KAE Systems FlexControl 14 User manual

‘FlexControl 14’ page 1/11 Firmware version 1.x
FlexControl 14
User’s manual
Firmware v1.x
www.kae-systems.com

‘FlexControl 14’ page 2/11 Firmware version 1.x
What’s this?
‘FlexControl 14’ is an universal multi-purpose MIDI ontroller/de oder. It provides 14 digital buffered
outputs, ontrollable simultaneously by: 14 on-board digital/analog inputs, MIDI messages or another
‘FlexControl 14’ devi e. Also, it an transmit up to 3 messages at once at a tivation of any digital input, and
send Control Change messages on hange of analog inputs.
Hardware features
 14 high- urrent open- olle tor digital outputs for relays / LEDs / servo motors
 14 digital inputs (pulled up) for buttons or swit hes / up to 11 analog inputs for potentiometers
 All digital inputs and outputs go out on standard 2,54mm male onne tors
 1 ‘MIDI In’ DIN5 onne tor
 1 ‘MIDI Out/Thru’ DIN5 onne tor
 Semi-transparent illuminated button for MIDI presets programming
 RJ-45 ja k for onne ting another ‘FlexControl 14’ remote ontrol board over straight-through
Ethernet able.
 Phantom power with onfigurable polarity available on pins 1 and 3 of the ‘MIDI In’ ja k
 2.5mm DC power ja k (with enter negative pin).
 2-pin DC power onne tor
 Reverse polarity prote tion
 Spe ially designed for panel mounting
 Non-volatile memory to store user onfiguration and presets
Intended audience
Anyone who has basi knowledge on ele tri al ir uits and MIDI proto ol.

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Wiring diagram (using digital inputs)
Important: The ‘Remote’ board should be powered only from the Host board through the thernet cable!
Don’t onne t any power supply to the remote board - neither to the DC power ja k nor the internal DC
power onne tor!
Digital / Analog inputs
All of the 14 input pins an be onfigured as digital and are suitable for atta hing
buttons/footswit hes to them. The atta hed buttons an be of momentary (non-retentive) or lat hing
(retentive) type and should be atta hed between the pin and GND / 0V (shown on wiring diagrams below).
When idle, the input pins are pulled-up to +5V.
Up to 11 of the inputs an be onfigured as analog, thus allowing potentiometers to be atta hed to
them. The result of analog-to-digital onversion is a 7-bit value whi h is (optionally) transformed (see harts
below) and sent in MIDI CC message and (optionally) – to PWM output with same number. Messages are
sent only on hange of the measured value.
In order to use the analog inputs You should remove corresponding pull-up resistors, lo ated on the
bottom side of the board (rev. B), a ording to table below. It’s re ommended to use linear potentiometers
between 500 Ω and 5 kΩ. Also, it’s highly re ommended a 47..200 nF apa itor to be soldered between the
analog pin and GND as lose as possible to the MCU, like shown on the onne tion diagram below. There are
blank footprints available for apa itors on the bottom side of the board. The footprints are of 0805 size.

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Ea h analog input has an ‘auto- alibration’ feature, allowing the atta hed potentiometer to operate
in limited range and yet to give full-range 7-bit values. The extreme points an be reset anytime with the
help of ‘FlexControl Configurator’ tool.
Most suitable sour es of stabilized 5V supply for
potentiometers are shown on the pi tures on the left and
right.
Transformation charts
* Range of values for both axes: [0..127]
* Input values are on horizontal axes
* The hart represents a tual values.
Digital / PWM outputs
All of the 14 output pins an be onfigured as digital and are suitable for a tive or indu tive loads –
relays, fans, LEDs, et .
Also, all of the 14 output pins an be onfigured as PWM and are suitable for servo motors. The PWM
resolution is 100 us with maximal period of 25.5 ms.
Input # Pull-up
resistor
Capacitor
footprint Note
1 R20 C11
2 R18 C12
3 R17 C13
4 R16 C14
5 R15 - Can’t be analog
6 R14 - Can’t be analog
7 R13 C15
8 R12 C16
9 R11 C17
10 R10 C18
11 R9 - Can’t be analog
12 R8 C19
13 R7 C20
14 R6 C21
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
1 64 127
Exp
Log
Gauss

