MIDI hardware MBBS User manual

USER MANUAL
for
MBBS – MIDI controller
firmware version 2.0
www.midi-hardware.com
Roman Sowa 2011

Table of contents
1 Overview..............................................................................................4
2 Connections & Power S pply..................................................................4
3 Keyboards.............................................................................................5
3.1 Split for special f nction inp ts - #905......................................................6
3.2 Keyboard contacts debo ncing - #99........................................................7
4 Potentiometers & Control Voltages..........................................................7
4.1 Analog inp ts pdate rate - #98..............................................................8
4.2 Bitwise resol tion of analog inp ts - #96..................................................8
5 MIDI settings and special f nctions........................................................9
5.1 Transposition (starting note)...................................................................10
5.1.1 Middle "C" select - #1................................................................................10
5.1.2 Transpose +/- b ttons................................................................................10
5.1.3 Transpose +/- command - #10, #11...........................................................10
5.1.4 Global Transpose........................................................................................11
5.2 MIDI event assignment for keyboards and analog inp ts..........................11
5.2.1 Control Change - #2 CC.............................................................................11
5.2.2 Pitch Bend - #2128....................................................................................11
5.2.3 Program Change - #2129...........................................................................12
5.2.4 Channel After To ch - #2130......................................................................12
5.2.5 Standard keyboard action – single notes - #2131.........................................12
5.2.6 Note on only - #2132.................................................................................12
5.2.7 Note off only - #2133.................................................................................12
5.2.8 One-to ch Patch Recall - #2134..................................................................12
5.2.9 CC keyboard - #2135.................................................................................13
5.2.10 MIDI channel shift for all controls - #2136.................................................13
5.2.11 Small Transposer - #2137.........................................................................13
5.2.12 Big Transposer - #2138............................................................................13
5.2.13 Velocity - #2139.......................................................................................13
5.2.14 Native Instr ments B4 chor s/vibrato - #2140...........................................14
5.2.15 MidiTzer stops control - #2141..................................................................14
5.2.16 Ahlborn Archive mod le stops control - #2142...........................................14
5.2.17 Ahlborn Organs stops control - #2143.......................................................14
5.2.18 Program selector - #2144.........................................................................14
5.2.19 Bank selector - #2145..............................................................................15
5.2.20 Ahlborn Common F nctions - #2146.........................................................15
5.2.21 3-note chord collect - #2147.....................................................................15
5.2.22 D al note (layered so nd) - #2148...........................................................15
5.2.23 One time velocity set p - #2149...............................................................15
5.2.24 Single keyboard transposition b ttons - #2150 to #2153............................16
5.2.25 Channel set b ttons - #2154 & #2155......................................................16
5.2.26 All keyboards transposition - #2156 to #2159............................................16
5.2.27 MIDI notes for stops control - #2160........................................................16
5.2.28 Reversed notes action- #2161..................................................................16
5.3 MIDI Channel - #3.................................................................................17
5.4 Program Change - #4.............................................................................17
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5.5 Keyboard split - #5.................................................................................17
5.6 Programming Patch Recall B ttons - #6...................................................18
6 MIDI tilities.......................................................................................19
6.1 MIDI monitor - #971..............................................................................19
6.2 Factory defa lts - #979..........................................................................19
7 Scanners.............................................................................................20
7.1 PDS - diode matrix pedal scanner............................................................20
7.2 DMS-2K d al keyboard matrix scanner.....................................................20
7.3 BBSP - common gro nd pedals scanner...................................................21
7.4 BBS-1K common gro nd keyboard scanner..............................................22
7.5 BBS24 little scanner for contacts & pots...................................................22
7.6 LITSW - b tton scanner with LED drivers.................................................23
7.6.1 Split point - #905.......................................................................................24
7.6.2 Independent mode - #908..........................................................................24
7.6.3 Dependent mode - #909............................................................................24
7.6.4 Bank/preset select - #910...........................................................................25
7.6.5 Disable bank/select mode - #911................................................................25
7.6.6 Contact on/off (keyboard scanner) mode - #912..........................................25
7.6.7 CC val e (pot scanner) mode - #913...........................................................25
7.6.8 Left split blink - #916.................................................................................25
7.6.9 Right split blink - #917...............................................................................25
7.6.10 All LEDs blink - #918................................................................................25
7.6.11 Reset to defa lts - #929...........................................................................26
7.7 POT12 - potentiometer scanner...............................................................26
7.8 MiDisp - 2x16 characters display..............................................................27
7.8.1 Toggle mode - #908...................................................................................27
7.8.2 Momentary mode - #909............................................................................27
7.8.3 Device ID set - #911..................................................................................27
7.8.4 Device ID show - #920...............................................................................28
7.8.5 Display blink - #918...................................................................................28
7.9 KEYPAD - n meric entry for ser MIDI settings........................................28
MIDI controller boards described here are prod cts of:
"MIDI-hardware" Roman Sowa
l. Azotowa 15B
41-503 Chorzów
Poland
phone [phone]
email [email protected]
www.midi-hardware.com
www.midimplant.com
© 2011, Roman Sowa
boards made and man al printed in Poland, EU
man al edition 9
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1 Overview
This man al describes the se and f nctionality of MBBS, a small MIDI controller
for one 5-octave keyboard, as well as all compatible scanners. The board described
here is intended for small 1-keyboard controllers, and smaller organ consoles. Apart
from direct inp ts for 5-octave keyboard with common b s bar, there are 2 scanner
inp ts. Each of them can take p to 128 keys if keyboard scanner is connected, or
p to 64 potentiometers if pot scanner is sed. This way p to 5 keyboard scanners
can work together b t only one inp t at a time can work with a chain of
potentiometer scanners. It is possible to combine keyboard and potentiometer
scanners on one inp t, th s 319 keys and 64 pots.
