MOTU MIDI Express XT User Manual
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MOTU MIDI Express XT User Manual

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User Guide

MIDI Express XT
MIDI Express 128
micro express
micro lite
Mark of the Unicorn, Inc.
1280 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Business voice: (617) 576-2760
Business fax: (617) 576-3609
Tech support fax: (617) 354-3068
Tech support email: techsupport@motu.com
Web site: http://www.motu.com

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  • Page 1: User Guide

    User Guide MIDI Express XT MIDI Express 128 micro express micro lite Mark of the Unicorn, Inc. 1280 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 Business voice: (617) 576-2760 Business fax: (617) 576-3609 Tech support fax: (617) 354-3068 Tech support email: techsupport@motu.com...
  • Page 2 Line Voltage: 100 - 120 volts AC, RMS (US and Japan) or 220 - 250 volts AC, RMS (Europe). Frequency: 47 - 63 Hz single phase. If the outlet you are planning to use for the MOTU USB MIDI interface is of the two prong type, DO NOT REMOVE OR ALTER THE Power: 7 watts maximum.

  • Page 3: Limited Warranty

    GOODWILL, DAMAGE OR REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT AND PROPERTY AND COST OF RECOVERING REPRO- MOTU warrants to the original licensee that the disk(s) on which the program is recorded be free from defects in materials and GRAMMING, OR REPRODUCING ANY PROGRAM OR DATA STORED IN OR USED WITH MOTU/S&S PRODUCTS.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Contents Part I: For All Users Packing List and Computer Requirements Installing Your MOTU Interface Installing the MOTU USB MIDI Software Using MIDI Software Part II: For XT & micro Users ClockWorks Front Panel Presets Synchronization MIDI Machine Control Part III: Appendices...

  • Page 5: Part I: For All Users

    Part I For All Users...

  • Page 7: Packing List And Computer Requirements

    MIDI interface, you need MIDI cables, purchased registration card! separately. Talk to your music dealer to decide how many you need. Thank you for taking the time to register your new MOTU product! COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS Your MOTU MIDI interface will run with any USB-...
  • Page 8 MIDI SOFTWARE COMPATIBILITY Your MOTU USB MIDI Interface works with all MIDI software that operates under Windows Me, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. GETTING STARTED Follow the directions in the next few chapters of this guide to successfully install and begin using your new MOTU USB MIDI interface.

  • Page 9: Connecting The Power Cord

    USB computer keyboard, a USB hub, or any other USB device connected to the computer that has an available Type A USB jack. The USB cable allows the Figure 2-2: The square Type B plug goes into your MOTU interface.

  • Page 10: Installing Your Motu Interface

    MIDI cable from the MIDI THRU of a device already connected to the interface to the MIDI IN on the Figure 2-3: Connecting a MIDI device to your MOTU MIDI interface. If you are additional device as shown below in Figure 2-4. The two connecting a sound module or other device that does not need to transmit MIDI data, you only need to make connection A shown above.

  • Page 11: Midi Connections Worksheet

    MIDI channels, so try to do this with devices that receive Here’s a suggestion. If you have more than a few pieces of gear connected to your MOTU MIDI interface, jot down on only one MIDI channel (such as effects modules) so their receive channels don’t conflict with one another.

  • Page 12: Smpte Time Code Sync Connections

    Connecting a SMPTE time code source Connect any SMPTE time code source, such as the SMPTE Your MOTU MIDI interface is both a SMPTE time code timecode track on an analog multitrack tape deck, to the converter and generator. As a converter, it locks (slaves) to...
  • Page 13 Connecting a SMPTE time code destination Connect the SMPTE OUT port of your MOTU MIDI MOTU MIDI Interface interface to the SMPTE time code input of any destination SMPTE OUT device that accepts SMPTE time code as shown in Figure 2-6. For example, time code can be recorded on an...

  • Page 14: Connecting A Foot Switch

    CONNECTING A FOOT SWITCH CONNECTING AN AUDIO CLICK SOURCE If you would like to use a foot switch with your MOTU If you would like to convert an audio click to MIDI, MIDI interface, connect it as shown below in Figure 2-7.

