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AlphaTrack™ Native Mode MIDI Interface Description
Revision History
1.0
061221 CH
0.93
061220 BB
0.92
061116 CH
0.91
061115 CH
0.9
060907 CH
0.8
060525 CH
0.7
060304 CH
0.6
051230 CH
0.5
051212 CH
0.4
051209 CH
0.3
051202 CH
0.2
051202 CH
0.1
051101 CH
Introduction
This document describes how to gain access to the AlphaTrack's controls and display elements
using Native mode MIDI messages. It is useful to software developer's, but most users do not
need to refer to it. The Frontier Design Group's AlphaTrack provides "channel strip" and global
controls for PC- and Mac-based Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software. The AlphaTrack
consists of a compact unit that plugs into a USB port of either a Mac- or Windows-based PC. For
DAW software packages that allow for the creation of custom control surface plug-ins, the driver
provides what we refer to as "Native" mode. For other DAW software packages, the AlphaTrack
USB driver provides HUI emulation. The AlphaTrack driver applet allows the user to select
which mode (Native or HUI emulation) the driver operates in. AlphaTrack presents itself as a
MIDI input/output device, and the driver converts all inputs (buttons, encoder, and fader) and all
outputs (LED's and LCD) on the unit to common MIDI messages.
AlphaTrack Native Mode
Revision: 1.0
Date: 12/21/2006
Releasing it as v1.0.
Changed polarity of footswitch (now 7F == "Down")
Changed graphic of unit to represent the final button layout.
Changed In and Out buttons to TrackL and TrackR. Updated the local operations section.
Changed all name references to AlphaTrack.
th
Added 5
LCD mode button, and renamed several buttons. Eliminated provision for
custom characters.
Major changes for new layout and features.
Added FLIP LED message and LCD "control" sysex message.
Added sysex message to write custom characters.
Took out "Go to Native Mode" message, and updated Device Inquiry response. Also
filled out the "local" actions somewhat.
Changed touch strip movement to be like the fader
Changed touch strip movement to be like the data wheel encoder
Original
Fig. 1: AlphaTrack Unit
Version 1.0
Page 1 of 9
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Related Manuals for Frontier AlphaTrack
Summary of Contents for Frontier AlphaTrack
- Page 1 Native mode MIDI messages. It is useful to software developer’s, but most users do not need to refer to it. The Frontier Design Group’s AlphaTrack provides “channel strip” and global controls for PC- and Mac-based Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software. The AlphaTrack consists of a compact unit that plugs into a USB port of either a Mac- or Windows-based PC.
- Page 2 AlphaTrack Elements The AlphaTrack is shown in Fig. 1 above and Fig. 2 below. The unit has a 100mm touch- sensitive, motorized fader, 22 momentary pushbuttons, a touch-sensitive horizontal strip, three encoders (which also act as pushbuttons), 21 LED’s, and one 16-character by 2-line backlit LCD display.
- Page 3 In this response, “00 01 40” is the Frontier Design Group manufacturer’s system exclusive ID code. The next bytes, “20 00 01 00,” represent AlphaTrack (different that “00 00 01 00” for the TranzPort, for example). The final four bytes before the end of sysex give the software revision in ASCII (30 31 30 30 = “v01.00”).
- Page 4 F1 Button and LED...Button Down: 90 36 7f F2 Button and LED...Button Down: 90 37 7f F3 Button and LED...Button Down: 90 38 7f AlphaTrack Native Mode Button Up: 90 5e 00 Button Up: 90 5f 00 LED On: 90 5f 7f...
- Page 5 AUTO WRITE LED ...LED On: 90 4b 7f AUTO READ LED...LED On: 90 4e 7f REC (Arm) Button and LED ...Button Down: 90 00 7f AlphaTrack Native Mode Button Up: 90 38 00 LED On: 90 38 7f LED Off: 90 38 00...
- Page 6 Examples: 4 middle encoder ticks clockwise rotation: 3 right encoder ticks counterclockwise rotation: FADER (touch)...Start Touch: 90 68 7f AlphaTrack Native Mode Button Up: 90 00 00 LED On: 90 00 7f LED Off: 90 00 00 Footswitch Released: 90 67 00...
- Page 7 STRIP 2 Finger Touch ...Start Touch: 90 7b 7f STRIP Position ... Position: e9 00 nn where nn = 00, 04, 08, … 74, 78, 7C (upper 5 bits give absolute position 0..31) AlphaTrack Native Mode Stop Touch: 90 68 00 Command from computer: e0 yy zz 3 LSB’s in the form 00, 10, …...
- Page 8 LCD Display The AlphaTrack Remote has a 16-character by 2-line backlit LCD display. In addition to the standard ASCII character set, the display has 8 custom characters to support typical DAW functions. The ASCII character implementation is shown in Table 1 below.
- Page 9 We have found it very useful to treat 1-finger touch strip moves as timeline scroll operations, and 2 finger moves as timeline shuttle operations. For shuttling, the initial 2-finger position is “0” speed, with moves to the right increasing positive shuttle speed. AlphaTrack Native Mode Version 1.0 Page 9 of 9...
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