section and follow the instructions given in the part of this manual which discusses that page. The name of the selected curve also appears, for display only.
  • Page 30 MC 3000 Operating Manual Zone Aftertouch curve number Appearance Name of the selected of the curve Aftertouch curve The last rectangle is marked MORE. The corresponding function key F6 can be pressed to return to the previous page of the CURVES section. The possibility of assigning different Aftertouch curves to several zones allows the user to create Aftertouch layers and splits between different zones and MIDI channels.
  • Page 31 The PEDALS page can only be accessed from the SLIDERS page of the CONTROLLERS section, by pressing the F6 function key. MC 3000 is able to support on its inputs both switch (i.e. sustain) and expression pedals (i.e. volume). Evidently a switch pedal will send only two MIDI messagges (0 when pedal...
  • Page 32 MC 3000 Operating Manual NOTE: the first 3 pedals are marked with the letter S since they also act as System pedals; their characteristic is that they control all the zones simultaneously. As the above indicates, these three pedals are able to control one or more zones of the user's choice simultaneously with the system, thus allowing complete freedom when selecting the configuration.
  • Page 33 The second window contains 8 columns representing 8 logical lines, and the third window contains an icon representing one of the 8 MIDI outputs of the MC 3000. The logical lines are variables included in a MIDI connection; in practice, instead of connecting an input port directly to an output port, each input port (MIDI IN) can be connected to a logical line which may be connected in turn to one or more MIDI outputs.
  • Page 34 MC 3000 Operating Manual IMPORTANT: The MC-3000 also uses the logical lines for transmission of the data of the zones to the MIDI OUT ports, so if a MIDI OUT port is not connected to any logical line, it will not be operational (port mute).
  • Page 35 MC 3000 Operating Manual 5. THE CHAIN OPERATING MODE 5.1 INTRODUCTION The term Chain refers to a system which simplifies a sequence of patches; in other words, a chain is simply a ladder which contains an order of succession for the MC3000 patches.
  • Page 36 INS icon, used to insert a step between two existing steps, and F4 that can be pressed to obtain the reverse effect, i.e. to remove the current step. Note that when a step is deleted, MC 3000 will apply the shifting function, moving all of the steps onwards one place down.
  • Page 37 MC 3000 Operating Manual This video page informs you of the location to which the chain is currently assigned and allows you to modify the number of the location for the chain you have just modified, using the encoder or the INC and DEC keys, or using the number keys, in which case ENTER must be used to confirm the figure typed.
  • Page 38 9. Press function key F6 (DONE) and the previous video page will return to the display. The MC 3000 places no less than 128 chains, each of which can contain up to 256 steps, at the user's disposal.
  • Page 39 MC 3000 Operating Manual 6. THE UTILITY OPERATING MODE 6.1 INTRODUCTION The Utility operating mode allows access to all the MC-3000's global functions, such as: • the reception MIDI (control channel, MIDI Filters, Bulk Dump) • the MIDI Monitor • The setting of the System Controllers, including the ranges of the sliders and the pedals •...
  • Page 40 MC 3000 Operating Manual The top of the display shows a reminder of the selected operating mode (and of the section (CONTROL CHANNEL). The central window contains the individual specific parameters, which refer to: • 1. The number of the input port (PORT), which is recognized as specific port for the control channel (IN1, IN2, IN1+2).
  • Page 41 MIDI PROGRAM CHANGE. Then use the encoder or INC and DEC to set the number of the program change sent by the remote unit by the MC 3000. After this, use the cursor keys to move to the PROG. N. field in the left-hand corner of the central window, and use the encoder or the numeric pad to set the patch which will appear when the remote unit sends that specific program change.
  • Page 42 It can take a long time to dump all the data in the MC 3000 memory. For this reason, the instrument allows the user to carry out partial dumps, in which just some of the data which can be selected in this page are transmitted and then saved.
  • Page 43 2. The user must absolutely never attempt to modify the contents of the exclusive code file using file editors; even an apparently tiny variation of just one letter or number will mean that the MC 3000 is unable to recognize the file, and all the data it contains will be irreparably lost.
  • Page 44 MC 3000 Operating Manual In a similar way to the choice of the port to be monitored, the MC 3000 also allows the user to select the type of MIDI message to be monitored. When function key F6 is pressed, word inside the relative icon rectangle changes: •...