  • Page 15: Connecting Multiple Usb Interfaces

    Figure 2-9: An inexpensive, standard USB hub allows you to connect multiple dealer). A USB Hub has multiple Type A ports on it, MOTU USB MIDI interfaces. You can even mix and match different models of usually between 4 and 7 ports, to which you connect MOTU interfaces, using the combination that best suites your needs for synchronization, number of MIDI ports, etc.
  • Page 16 Connect them to the hub in the standard fashion, as if you were connecting them directly to the computer. If needed, you can connect multiple hubs to each other to get enough USB ports for your multiple MOTU USB interfaces. WHAT NEXT? You’re ready to install software. Turn to chapter 3, “Installing the MOTU USB MIDI Software”...

  • Page 17: Installing The Motu Usb Midi Software

    4 If the MOTU USB software installer program does not Running the MOTU USB MIDI installer ..... . . 17 automatically begin running, double-click SETUP.EXE on...
  • Page 18 To avoid this sort of unwanted instrument layering, go to directly to your MOTU interface. the front panel of each MIDI instrument itself and If you have no choice but to daisy-chain, you need to program it to respond to a unique set of MIDI channels.
  • Page 19 If you want to program your interface with ClockWorks... Your MOTU interface console software is the “front end” for the features in your MOTU interface. It allows you to configure and program the powerful MIDI routing and processing features in the interface. You can graphically...
  • Page 20 I N S T A L L I N G T H E M O T U U S B M I D I S O F T W A R E...

  • Page 21: Using Midi Software

    In the list of input ports, the Sync in- out all port is where all MIDI real time and MIDI Time Code messages will Figure 4-1: MOTU MIDI Express XT and micro express interface ports in Cakewalk SONAR™. arrive, regardless of the physical MIDI input jack from which the MOTU interface receives them.
  • Page 22 Computer Figure 4-2: The path that MIDI data takes through a MOTU Express XT or micro express. Other MOTU interfaces do not provide MIDI processing. U S I N G M I D I S O F T W A R E...

  • Page 23: Part Ii: For Xt & Micro Users

    Part II For XT & micro Users...

  • Page 25: Clockworks

    When do you need to use ClockWorks software? The only time you need to use ClockWorks is when you would like to make changes to the settings in your MOTU interface. If all you want to do is use it with a MIDI sequencer, you don’t need to make any changes at all.
  • Page 26 ClockWorks window Device list Sync and MIDI Machine Control section Tabs Figure 5-1: Click the tabs to access the settings in ClockWorks. C L O C K W O R K S...

  • Page 27: The File Menu

    ClockWorks document and restores all of the If your MOTU interface doesn’t appear MOTU interface settings saved in the document. If your MOTU interface doesn’t show up in the Device List, check the following things: Save Configuration The Save Configuration menu item saves all the current Your MOTU interface is turned off.

  • Page 28: The Device List

    ClockWorks for Windows appears as a single window for reflected in the hardware. Likewise, when you select a each MOTU interface, as shown in Figure 5-1 on page 26. preset from the front panel, your MOTU interface updates Click each tab to view the settings within the tab.

  • Page 29: The Routings Tab

    first output, and then drag directly to each additional output on the right. As you “touch” each Figure 5-2: The Routings Tab for the MIDI Express XT. The micro express has 4 output, it highlights and a connection is made.
  • Page 30 Routing MTC to your MOTU interface To break a connection, select the connection by clicking its If you would like to slave your MOTU interface to MIDI cable icon, and press the delete key. Time Code generated by another device, make a...
  • Page 31 Routing MMC from the computer to the interface The MMC In port in the Routings tab represents MIDI by (or redistributed by) your MOTU interface itself to Machine Control input to your MOTU interface itself. In another device, create a connection from the MMC Out other words, the interface “listens”...

  • Page 32: The Presets Tab

    MMC device’s destination MIDI port on the right. Connecting an MMC controller If you would like to control your MOTU interface from a MMC controller connected to one of its MIDI inputs, connect the device’s input cable to the MMC In port.

