Conductive Labs MRCC XpandR 4x1 User manual

CONDUCYIVE LABS
XpandR 4x1 User Guide
Thank you for choosing Conductive Labs for your MIDI studio needs! We really
appreciate it! If you would be so kind, tag your social media posts with #MRCC
so we can find them. We would love to see how MRCC XpandR improves your
studio and makes it a better place to create. Share your stories and music on our
forums in the “Show me what you got!” section.
Sincerely,
Steve and Darryl
.

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Contents
What’s in the box ......................................................................................... 2
Requirements............................................................................................... 2
Specifications ............................................................................................... 3
Regulatory Compliance................................................................................. 3
Precautions .................................................................................................. 4
Support ........................................................................................................ 5
Getting Started............................................................................................. 5
Operating Modes...................................................................................... 5
Setting up and Connecting XpandR ........................................................... 6
Using MRCC XpandR 4x1 as an MRCC Expansion........................................... 7
MRCC MIDI Router Control Center Routing to and from XpandR............... 7
Using XpandR as a PC MIDI Interface ............................................................ 7
Using XpandR as a Stand-alone MIDI Merger ................................................ 9
What’s in the box
1. MRCC XpandR 4x1
2. USB Type A to Type B cable, 2M
3. This User Guide
Requirements
Power supply (not included): USB 5V DC, 50mA. Most USB 2.0 or greater ports
or quality phone chargers will work.
Operating Requirements:
Works with USB hosts that support USB MIDI class compliant devices; including
Conductive Labs MRCC, Microsoft Windows 10 and 11 PCs, MacOS, iPad, and
iPhone, and most Android tablets and phones. Linux, PJRC Teensy’s with a USB
host, and Raspberry Pi too.

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Software such as a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is required to send MIDI
data from your PC to the XpandR.
Specifications
The MRCC XpandR 4x1 is a USB 2.0 MIDI class compliant interface. It can
function as a DIN expander for MRCC –MIDI Router Control Center, as a PC
MIDI interface, or as a USB powered stand-alone 4 in to 1 MIDI merger.
•Mode button for switching from MIDI interface to MIDI merger.
•Four 5 pin DIN inputs. One shared 3.5MM TRS MIDI Type A jack, choose 5
pin DIN 1 or A jack but not both.
•One 5 pin DIN output with MIDI through 3.5MM TRS MIDI Type A jack. Both
can be used at once.
•One USB B socket for connecting to your PC or USB power supply.
•4 USB MIDI virtual inputs, and 1 output mapped to the DIN inputs and
output of the MRCC XpandR 4x1.
Regulatory Compliance
EU Declaration of Conformity available at:
https://conductivelabs.com/download
EU REACH Compliance Report available upon request from authorized entities.
WEEE Statement
This symbol on the product or on its packaging indicates that this product must
not be disposed of with your other household waste. Instead, it is your
responsibility to dispose of your waste equipment by handing it over to a
designated collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic
equipment.
Conductive Labs products are WEEE registered via authorized resellers in their
respective regions.

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FCC Compliance Statement
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Precautions, not limited to:
1. Read and follow all instructions.
2. Unplug before cleaning and use only a soft dry cloth. Do not use any
cleaners, it could damage the silkscreen ink.
3. Do not use the instrument near water or moisture, such as a bathtub, sink,
swimming pool or similar place.
4. Do not expose the instrument to hot sunlight.
5. Do not spill any kind of liquid onto the instrument.
6. Do not place the instrument in an unstable position where it might
accidentally fall. Do not place heavy objects on the instrument.
7. Do not open or insert anything into the instrument that may cause a fire or
electrical shock.
8. Always contact Conductive Labs LLC if you have an issue. You will invalidate
your warranty if you open and remove the cover.
9. Do not use the instrument when there is a gas leak nearby.
10. Conductive Labs LLC is not responsible for any damage or data loss caused
by improper operation of the instrument.
Not following the above Precautions will void the manufacturer’s warranty.

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Support for MRCC XpandR 4x1 is provided by Conductive Labs and our
experienced users on the Conductive Labs forums.Please register on the
forums for questions not answered in this guide or the MRCC User Manual. As
part of forum registration, you will receive a verification email. If you do not
receive it check your spam/junk folder, the verification emails often end up
there. If you experience any problem with registering on the forums, let us
know using the contact page on our website and we’ll get you set up. You can
register on the forums at: https://conductivelabs.com/forum
For complete information on using the MRCC XpandR 4x1 with MRCC, please
refer to the MRCC User Manual available at:
https://conductivelabs.com/download.
Getting Started
MRCC XpandR 4x1 (let’s call it XpandR for short) is powered by the USB port
connection. There is no On/Off switch, just plug it in to a USB port, USB hub or
USB phone charger. The status LED lights bright Red briefly, then turns a dim
Blue or Red when it’s ready.
LED Status Indicators
Operating Modes
To use MRCC XpandR 4x1 as a USB MIDI interface or expansion for
MRCC, the status LED should be lit Blue. For MIDI merger mode, press
the Mode button for a second until the status LED turns Red. The Mode
is automatically saved for the next time XpandR is powered on.