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How does it work?
‘FlexControl 14’ omes with 2 pre-programmed firmware profiles (roles), explained below. Firmware
profiles an be set and onfigured only by spe ial a Windows® appli ation, the ‘FlexControl onfigurator’.
Role ‘Host’
Features
 Configurable type of input pins (analog or digital input)
 Configurable type of output pins (PWM or digital output)
 Configurable rea tions on falling and/or rising edges of the digital inputs. Available rea tions are:
- Turn on, off or toggle a digital output
- Send up to 3 MIDI messages at on e. All short message types are supported, with individual
hannels.
 Configurable transformation type of analog inputs. The analog value will be (optionally) transformed
and then sent in MIDI CC message and (optionally) to PWM output with same number.
You may hoose between exponent, logarithmi and Gaussian (‘S- urve’) transformations.
 Configurable polarity of the outputs (normally ‘off’ or normally ‘on’), also appli able for PWM
outputs.
 Configurable mutual ex lusive digital outputs (i.e. “mutex”). In a mutex group, there an be only one
a tive output. There an be mutex and non-mutex outputs working in parallel.
 Configurable delay at startup
 Configurable re eption on all or spe ifi MIDI hannel.
 Configurable Rx MIDI ontrollers (CC) for digital outputs.
 Configurable Tx MIDI ontrollers (CC) for analog inputs.
 Configurable MIDI presets (retrievable on re eption of ‘Program Change’ MIDI messages).
 MIDI Thru – every byte, re eived on MIDI In will be immediately sent to MIDI Out. However, if there
is onfigured at least one analog hannel or a digital input with a Tx message, MIDI Thru will not be
available.
Operation
 Ea h digital input an turn on, off or toggle only a digital output with the same number (In 1 -> Out 1;
In 2 -> Out 2 and et .).
 All the 14 digital outputs have a lat hing a tion, ex ept when…
 One or several digital outputs an be optionally onfigured as pulse ones, and are a tivated
simultaneously when any other digital output hanges.
 Every digital output (ex ept pulse ones) an be swit hed on and off individually by a MIDI ‘Control
hange’ message. CC values < 64 (de ) turn the output off, while values >= 64 (de ) turn it on. If an
output pin is in a mutex group, it will only rea t on CC values >= 64 (de ).
 Some or all outputs an be onfigured in a mutual ex lusive group (“mutex”). In addition, the state of
all non-mutex outputs an be memorized and subsequently restored on a tivation of a mutex output.
 All outputs, ex ept the pulse ones, an be swit hed at on e by a MIDI ‘Program hange’ message. In
this ase, the pulse outputs (if onfigured), will engage too.
 A MIDI preset an be programmed by starting a MIDI preset programming sequen e.

‘FlexControl 14’ page 6/11 Firmware version 1.x
Role ‘Remote’
Designed as remote ontrol when working together with another ‘FlexControl 14’ board, onfigured
as Host. Both Host and Remote boards should be onne ted with a straight-through Ethernet able (same
pinout on both ends).
Features
 The input pins an be onfigured only as digital inputs.
 The output pins opy the onfiguration of the Host’s outputs (automati ally set to digital output or
PWM)
 Configurable rea tions on falling and/or rising edges of the digital inputs. Available rea tions an be:
- Turn on, off or toggle a digital output in the Host.
 No rea tion on MIDI PC and CC messages.
 No MIDI messages are transmitted.
Operation
 ‘Remote’ and ‘Host’ digital inputs work in parallel.
 ‘Remote’ outputs opy the state of the ‘Host’s outputs.
Working with the ‘FlexControl Configurator’
All parameters of the firmware profiles an be onfigured with few mouse li ks with the help of the
‘FlexControl onfigurator’. It’s a small GUI appli ation for Mi rosoft® Windows OS.
Following prerequisites should be fulfilled to run the appli ation:
 Your OS should be ‘Windows Vista SP2’ or newer
 Installed .NET 4.6 framework. Installation requires administrator privileges.
 A sound ard with MIDI port or USB-MIDI interfa e onne ted to your omputer.
 Conne t both MIDI ja ks of your devi e to the respe tive MIDI ja ks of the ‘FlexControl 14’ like:
MIDI In <- MIDI Out
MIDI Out -> MIDI In
Laun h the appli ation. When started, it will look like on the
s reenshot on the left.
Now, You may reate a new onfiguration by li king File ->
New or li k the button with the big blue arrow to read a
onfiguration from the onne ted ‘FlexControl 14’ devi e
(below):