  • Page 33: The Mutings Tab

    A simple way to think of data muting is this: imagine that The Mutings tab is a sophisticated MIDI data filter that each MIDI IN or MIDI OUT cable on your MOTU controls what types of data will be sent and received by interface has a filter just inside the socket.
  • Page 34 1 If you have more than one MOTU interface, select the Muting a data type on all channels To mute a data type on all 16 channels for a device, drag box you want to mute in the Device List window.
  • Page 35 (1-16) to channel 16. If you did this on a MIDI IN port, channels 1-8 would get MOTU interface data bus muted, and the data on channels 9-16 would get mapped to channel 16. If you did this on a MIDI OUT port, all data Channel mapping filter...

  • Page 36: The Mappings Tab

    MIDI IN or MIDI OUT port connected to your on all MIDI IN and MIDI OUT cables. With complete MOTU interface has a filter just inside the socket. MIDI flexibility, this window can switch data from its current data enters the filter on one channel and as it passes...

  • Page 37: Synchronization And Midi Machine Control

    Transport controls The transport controls are just like standard tape deck transports. These buttons control the time code generated by your MOTU interface when it is in Internal mode. SMPTE Readout The SMPTE Readout provides a running update of the time code being generated or converted by your MOTU interface.
  • Page 38 Internal SMPTE Readout to cue your MOTU interface to a specific The Express interface operates under its own clock and frame location. Use the tab key to move from field to field ignores incoming time code.
  • Page 39 Consult the The SMPTE Frame rate menu lets you choose the overall manual for your MMC device for details. time base and SMPTE frame rate for your MOTU Record interface. For a complete explanation of SMPTE frame This mode allows recording on the currently record- rates, see “Frame rates”...

  • Page 40: Sync Tab Settings

    Framelocked This status indicator means that your MOTU interface is what state your MOTU interface is in as a synchronizer. successfully locked to an external time base and that it is The following sections provide a brief explanation of each also successfully generating or converting SMPTE time term.
  • Page 41 first locked. If the Frame lock option is turned on (checked), and your MOTU interface detects more than five frames in a row Turn on Frame lock when you want your MOTU that are not continuous with respect to previous frames interface’s frame times to match incoming frame times,...
  • Page 42 The most LTC Output common case is when your MOTU interface is locked to This slider allows you to adjust the overall gain of the SMPTE time code being generated from a VITC converter...
  • Page 43 ID of another device connected to it. Freewheel _ frames This option lets you set the number of frames your MOTU interface will freewheel over when it encounters a time code drop-out. For a complete explanation of freewheeling, see “Freewheeling to avoid time code...

  • Page 44: The Pedal Tab

    Convert an audio tempo source such as an audio click ■ The Pedal tab lets you program the pedal input(s) on your into MIDI data in order to slave MIDI hardware or MOTU interface. software to the audio tempo source Pedal type menu You have three choices: None ■...
  • Page 45 Triggering drum samples ■ type in the controller number or choose it by name from This feature can be used in conjunction with MOTU’s the menu. If you choose system exclusive, see “Sending Digital Performer software to slave a sequence to sysex data with a pedal”...
  • Page 46 working with a faster tempo, don’t make it too long or you will miss beats. The decay also determines the duration of the MIDI note generated by the Express interface. A low decay produces a long duration; a high decay produces a short duration.

  • Page 47: Future Updates

    F7 at the beginning and end of the message. 3 Set the output assignment as described in “Channel” on page 45. FUTURE UPDATES Visit www.motu.com for information about future updates for ClockWorks. C L O C K W O R K S...
  • Page 48 C L O C K W O R K S...
  • Page 49 Selecting a preset on a micro express ......50 1 If you have a MIDI Express XT, press the BANK button Factory Presets .

