Frontier AlphaTrack Operating and installation instructions

AlphaTrack™ Native Mode MIDI Interface Description
Revision: 1.0
Date: 12/21/2006
Revision History
1.0 061221 CH Releasing it as v1.0.
0.93 061220 BB Changed polarity of footswitch (now 7F == “Down”)
0.92 061116 CH Changed graphic of unit to represent the final button layout.
0.91 061115 CH Changed In and Out buttons to TrackL and TrackR. Updated the local operations section.
0.9 060907 CH Changed all name references to AlphaTrack.
0.8 060525 CH Added 5th LCD mode button, and renamed several buttons. Eliminated provision for
custom characters.
0.7 060304 CH Major changes for new layout and features.
0.6 051230 CH Added FLIP LED message and LCD “control” sysex message.
0.5 051212 CH Added sysex message to write custom characters.
0.4 051209 CH Took out “Go to Native Mode” message, and updated Device Inquiry response. Also
filled out the “local” actions somewhat.
0.3 051202 CH Changed touch strip movement to be like the fader
0.2 051202 CH Changed touch strip movement to be like the data wheel encoder
0.1 051101 CH Original
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.
Fig. 1: AlphaTrack Unit
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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. (Note that 4 buttons on the left have LED’s under them used in a backlit fashion. It is
powered from its USB cable.
The following sections describe the MIDI implementation for each of the AlphaTrack’s
elements. Note that any LED that is associated with a button shares the MIDI note number with
that button; the button activity is reported via the AlphaTrack MIDI IN device, and the LED is
controlled via the AlphaTrack MIDI OUT device. The AlphaTrack makes no internal logical
connection between a button and an LED – the application must control LED’s directly.
IN OUT
TRACK
Fig. 2: Top view of AlphaTrack
There are a few “local” adjustments on the AlphaTrack. The first adjusts the LCD’s contrast. To
access it, hold the SHIFT and STOP buttons down. The LCD will display local operation labels.
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Keeping both SHIFT and STOP buttons held down, turn the left knob to adjust the LCD’s
contrast. Still keeping both buttons down, turn the middle knob to turn the LCD Backlight Hi or
Lo. Turning the right knob adjusts the idle timeout duration. (Once this timeout is reached
without any user actions or host messages, the LED’s turn off and the LCD goes dim. Touching
any button or knob brings them back on.) You can also initiate a calibration of the touch sensors
and the fader by holding SHIFT and STOP and pressing the F4 button.
Selecting Native Mode
The AlphaTrack control panel (manager application) allows the user to select the driver’s mode
of operation as either an emulation or native mode. Alternatively, the application may force the
driver into native mode by sending the following system exclusive message. This ensures that
AlphaTrack will be in the proper mode without requiring any user action other than running the
application.
f0 00 01 40 20 01 00 f7 Force the AlphaTrack driver into native mode
Important: All the other messages defined in this document are only valid when the TranzPort
driver is set to native mode.
Device Inquiry
When in native mode, the AlphaTrack will respond to a MIDI Device Inquiry message.
f0 7e 00 06 01 f7 Inquiry sent to AlphaTrack
The AlphaTrack then responds with the following message:
f0 7e 00 06 02 00 01 40 20 00 01 00 30 31 30 30 f7
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”). This value may change with software updates.
Buttons and LED’s
REW Button ............................................................Button Down: 90 5b 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 5b 00 MIDI IN
FFWD Button ..........................................................Button Down: 90 5c 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 5c 00 MIDI IN
STOP Button ...........................................................Button Down: 90 5d 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 5d 00 MIDI IN
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PLAY Button ..........................................................Button Down: 90 5e 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 5e 00 MIDI IN
Record Button and LED ..........................................Button Down: 90 5f 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 5f 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 5f 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 5f 00 MIDI OUT
SHIFT Button and LED ..........................................Button Down: 90 46 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 46 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 46 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 46 00 MIDI OUT
TRACKL Button and LED .....................................Button Down: 90 57 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 57 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 57 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 57 00 MIDI OUT
TRACKR Button and LED......................................Button Down: 90 58 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 58 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 58 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 58 00 MIDI OUT
LOOP Button and LED ...........................................Button Down: 90 56 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 56 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 56 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 56 00 MIDI OUT
FLIP Button and LED..............................................Button Down: 90 32 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 32 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 32 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 32 00 MIDI OUT
MUTE Button and LED...........................................Button Down: 90 10 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 10 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 10 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 10 00 MIDI OUT
F1 Button and LED..................................................Button Down: 90 36 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 36 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 36 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 36 00 MIDI OUT