Feat res:
•63 direct inp ts for keyboard switches
•2 scanner inp ts, for keyboards and potentiometers
•ser defined split for every keyboard
•independent transposition for all keyboards/splits
•ser defined MIDI channel for each keyboard/split and pot
•ser defined MIDI event for each pot and keyboard split
•p to 15 special f nction, ser defined inp ts (transpose, channel, etc.)
•select Program Change from keyboard by entering n mber 001-999.
•all settings remain after disconnecting power
•DC power s pply (5V-12V DC)
2 Connections & Power Supply
Recommended power s pply range is between 5 and 12V DC. It is possible to r n
this board from lower voltage, b t its operation is not g aranteed then. C rrent
cons mption depends on the n mber of attached scanners and varies between 1 to
5mA, making it s itable for battery operation. This fig re doesn't incl de the load
ca sed by potentiometers if they are sed with appropriate scanners. If LCD
mod le takes more c rrent, abo t 15mA per display. The board comes with screw
terminals for power. Make s re to se proper polarity of power s pply. Connecting
power in reverse will not ca se any damage, b t of co rse it will only work with
proper power polarity.
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The last (64th) contact pin marked in the pict re as "EDIT" sho ld be connected to
momentary switch. This allows changing al ser settings as described in chapter 5.
Yo don't need that if special programing KEYPAD is present in the MIDI system or
if yo don't want to change any defa lt settings.
Typical DIN5 MIDI o tp t is available with s pplied special cable connected to 3-
way connector as indicated.
3 Keyboards
Main keyboard connects to 4 on-board IDC headers according to the schematic
below.
Each black connector holds 16 inp ts for keyboard
switches. The pin n mbering within one connector
is shown here. Notice orientation of the keying slot:
At the edge of the board there are 3 soldering pads (holes) to connect common
gro nd of all switches in a keyboard. The common may be connected there, or at
the min s (GND) s pply lead of MBBS, whatever is more convenient.
Additional keyboard switches may be connected to keyboard scanners. There are
several scanners available: for 32, 64, 128 keys, with switches organized in 8x8
matrix and single-rod b s-bar. All are described in chapter 7. Type of the scanner is
determined by keyboard size and the way how switches are organized. Connection
between keyboard scanner and MBBS main board is always the same, regardless of
the type of scanner. MIDI settings of those keyboards can be changed by the ser
after all connections are in place.
Most commonly fo nd in modern keyboards is 8x8 diode matrix. 8x8 scanner driver
can be sed in s ch keyboards. The matrix is very simple circ it, made of diodes
forming electric XY array of 8 rows and 8 col mns. It is integral part of the contacts
board fo nd beneath the keys. Those kind of keyboards can work directly with
DMS-2K scanner. Its advantage is that yo can connect 2 keyboards to one board.
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Older keyboards, and especially those sed in old analog organs, s ally don't have
s ch a thing, so in order to se 8x8 scanner, yo m st b ild diode matrix yo rself,
ass ming it is possible to separate the contacts into gro ps of 8 keys. In other
cases, when making diode matrix is impractical, yo may se b s-bar type of
scanners (BBS), where all keys share only one common b s. This is typical
keyboard arrangement in all old organ consoles. Below is a short table showing
which scanner type can be sed with different keyboards:
Keyboard type DMS BBS PDS
Independent switches, no connections ◊ ● ◊
Switches organized in 8x8 diode matrix ● ‡ ●
Switches organized in 6x12 and other ‡
One common rail for all switches ‡◊ ● ‡◊
● - can be sed directly
◊ - with additional diodes
‡ - req ires rewiring of existing contacts.