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In the first pla e, sele t a firmware profile as shown on the left. Depending
on the sele ted profile, a different view will be available, displaying only the
relevant settings.
Se ond, onfigure the pins in ‘IO pins’ tab. The pins are represented by olored he kboxes with numbers.
Cli k one to see its parameters (they will show up beneath the ‘Input pins’ box). Only when a single digital
input pin is sele ted, there will be shown an additional table with MIDI messages. Have in mind that each
input pin controls only an output pin with the same number (In #1 -> Out #1, etc.).
You may sele t multiple pins and edit their parameters at on e as
long as they have same fun tion. Use the ontext menu (right li k)
to a elerate sele tion/de-sele tion of multiple pins.
Complete parameter list
Input pins
Function Available parameters Description
Deboun e time, [ms]
Time to onfirm stable pin state, in millise onds. Used to filter out pin hattering,
produ ed by most swit hes and buttons. Applies to all digital inputs. Note that higher
values (> 100 ms) an indu e noti eable delay in output rea tions.
Output pin on falling edge Defines the rea tion of a digital output pin, when the voltage level on this pin
transitions from 5 to 0 volts.
Output pin on rising edge Defines the rea tion of a digital output pin, when the voltage level on this pin
transitions from 0 to 5 volts.
Digital
input
Send MIDI messages on edge Defines on whi h voltage transition to transmit a group of up to 3 MIDI messages
Transformation type Sele ts an optional transformation of the sampled analog values. You may refer to the
available transformation urves in the hapter ‘Transformation harts’.
Output dire tly to PWM
If set to true, the PWM duty y le of the orresponding output pin will hange
proportionally with sampled analog value. This requires the orresponding output pin
to fun tion as PWM.
MIDI ontroller Assigns a ontroller number for the outgoing MIDI CC messages. Set to “—“ if You
don’t want to transmit MIDI CC messages.
Analog
input
MIDI Tx hannel Defines the hannel for the transmitted MIDI CC messages. Relevant only if a valid
MI I controller is sele ted.
Output pins
Function Available parameters Description
Is mutual ex lusive
If set to true, in ludes the pin in a mutual ex lusive group, i.e. when one pin goes to on state,
all other within the group go to off state. At least 2 pins are required for a mutual ex lusive
group.
Is inverted If set to true, inverts the a tive level of the output pin.
Digital
output
MIDI ontroller Sets the ontroller number to rea t to (on in oming MIDI CC messages)
Is inverted If set to true, inverts the a tive level of the output pin.
PWM period, [ms] Sets the period of the generated PWM, in millise onds
PWM duty min, [ms] Sets the minimum duty y le of the generated PWM, in millise onds
PWM duty max, [ms] Sets the maximum duty y le of the generated PWM, in millise onds
PWM duty initial, [ms] Sets the duty y le when the board gets powered, in millise onds
PWM
MIDI ontroller Sets the ontroller number to rea t to (on in oming MIDI CC messages)
Is inverted If set to true, inverts the a tive level of the output pin Pulse
output Pulse duration, [ms] Duration of the pulse, in millise onds. Applies to all pulse outputs.
In the ‘MIDI Presets’ tab, You may onfigure the state of the outputs, whi h You may later want to re all by
external MIDI Program change message.

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Suggested configuration of digital input pins, depending on the type of activators, attached to them
↓ - On falling edge
↑ - On rising edge
In the ‘Options’ tab, You may adjust the following parameters:
- Startup delay, [ms]: It may be useful if Your tube amplifier needs
warmup. The devi e will not swit h the outputs during that period. In
millise onds.
- Always start with last output states: Che k this if You want the
FlexControl to memorize the states of the outputs, so at the next
powerup to start where You left.
- Reset range calibration of analog inputs: Relevant only for input pins,
whi h are onfigured with analog fun tion. Che k this box when
hanging the potentiometers, onne ted to the analog inputs.
- Use mutex memory: enables memorization of non-mutex digital outputs (if there are any) against
urrently a tive mutex output. When the same mutex output gets a tive again, the rest of the outputs
will be restored automati ally.
- MIDI Rx channel: Defines the MIDI hannel to ‘listen’ for in oming messages.
Activator
Class Type
Desired output
interdependence Output reactions
↓ Set
Mutex ↑ None
↓ Toggle
Non-
retentive/
momentary
Pushbutton
No ↑ None
↓ Set
Swit h
(visible state) No ↑ Clear
↓ Toggle
No ↑ Toggle
↓ Set
Swit h
(invisible state)
Mutex ↑ Set
↓ Set
Retentive
Rotary swit h Mutex ↑ None