  • Page 50: Front Panel Presets

    As you repeatedly press the button, the LED cycles MIDI Express XT front panel preset controls through the eight programs. SELECTING A PRESET ON A MICRO EXPRESS To select a preset from the front panel: 1 Repeatedly press the SELECT button until the LED for the program you want lights up.
  • Page 51 Sequencer 30 fps MOTU interface. For example, if the controller is This preset is designed for MIDI software, especially connected to MIDI IN port 3, connect it to MIDI OUT sequencing software, that supports multi-cable interfaces port 3 as well. If you do so, this preset prevents such as your Express interface.
  • Page 52 Dual Split Time Code and MMC transport commands from the The Dual Split preset is similar to the Live Keyboards MIDI Express XT. preset, except that it splits the interface into two sets of inputs and outputs. MIDI inputs 6, 7 and 8 are intended for MMC controller devices, and they are each programmed slightly differently For the micro express, input 1 is routed to outputs 1-3.
  • Page 53 MIDI data only to outputs 6, 7 and 8. Input 7 routes MMC MIDI inputs 3 and 4 are intended for MMC controller to the MIDI Express XT only. Input 8 does a combination devices, and they are each programmed slightly differently of inputs 6 and 7.
  • Page 54 when your Express interface’s MIDI processing features are enabled. This mode disables the processing features, which solves the problem. If you experience trouble with sysex, try this preset. ☛ ClockWorks cannot communicate with your Express interface when it is in Direct mode. To restore communi- cations, use the front panel controls to choose another preset.

  • Page 55: Synchronization

    This chapter also explains how to: ACCESSING SYNC SETTINGS You can access the sync settings in your MOTU interface Slave your Express interface and other devices to MIDI ■ via ClockWorks. See “Synchronization and MIDI Time Code Machine control”...
  • Page 56 When your Express interface locks to the time code, the green “LOCK” LED on the front panel glows steadily and the red “TACH” LED blinks regularly. In addition, the green computer OUT LED glows steadily, indicating that MIDI time code (MTC) is being sent to the computer. Figure 7-1: The connection from the MTC out port to the computer in port deliv- Red TACH light Green LOCK light...
  • Page 57 If the LOCK and TACH lights do not behave as described, Freewheeling to avoid time code dropouts When your Express interface encounters a drop-out —a your Express interface is not successfully locking to the series of missing or unreadable frames—in the SMPTE SMPTE time code.

  • Page 58: Slaving A Sequencer To Smpte

    Express interface freewheels at the frame rate it is SLAVING A SEQUENCER TO SMPTE reading at the time it begins freewheeling — except for To slave a sequencer to SMPTE time code via your MOTU Express interface: 29.97 drop and non-drop. If you intend on reading 29.97 SMPTE, be sure to manually set the SMPTE format to 1 Confirm that the Express Interface is successfully...

  • Page 59: Striping Smpte

    STRIPING SMPTE 5 Enter a SMPTE start time. Along with its other capabilities, your Express interface is 6 Choose the desired frame rate. a SMPTE time code generator. It generates an audio form of SMPTE time code called Longitudinal Time Code 7 Adjust the SMPTE output volume.

  • Page 60: Ltc Mode

    Of course, if you want to stripe a tape and meanwhile get not bleed into adjacent tracks. -3 VU is only a rule of on with other work, you can quit ClockWorks. Striping thumb, though, so don’t hesitate to use other levels if they will proceed in the background.
  • Page 61 SMPTE-to- MIDI converter, including your Express interface, and you will no longer be able to lock to it. MIDI Express XT or micro express The solution to this problem is to use your Express To regenerate SMPTE:...
  • Page 62 Try setting it to between 2 and 8 frames, unless there is an Express interface and record the fresh code onto a new obviously large dropout. If so, set it more than 8 frames. track. Be sure to start from the beginning so that you This ensures that drop-outs in the old code are not regenerate the entire length of the original track.