3.1 Split for pecial function input - #905
By defa lt all 63 on-board inp ts are treated as keyboard interface, playing notes,
or other similar MIDI events as described in chapter 5. B t yo can designate a few
inp ts for other tasks if less keyboard inp ts are req ired. S ch altered inp ts work
like they wo ld be potentiometer inp ts, b t only with min and max val es (0 and
127) possible. If those b ttons are assigned this way, each of them can be
individ ally set to different event type and MIDI channel. It creates some new
possibilities - for example yo can assign transpose/octave +/- b ttons, channel
+/- b ttons, and a few non-contin o s CCs, with most obvio s examples like
S stain or Portamento.
There can be p to 15 s ch inp ts, and they are always placed at the top of note
contacts, in the last, 4th connector (J4) of MBBS. This special mode is available
only in MBBS and not in any of connected scanners.
To define the split point between normal note inp ts, and special CC inp ts, play
any note at MBBS on-board inp ts, enter command #905 from the keypad (or se
on-board inp ts in seq ence: 64, 10, 1, 6), and then press the top key of desired
note part. All inp ts above this point, p to the EDIT inp t, will be now acting like
inp ts of POT scanner and can be individ ally programmed. To cancel this setting,
and t rn the whole range as normal inp ts, repeat the proced re, b t now set the
split point at the last note inp t (63). Do NOT connect any potentiometer, or
variable voltage to those inp ts. They are only capable of working with switches, or
logic levels. Applying other voltages may damage the board.
This kind of split has nothing to do with keyboard split described in chapter 5.5 and
can be sed independently of that one.
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3.2 Keyboard contact debouncing - #99
Every kind of contact bo nces sometimes. This is very short series of contact
clos res and openings, making instable signals for detecting key on and key off. To
prevent the controller from sending MIDI notes on every bo nce, a special
techniq e is performed, called debo ncing. All boards from midi-hardware.com
perform contact debo ncing, b t MBBS also provides possibility to adj st the
strength of this process. By defa lt debo ncing is set to 20ms, b t yo can change
it to one of 10 steps from 2ms to over 40ms. If there are no bo ncing effects
apparent in yo r keyboard, there's no need for long debo ncing, and it can be
shortened to red ce latency. B t wwith old r sty wire contacts, it may be necessary
to set the debo ncing to a higher level. This increases latency, b t prevents from
b rst of nwanted notes with every key going p or down. To change debo ncing
time, yo m st play any note on the keyboard connected to internal inp ts of MBBS
(not on the scanners) and se command #99x, where 3rd digit (x) determines
debo ncing strength. 0 means almost no debo ncing and minim m latency, while 9
is maxim m debo ncing and biggest latency. See chapter 5 for general g idelines
on how to enter commands. If yo have dedicated LCD mod le - MiDisp , this
setting is easier to follow beca se short prompts are displayed after each digit.
4 Potentiometers & Control Voltages
Pot inp ts are available with se of proper expanders, like POT12, BBS24, PDS or
BBSP. They can be sed as contin o s controllers for things like vol me,
mod lation etc. Us ally those inp ts wo ld be connected to potentiometers, b t it's
possible to se them as analog inp ts with range of 0..+5V. Applying voltage of 0V
ca ses generation of CC with lowest val e, while +5V makes highest possible val e
of assigned MIDI parameter. Each inp t in the system has separately assigned MIDI
event and channel. This assignment can be easily changed by the ser with se of
special programing keypad, or lowest 10 keys of any connected keyboard. Every
potentiometer scanner is described in chapter 7, with connection schematics.
All potentiometer mu t be linear taper (not audio) in range 10-50k,
preferably 20k.
If there are 2 or more potentiometer scanners in the system, they m st be chained,
i.e. first board is connected to MBBS, and second one is connected to first POT
board, etc. If yo se 2 inp ts of MBBS to connect POT boards, they both will share
the same settings. That means it wo ld be like having 2 potentiometers for the
same MIDI parameter on the same channel. The chain of potentiometer scanners
can be connected to any one of the MBBS inp ts, or any daisy-chain inp t of other
connected scanners, b t only one. Only keyboard scanners can be connected to all
inp ts at the same time. Yo can mix different kinds of POT scanners in one chain.
There can be for example two POT12, and BBSP at the end. The total number of
potentiometer inp ts sho ld not exceed 64. All additional inp ts will be ignored.
Every POT scanner has pins for connecting o ter leads of the pots. They are
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described as +5V and GND. Yo mu t not connect any power to those pins, they
are only for connection end potentiometer taps.
All cables leading from POT scanners to potentiometers sho ld be either shielded or
very short (no more than 30cm). Using long non-shielded cable may generate
sp rio s MIDI messages when nexpected. Typical microphone cable is good
eno gh for preventing this, even the low-cost one.