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Having finished with the settings hit the button with the big orange arrow and wait for ompletion. The new
configuration will take effect at next power up.
Updating the firmware
- Go to www.kae-systems. om and navigate to the
‘FlexControl 14’ page.
- Download the available SW pa k. It ontains the
‘FlexControl onfigurator’ appli ation and a
firmware file with *.bin extension. Unpa k it
somewhere on your omputer.
- Laun h the newly downloaded ‘FlexControl onfigurator’
and li k menu Tools -> Update firmware... A new dialog window will pop, where You should supply a
path to the firmware file. Cli k button ‘Go!’ and wait for ompletion.
Troubleshooting
During the update pro ess, the illuminated button will blink fast. If download has been su essful, the
button will light on for 2 se onds, then light off; otherwise, it will light on onstantly and remain it this state.
If download fails or hasn’t been started at all, it’s highly probable that:
- You didn’t onne t the MIDI ables properly to ‘FlexControl 14’ (both ins and outs)
- When using a heap USB MIDI able, there may be unsoldered/broken wires inside the able.
- The firmware is intended for other devi e
Turn the board off and on, make sure the pre onditions are orre t, and try again.
MIDI preset programming sequence without computer
Appli able only to firmware profile ‘Host’. Assuming already onfigured with the onfigurator appli ation.
1. Power the ‘FlexControl 14’ board on.
2. Conne t the MIDI Out ja k of Your MIDI ontroller to the MIDI In ja k of the ‘FlexControl 14’ board.
3. Press and hold the illuminated button until it starts to blink with a short pulse.
4. Configure the digital outputs you want in a preset (by on-board digital inputs / remote / MIDI CC
messages)
5. Send a MIDI PC message from your MIDI ontroller. The illuminated button will start to blink rapidly.
6. Press the illuminated button shortly to onfirm the preset. It will light on for a while and after that
will revert automati ally to short pulse blinking.
7. Repeat steps 4 to 6 if ne essary
8. To exit the programming sequen e, press and hold the illuminated button until it light off or leave
the board idle for about 2 minutes.
Supplying phantom power to the MIDI In jack
Some MIDI devi es an be powered through spare pins 1 and 3 of their MI I Out ja ks. ‘FlexControl
14’ is ready to omplement this feature by bridging its power sour es (DC power ja k or DC internal
onne tor) to 4 jumper pads on its bottom side. Depending on the devi e you want to power, you’ll need to
shorten jumpers J1+ and J1- or J2+ and J2-, as shown on the pi ture below:

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Please note: Do not shorten any of J1x and J2x jumpers simultaneously! That will short ir uit your power
supply and almost ertainly will damage it; ‘FlexControl 14’ will be ertainly damaged too!
lectrical specifications
 Supply voltage range: 7,5 – 25V, re ommended 9 - 15V.
 Maximal urrent load per output: 500 mA
 Power onsumption: 26 mA @ 12V (no loads onne ted; all outputs off; LED off)
MIDI implementation chart
Message type Can receive Can send
Note off 8x - Yes
Note on 9x - Yes
Polyphoni aftertou h Ax - Yes
Control hange Bx Yes Yes
Program hange Cx Yes Yes
Channel aftertou h Dx - Yes
Pit h wheel Ex - Yes
Quarter frame (MTC) F1 - Yes
Song pointer F2 - Yes
Song sele t F3 - Yes
Tune request F6 - Yes
Timing lo k F8 - Yes
Start FA - Yes
Continue FB - Yes
Stop FC - Yes
A tive Sensing FE - Yes
Reset FF - Yes
*x in the message code = channel info

‘FlexControl 14’ page 11/11 Firmware version 1.x
Straight-through thernet cable pinout
Mechanical parameters
All dimensions in millimeters.