21.0 Serial Communications; Midi - BSS Audio FDS366T OMNIDRIVE User Manual

21.0 Serial Communications

MIDI

MIDI Mode: Master
MIDI Mode: Thru
(MIDI Mode: Thru)
(MIDI Mode: Thru)
(MIDI Mode: Thru)
The FDS-366T is equipped with MIDI, RS232 and RS485 ports that allow it
many capabilities in communicating with further FDS-366T units, other BSS
products and computer based editing and control packages such as SIA's
Smaart.
This serial communications section describes how these ports can be used to
transfer program changes, program data and control information between
equipment in either single or multiple protocol combinations.
BSS Omnidrive products are generally able to switch programs in tandem and,
FDS-366T Omnidrives can communicate program data via the MIDI Dump
facility. A 'master' FDS-366T can control slave FDS-366Ts so that any control
movements and changes on the master unit can be parallelled on the other
devices giving a high level of operational flexibility.
MIDI can be used to form a network of FDS-366T and other MIDI compatible
BSS units and/or control them from a PC. The MIDI Mode setting in the
Utilities affects the way that the FDS-366T works with the various
communications options.
To set up a basic network of MIDI compatible BSS devices one unit must
always be the 'master' and this will be the first unit in the chain. Further
Omnidrives, Minidrives and Varicurves can then be connected as in the
diagram shown below. The 'slave' devices should then all be set to MIDI
Mode "Thru" (or use the MIDI hardware Thru sockets where fitted - note that
the FDS-366T has no hardware Thru socket).
All units that are to receive data should be set to the same MIDI channel in
the Utilities, i.e. most commonly to receive program changes.
Example MIDI network of BSS units
MIDI Out
to MIDI In
MIDI Out
to MIDI In
MIDI Out (or Thru)
to MIDI In
MIDI Out (or Thru)
to MIDI In
There is no need to connect the last unit's MIDI Out back to the first's MIDI
In, i.e. master Omnidrive, and this could in fact cause problems if attempting
to use the MIDI Dump facility. The user should also be aware that performing
a MIDI dump across different models may cause unexpected errors. Units
that are not the same model as the master unit creating the dump should be
switched to different MIDI channels to avoid receiving unwanted data.
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FDS-366T