F2 Button and LED..................................................Button Down: 90 37 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 37 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 37 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 37 00 MIDI OUT
F3 Button and LED..................................................Button Down: 90 38 7f MIDI IN
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Button Up: 90 38 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 38 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 38 00 MIDI OUT
F4 Button and LED..................................................Button Down: 90 39 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 39 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 39 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 39 00 MIDI OUT
SOLO Button and LED............................................Button Down: 90 08 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 08 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 08 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 08 00 MIDI OUT
ANY (Any Solo) LED.....................................................LED On: 90 73 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 73 00 MIDI OUT
PAN Button and LED..............................................Button Down: 90 2a 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 2a 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 2a 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 2a 00 MIDI OUT
SEND Button and LED............................................Button Down: 90 29 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 29 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 29 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 29 00 MIDI OUT
EQ Button and LED.................................................Button Down: 90 2c 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 2c 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 2c 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 2c 00 MIDI OUT
PLUG-IN Button and LED......................................Button Down: 90 2b 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 2b 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 2b 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 2b 00 MIDI OUT
AUTO Button and LED...........................................Button Down: 90 4a 7f MIDI IN
Button Up: 90 4a 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 4a 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 4a 00 MIDI OUT
AUTO WRITE LED........................................................LED On: 90 4b 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 4b 00 MIDI OUT
AUTO READ LED..........................................................LED On: 90 4e 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 4e 00 MIDI OUT
REC (Arm) Button and LED ...................................Button Down: 90 00 7f MIDI IN
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Button Up: 90 00 00 MIDI IN
LED On: 90 00 7f MIDI OUT
LED Off: 90 00 00 MIDI OUT
Footswitch...................................................... Footswitch Pressed: 90 67 7f MIDI IN
Footswitch Released: 90 67 00 MIDI IN
Note: The footswitch is assumed unpressed at power-up, and the polarity set accordingly.
Encoders, Fader, and Touchstrip
LEFT ENCODER (touch)....................................................Down: 90 78 7f MIDI IN
Up: 90 78 00 MIDI IN
LEFT ENCODER (push knob)............................................Down: 90 20 7f MIDI IN
Up: 90 20 00 MIDI IN
LEFT ENCODER (turn)...................................................Change: b0 10 nn MIDI IN
MIDDLE ENCODER (touch)..............................................Down: 90 79 7f MIDI IN
Up: 90 79 00 MIDI IN
MIDDLE ENCODER (push knob)......................................Down: 90 21 7f MIDI IN
Up: 90 21 00 MIDI IN
MIDDLE ENCODER (turn).............................................Change: b0 11 nn MIDI IN
RIGHT ENCODER (touch).................................................Down: 90 7a 7f MIDI IN
Up: 90 7a 00 MIDI IN
RIGHT ENCODER (push knob).........................................Down: 90 22 7f MIDI IN
Up: 90 22 00 MIDI IN
RIGHT ENCODER (turn) ................................................Change: b0 12 nn MIDI IN
where nn: forward 01 – 3f
backward 41 – 7f
Note: When changing, an encoder knob turn is updated via the MIDI IN port at a
maximum rate of about once every 15 msecs, although it is polled internally at a
much higher rate. Therefore, the encoder turn messages contain the number of
positive or negative ticks since the last encoder turn message. This is similar for
the touch strip, which senses at most 15 horizontal positions.
Examples:
4 middle encoder ticks clockwise rotation: 90 3c 04
3 right encoder ticks counterclockwise rotation: 90 3c 43
FADER (touch)...........................................................Start Touch: 90 68 7f MIDI IN
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Stop Touch: 90 68 00 MIDI IN
FADER (move)............................Movement update to computer: e0 yy zz MIDI IN
Command from computer: e0 yy zz MIDI OUT
where yy: 3 LSB’s in the form 00, 10, … 70
where zz: 7 MSB’s in the form 00, 01, … 7f
Together, yy and xx form a 10-bit fader position.
STRIP 1 Finger Touch ...............................................Start Touch: 90 74 7f MIDI IN
Stop Touch: 90 74 00 MIDI IN
STRIP 2 Finger Touch ...............................................Start Touch: 90 7b 7f MIDI IN
Stop Touch: 90 7b 00 MIDI IN
STRIP Position ............................................................... Position: e9 00 nn MIDI IN
where nn = 00, 04, 08, … 74, 78, 7C (upper 5 bits give absolute position 0..31)
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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.
Table 1: AlphaTrack LCD Character Set
The display may be written to by using the following MIDI SysEx message format:
f0 00 01 40 20 00 pp c1 c2 c3 c4 … cn f7
Where: pp is the starting character position, 0 – 0x1f
c1, c2, c3 are the ASCII codes to display.
n can range from 1 to (0x20 – pp)
Example: f0 00 01 40 20 00 10 48 65 6c 6c 6f f7
Writes “Hello” to the beginning of the lower line of the LCD display.
The LCD should be cleared (filled with character 0x20) when the DAW application is closed.
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Suggested Practices
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.
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