  • Page 63: Mtc Mode

    If you absolutely must transmit MTC from your computer Choose this synchronization mode when you want your for some reason, See “Routing MTC to your MOTU Express interface to slave to MIDI Time Code (MTC) interface” on page 30 for important information about being sent from a device connected to one of its inputs.
  • Page 64 S Y N C H R O N I Z A T I O N...
  • Page 65 MIDI Machine Control CHAPTER 8 OVERVIEW HOW MMC WORKS Your Express interface can serve as a MIDI Machine An MMC controller (which has transport and cueing Control (MMC) transport control “hub” for all MMC- controls) sends transport commands (play, stop, cue, etc.) compatible devices, allowing you to manipulate the to an MMC device that is serving as a time code source.

  • Page 66: Midi Machine Control

    If your video deck supports the SONY 9-PIN protocol, will probably not provide as stable a time base as your consider purchasing MOTU’s Digital Timepiece, which lets Express interface does in the recommended scenario you control your video deck from a computer (or other described in the previous section.
  • Page 67 SETTING MMC DEVICE ID’S you are ready to control your MMC device — via your Each MMC device requires a unique MMC device ID, Express interface — from the computer (or a hardware including your Express interface itself. The factory default MMC controller).
  • Page 68 Akai DR8 Roland VS-880 Figure 8-1: Your MOTU interface (a MIDI Express XT in this example) can serve as a time code “hub” while you control it from your sequencer via MMC trans- port commands. M I D I M A C H I N E C O N T R O L...
  • Page 69 Once you have successfully established overall MIDI communication between your software and your Express interface, follow these steps to set up your software to serve as the MMC transport controller: 1 Set up your software to sync to MIDI Time Code as described in the previous section (“Preparing software for MMC”...
  • Page 70 MOTU Express interface as described in this chapter, such as the JL Cooper CuePoint™: you can route MIDI Time Code (MTC) from the MOTU 1 Connect the MIDI OUT and IN jacks on the MMC Express interface to other devices in your studio to control controller to your Express interface.
  • Page 71 USING OTHER DEVICES AS A CONTROLLER We recommend trying to set up MMC as described in “A recommended setup for MMC” on page 65. However, you may have an MMC device, such as an MMC-equipped reel-to-reel tape deck, that does not have the ability to be a time code slave and therefore needs to be the time code master.
  • Page 72 M I D I M A C H I N E C O N T R O L...

  • Page 73: Part Iii: Appendices

    Part III Appendices...

  • Page 75: Glossary

    Glossary APPENDIX A Address Track: A third audio track, used for time code, CRT: Cathode Ray Tube. The glass screen in TV’s, located on the edge of the video signal on a 3/4” VTR. computers, etc. upon which video images are projected. Because of its proximity to the video signal, the address Crosstalk: Interference on a track from the signal of an track cannot be recorded by itself;...
  • Page 76 A process in which all video equipment in a drop-out and, in turn, momentarily stop converting time studio is connected to and genlocks to a single video sync code. The MIDI Express XT can freewheel up to 32 generator. frames, making it insusceptible to drop-outs.
  • Page 77 Jam Sync: MTC: The process of creating fresh, error-free time MIDI Time Code. A form of time code, digitized code or extending existing time code on tape by locking a within the MIDI format, that expresses time in hours, time code generator to existing code. minutes, seconds, and frames, just like SMPTE time code (LTC and VITC).
  • Page 78 Output cable: One of the eight (or sixteen) MIDI OUT two forms: 1) an 80-bit audio signal, called Longitudinal jacks in a MIDI Time Piece network. Time Code (LTC), or 2) a video signal recorded in the vertical blanking segment of video frames, called Vertical PAL/SECAM: Phase Alternate Line.
  • Page 79 Synchronizer: Vertical Blanking: A device that reads time code from audio or The area on video tape between video video tape and is used to synchronize the timing of two or frames, which can be seen as the “black bar” above or more devices.
  • Page 80 VTR: Video Tape Recorder. A device that can record a video signal onto video tape. A P P E N D I X A : G L O S S A R Y...

  • Page 81: Smpte Synchronization Basics

    Locking a MOTU interface to SMPTE ......87...

  • Page 82: Two Forms Of Smpte: Ltc Versus Vitc

    developed for film and video work but has proven to be WHAT IS LTC? very useful in normal audio work as well. It is an absolute Longitudinal Time Code (LTC) is the audio form of SMPTE Time Code. LTC consists of an audio signal that time code, expressing hours, minutes, seconds and divisions of a second in digital form.