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Setting up and Connecting XpandR as a PC MIDI Interface or DIN
Expansion for MRCC
1. Connect the USB cable Type B connector to XpandR, and plug the other
end into an MRCC USB Type A host port or your PC’s USB port (or what
have you).
2. Plug in your MIDI controllers (keyboards, sequencer, The NDLR) into
XpandR’s MIDI Inputs.
Note: 3.5MM jacks labeled “A”are MIDI TRS standard inputs and
outputs. You can choose 1 of the inputs (A or DIN 1). Do not connect
more than one device to an Input with shared jacks.
3. Connect sound modules to the XpandR MIDI output, or use virtual
synths or a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) on your PC.
Note: You can use the A and DIN Outputs simultaneously.
Hint: Life will be rainbows and unicorns if your hardware MIDI
controllers and sound modules are labeled with their assigned MIDI
channels!
Note: Setting up your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Each DAW will
have different configuration steps best described by the vendor of the
DAW. Check your DAW documentation for setting up MIDI tracks and
virtual instruments, such as VSTs. YouTube is a good resource for
learning how to setup a MIDI interface with your specific system, most
MIDI interfaces work alike from the DAW’s perspective. For MacOS,
use Audio MIDI Setup. See support.apple.com for details.

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Using MRCC XpandR 4x1 as an MRCC Expansion
MRCC MIDI Router Control Center Routing to and from XpandR
Routing from an XpandR Input
1. The MRCC USB Host port will light green when the XpandR is attached.
2. On the MRCC, hold down the Input button for the USB port XpandR is
attached to, four MRCC output LEDs light green and white to indicate
the 4 available XpandR inputs. Select 1, it maps to XpandR input 1.
Select 2, and that will map to XpandR input 2, etc.
3. Release the input button, and select the MRCC outputs you want to
route to.
Routing to the XpandR Output
1. Select a MIDI input on MRCC. Its LED lights green.
2. Select the USB host output that XpandR is attached to (A, B, C or D). Its
LED lights blue.
For example, with XpandR attached to MRCC USB host port A. To route from
MRCC port 1 to XpandR’s output, select MIDI IN Port 1, then select the MRCC
USB host A output. Now its routed! For more details, see the MRCC User Guide.
You can have an XpandR on each of the 4 MRCC MIDI host ports if desired.
Using XpandR as a PC MIDI Interface
Connect XpandR to your PC or other computing device which supports USB
MIDI class compliant devices. If you aren’t sure if your device supports a MIDI
interface, please check with the vendor of the device.
The XpandR status LED should be lit a solid dim blue color indicating MIDI
interface mode. If it’s a solid red color, press the Mode button on XpandR to
change modes.

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In MIDI Interface Mode, the MIDI inputs ports are routed to the USB
MIDI virtual ports 1 to 1, like this:
In your MIDI application, select the XpandR input to receive MIDI from an
XpandR MIDI input. For example, select MIDIIN2 (XpandR) to receive MIDI from
XpandR Input 2.
This is how it looks in MIDI-OX, but might be named differently in different
operating systems or programs:

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To send MIDI from your PC to the XpandR MIDI output, in your MIDI
application select “XpandR”. There’s just one output.
Note: The 5 pin DIN and A output jacks output the same MIDI data. Use
different MIDI channels for sound modules when using both outputs.
Using XpandR as a Stand-alone MIDI Merger
For MIDI merger mode, press the XpandR Mode button until the status LED
turns dim Red. In this mode, the XpandR may be powered by a common USB
phone charger.
In MIDI merger mode all four MIDI 5 pin DIN inputs will be merged to the
XpandR’s MIDI DIN and A Output.
Note: If XpandR is powered by your computer while in MIDI merger mode, the
USB MIDI virtual ports will appear but will not function.
The USB port does not transmit or receive MIDI messages in merger mode.
Hint: In MIDI merger mode, assign unique MIDI channels for each of the MIDI
controllers attached to XpandR’s MIDI inputs, so they are sent to the correct
sound modules on XpandR’s output.

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Conductive Labs LLC, a corporation registered in the State of Oregon,
USA.
Owners: Darryl McGee and Steve Barile
Office Address:
Conductive Labs LLC
11340 NW Anderson St.
Portland, OR 97229
USA
Email: [e-mail]
LUFA Library
Copyright (C) Dean Camera, 2021.
dean [at] fourwalledcubicle [dot] com
www.lufa-lib.org
COPYRIGHT @ CONDUCTIVE LABS LLC 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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are the property of their owners.
Version 1.0 August 2022