  • Page 45 MC 3000 Operating Manual arrow next to key F5 carries a rectangle pointing up, indicating that F54 can be pressed to scroll upwards, displaying the more and more remote data one by one. When the first event recorded by the MIDI MONITOR is reached, it is no longer possible to move back by pressing F5, and if this key is pressed the word BOTTOM will appear in the top right-hand corner of the display.
  • Page 46 MC 3000 Operating Manual Like the other pages, at the top it contains the operating mode, the name of the page and the current section, while the bottom line carries the icon rectangles showing the pages of the section (with that of the current page in reverse), while the central window has 2 columns.
  • Page 47 MC 3000 Operating Manual 6.4.4 RANGE (RNG) The RANGE page can be access from the SYSTEM PEDALS page or any other page of the current section (SYSTEM CONTROL) by pressing function key F3 next to the RNG icon rectangle. It consists of two subpages, PEDALS RANGE and SLIDER RANGE.
  • Page 48 8 MIDI outputs and use the edit function to assign each of them the name of his choice. Once the desired name has been assigned to a given MIDI OUT port, this name will always appear beside the number of the port on any MC 3000 video page.
  • Page 49 The top of the display contains the operating mode, the page and the current section. In the centre is a window listing the names of the MC 3000's 8 MIDI OUT PORTS. The bottom of the screen carries the usual icon rectangles indicating the pages of the EDIT TABLES section, with the icon of the current page (marked with the abbreviation OUT, to indicate that the page refers to the OUT ports) illuminated in reverse.
  • Page 50 However, not all the expanders, synths or sound generators in general which may be connected to an MC 3000 adopt these tables . As well as the 16 preset tables P1...P16, there are 48 (U17...U64) user tables, programmed throughout by the user, available.
  • Page 51 MC 3000 Operating Manual The bottom of the screen contains the usual icon rectangles indicating the pages of the current section, with the icon of the current page in reverse. As well as the EDIT function icon, the bottom right-hand corner contains the List icon, associated to function key F5.
  • Page 52 MC 3000 Operating Manual described for the PORT NAME ASSIGN subpage, type the name of the program change, moving around with the cursor keys and using the alphanumeric keyboard, the function keys F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 and the encoder.
  • Page 53 INC and DEC keys The SYS-EX tables contain the exclusive codes of various items of equipment which can be connected to the MC 3000 After using the cursor keys to locate in the CHECK PORT= field, the user can use the...
  • Page 54 The LRN icon next to key F5 indicates the Learn function. In this function, the MC 3000 learns the exclusive code of a remote device connected to the MIDI IN 1 port...
  • Page 55 MC 3000 Operating Manual As in the similar WRITE PROGRAM CHANGES page already examined, in this page the user is prompted to assign a location to the SYS-EX table just acquired or constructed, and to press WRITE again to save the exclusive code string or ESC to abort the saving procedure.
  • Page 56 2 specific functions common to both pages of the section. As soon as this page is accessed, the first curve available in the MC 3000 memory is automatically selected. The curve to be modified can be selected by turning the encoder or using the INC and DEC keys.
  • Page 57 MC 3000 Operating Manual The value of the M field indicates the angle coefficient to be attributed to the section of curve set on the X axis (pressure on the key) by the START and END values, while the Q field sets the shift of the same section of curve in relation to the x axis.
  • Page 58 MC 3000 Operating Manual Direction of shift Curve C1 after application of a negative value to parameter "q" : q = - Direction of shift The HMIR (horizontal mirror) function is used to obtain a horizontal reflection of the curve, in which the X values are reversed compared to the previous situation.
  • Page 59 MC 3000 Operating Manual Original curve After VMIR function Once the curve is complete, the WRITE key is pressed to obtain the following video page: The user selects the memory location which is to house the curve created and then presses WRITE to confirm or ESC to abort the current operation.
  • Page 60 CURVES page, by pressing function key F2 in line with the icon rectangle marked AFT. As soon as this page is accessed, the first curve available in the MC 3000 memory is automatically selected. The curve to be modified can be selected by turning the encoder or using the INC and DEC keys.
  • Page 61 MC 3000 Operating Manual N.B. For the aftertouch test, the dynamic response curve is set in the previous page (edit dynamic curves). The START and END fields can be used to set the points on the horizontal axis where the curve to be drawn is to start and finish.
  • Page 62 MC 3000 Operating Manual Curve C1 after application of a negative value to parameter "q" : q = - Direction of shift The HMIR (horizontal mirror) function is used to obtain a horizontal reflection of the curve, in which the X values are reversed compared to the previous situation.