  • Page 83: The Benefits Of Vitc Over Ltc

    You can actually see VITC in the vertical blanking segment The MOTU Digital Timepiece is an affordable VITC portion of a video picture by adjusting the vertical hold on synchronizer and video character generator. It is both an a video screen. The 90-bit binary VITC signal appears as a...

  • Page 84: Should I Use Ltc Or Vitc

    00 and 01 and jumps ahead to LTC. We strongly recommend, however, that you consider HH:MM:00:02. This jump does not happen at minutes 00, VITC because of the benefits noted above. Contact MOTU 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. for more information about the Digital Timepiece.

  • Page 85: Why Does Drop Frame Exist

    WHY DOES DROP FRAME EXIST? frames shows that one hour’s worth of frames has gone by, Video was first introduced in black and white and it ran at which is 01:00:00:00 on the final frame. But this does not exactly 30 frames per second. Years later, color video was match the actual elapsed time, which is 01:00:03:18! In developed.

  • Page 86: Should I Use Drop Frame

    HOW DOES A MOTU SYNCHRONIZER WORK? drop frame can cause. The MOTU MIDI Express XT and micro express HOW DOES SMPTE SYNCHRONIZATION WORK? interfaces function as a SMPTE-to-MIDI converter. When The syncing process is straightforward. It involves one they receive SMPTE time code, they convert that signal device following another.

  • Page 87: Locking A Motu Interface To Smpte

    SMPTE on the tape. To do so, you need to: 1. Stripe a tape with SMPTE 2. Connect the MOTU Express interface to the tape deck 3. Prepare the MOTU Express interface to convert SMPTE 4. Roll the tape to see if successful SMPTE lockup has been achieved These steps are discussed in chapter 7, “Synchronization”...
  • Page 88 A P P E N D I X B : S M P T E S Y N C H R O N I Z A T I O N B A S I C S...

  • Page 89: Troubleshooting And Customer Support

    Observe the LTC LOCK light. Is it flickering quickly and ClockWorks keeps displaying a message saying that steadily? If so, the MOTU interface is locked to tape and communication with my MOTU interface has been the syncing problem is probably related to MIDI. If not, disrupted, even though the interface is connected.
  • Page 90 Troubleshooting is always simplest and most effective when the exact problem can be specified clearly and My MIDI software won’t sync to tape via my MOTU concisely. If you are surprised by an error message or by interface.
  • Page 91 On-line tech support database: www.motu.com ■ card, you’ll be placed on our mailing list for free software If you decide to call, please have your MOTU interface updates and other information. manual at hand, and be prepared to provide the following...
  • Page 92 A brief explanation of the problem, including the exact improved versions of our products. We thank them; many ■ sequence of actions which cause it, and the contents of any of those ideas have been addressed in our development error messages which appear on the screen. It is often very efforts.

  • Page 93: Index

    Index troubleshooting micro express Compatibility (software) File menu 3rd party software compatibility 27, 28 Continuous jam sync Device List Controller Load Configuration 27, 28 connecting Refresh Device Address Track Convert click to option Reset to Factory Settings connecting audio source Save Configuration Audio click Cubase...
  • Page 94 extra settings Pedal MIDI Machine ID decay Jam sync MIDI Time Code Pedal A continuous MIDI time code Pedal B/LRC threshold In/Out ports in ClockWorks Pedal tab Keyboard controller MMC ID option Pedal window connecting record mode basics setting ID of Digital Timepiece Pedals Momentary (foot pedal) type...
  • Page 95 Sync tab settings Safe Vertical Interval Time Code Synchronization Safe option in MMC window Vision defined Save Configuration VITC System exclusive Sequencer 32ch generating time code when paused bulk dumps Sequencer 96ch still-frame sensitivity installing for Sequencing System requirements using the Express MIDI ports SMPTE Windows bleedthrough...
  • Page 96 I N D E X...

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