  • Page 63 MC 3000 Operating Manual Once the curve is complete, the WRITE key is pressed to obtain the following video page: After selecting the memory location which is to house the curve just created, press WRITE again to save it. To modify the name of the curve, press function key F6 (NAME), which works exactly as described for saving dynamic curves, in point 6.6.2 of this section.
  • Page 64 MC 3000 Operating Manual 6.7 TOOLS 6.7.1 Introduction The TOOLS section can be accessed from the UTILITY MASTER video page by pressing function key F6 or using the cursor keys or turning the encoder to locate on option n 6 on the screen, where the word TOOLS appears, and confirming with ENTER.
  • Page 65 MC 3000 Operating Manual N.B.: The estimated lifetime of the lithium batteries installed in the MC-3000 is about 4 years. However, specific conditions of use (such as high operating temperatures) may significantly shorten the battery lifetime. Users are urged to save the memory by MIDI Bulk Dump as soon as the instrument gives the battery low warning.
  • Page 66 MC 3000 Operating Manual The user can also set the patch which will automatically be selected at switch-on. To do this, use the cursor keys to select the third line, marked PATCH POWER ON, and set the number of the patch you wish to appear automatically at switch-on using the encoder, the INC and DEC keys or the alphanumeric keypad, in which case the operation must be confirmed with ENTER.

  • Page 67: Additional Messages

    SYSTEM RESET ! The MC-3000 has detected a serious malfunction in its electronic components. Contact an authorized Oberheim service centre as soon as possible. UART (DA 0 A 6): CHIP FAILURE ! The control software has noted that a UART chip is not responding to the system. Since the UART chips control the MC-3000 serial ports (such as the MIDI OUT ports and the Mouse port), after this message is displayed some of them will not work.
  • Page 68 MC 3000 Operating Manual 7.3 STATUS MESSAGES ONE ZONE ! The SOLO function has been recalled in a patch containing only one active zone. In view of its characteristics, the SOLO function can only be activated when at least two zones are active.
  • Page 69 MC 3000 Operating Manual manufacturer of the transmitter device. The message is only displayed if the "Display Message" field in the "Midi common/Control channel" section is set at YES. CURVE AUTO-REPAIRED ! During editing of a dynamic (or aftertouch) curve, the control software has noted the presence of illegal values inside the curve and has automatically corrected it.
  • Page 70 MC 3000 Operating Manual You have selected a Chain which does not contain steps (empty chain), so its execution will not be possible. FIRST CHAIN STEP ! This message appears during execution of Chains (Chain / Play chain modes) and indicates that the first step of the selected chain has been reached.
  • Page 71 MC 3000 Operating Manual 8 ANNEX 8.1 RESET PROCEDURES (FACTORY SETTINGS) The MC-3000 control software is extremely complex and its programming and optimization have been very demanding tasks. Every condition of use of the instrument has been analyzed, reproduced and verified, but...
  • Page 72 MC 3000 Operating Manual Function key F5 (SYS T) can be pressed to enable reset for all the system variables, such as the settings of the MIDI COMMON, reception Program change MAP, Power on procedure, etc. Press ESC to exit from the RESETTING PROCEDURES page without performing any reset operations.
  • Page 73 MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART Oberheim - Viscount MC-3000 Date: 15/07/1997 Midi Master Controller Version: AA4 FUNCTION ... TRANSMITTED RECOGNIZED REMARKS 1 - 16 1 - 16 Tx up to 8 channels at the BASIC DEFAULT 1 - 16 1 - 16...
  • Page 75 CAUTION! This product contains a lithium battery. There is danger of explosion if battery is incorretly replaced. Replace only with a Maxell CR2032. Replace only with the correct polarity. Discard used battery according to manufacter’s instruction’s. ADVARSEL! Lithiumbatteri – Eksplosjonsfare. Vade utksifting benyttes kun batteri som anbefalt av apparatfabrikanten.
  • Page 76 Sales Division: Via Belvedere Fogliense 8, I-47836 Mondaino (RN) Italy tel.+39-0541-981700 - fax +39-0541-869605 - e-mail: viscount@omniway.sm - Internet: www.viscount-organs.com - www.viscount.it Distribution for Italy: TITAN MUSIC S.A. Strada Genghe di Atto, 80 - 47031 Acquaviva – Repubblica di San Marino tel.0549-999164 - fax 0549-999490 e-mail: viscount@omniway.sm - Internet: www.viscount-organs.com - www.viscount.it...

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