4.1 Analog input update rate - #98
All analog inp ts of potentiometer scanners (POT12, BBS24, PDS, BBPS) translate
inp t voltages, or potentiometer position into MIDI. Act al pot position is pdated
via MIDI every time it changes. This pdate is however not immediate - this is
common to any MIDI knob box. The fastest response for potentiometer movement
on a single inp t is abo t 5ms. It means that when yo constantly move the pot,
MBBS will pdate the MIDI parameter every 5ms. This is more than eno gh for
most of ses. In some instr ments, either hardware, or virt al, some problem may
occ r when there is heavy MIDI load. It is also sometimes desirable to limit MIDI
traffic e.g. to minimize the size of MIDI file recorded in a seq encer. It is possible to
change this setting sing command "#98n" from the keypad, where "n" determines
pdate rate according to the table below. More on how to enter digits and setting
proced res, in chapter 5. Defa lt factory setting is 18ms.
keypad
seq ence #980 #981 #982 #983 #984 #985 #986 #987 #988 #989
pot latency 5ms 7ms 9ms 13ms 18m 25ms 35ms 50ms 70ms 0.1s
pdate rate 200Hz 145Hz 115Hz 80Hz 55Hz 40Hz 30Hz 20Hz 15Hz 10Hz
This setting is available for all pot-capable boards (POT12, BBS24, BBSP, PDS)
connected to MBBS board. Each board can have different pdate rates, b t all
inp ts in one POT board work with one rate. For example yo can set it to 50ms on
first POT scanner, and 13ms on second one (ass ming yo have 2). As s al, to
change any settings for partic lar board, select it first by moving a bit any
potentiometer connected to board in q estion. Then sing yo r keypad enter the
code from above table. New settings will be activated and remembered.
4.2 Bitwi e re olution of analog input - #96
Us ally all MIDI parameters have 128 possible levels, determined by 7 bit nat re of
MIDI standard. In some cases it may be sef l to red ce the n mber of possible
levels, or in another words - n mber of information bits. For example if yo want to
se MIDI channel rotary selector, described in chapter 5.2.10, it's better to red ce
resol tion to 4 bits, and have only 16 levels in f ll pot rotation. In some software
synthesizers yo can select parameters sing only a fraction of the f ll CC range.
And in organ em lators it's also sometimes desirable to have only a few steps in f ll
8

pedal travel if it's sed e.g. for crescendo.
Bit resol tion is ser adj stable in a similar way as pdate rate described above, by
sing command #96x, where "x" is desired bit resol tion. For example #967 makes
the pot inp t 7-bits wide (128 levels), this is defa lt mode of operation. For
example #963 sets it to 3-bit resol tion, allowing for only 8 levels (and 8 possible
MIDI messages sent) per f ll pot rotation.
It's adj stable per single inp t, so yo can set every analog inp t in the system
individ ally To change resol tion of the inp t, t rn the potentiometer connected to
that inp t, and then enter #96 from the keypad, followed by n mber of bits yo
want to set. If this potentiometer was previo sly set to very low resol tion, like 1 or
2 bits, yo have to t rn the pot almost f ll rotation to select it for EDIT operations.
To start any pot for any kind of config ration (event, channel, resol tion) it m st
first make some action, and when yo have only so little levels, it takes m ch more
rotation to cross next valid level and indicate to MBBS board "hi, I'm the last sed
pot, any setting changes apply to me now!"
Bit resol tion is available only with the following boards: POT12 v1.2 and higher,
PDS, BBS24 and BBSP v1.0 and higher.
5 MI I settings and special functions
All settings are accessible from any keyboard connected to MBBS. Last contact pin
of MBBS sho ld be connected to momentary switch. This is the entry to EDIT mode
and allows changing all settings of entire set. Detailed proced res for all settings
are described later in this chapter. To make the settings more ergonomic and easier,
there's optional n meric keypad available, similar to phone keypad. It is connected
the same way as any keyboard scanner with 4-wire cable, and works like act al
keyboard, meaning it is possible to play notes with it. B t the advantage is the „#”
key, which d plicates the EDIT b tton.
To change any settings in EDIT mode, yo m st enter new val e of given
parameter. To do so, se lowest 10 keys of the keyboard as n meric entry. Lowest
key is digit „0”, while 10th key is digit „9”. This becomes obvio s with mentioned
n meric keypad. As a general r le, any change to a controller (keyboard, or
potentiometer) req ires selecting this controller first before making change.
For example, if yo want to change MIDI channel of certain potentiometer, move it
eno gh to generate some action (see 4.2.), and go into MIDI channel settings
mode. Or to change the split point – first play any note on the keyboard to be split,
and enter split-point change mode.
In this chapter, describing how to set all parameters, whenever „#” sign is
mentioned, it means the "EDIT" key, connected to last pin shown in the layo t
section, or the „#” or "*" key on n meric keypad if one is present in the system.
All three have exactly the same f nction. N meric entries are provided with the
ass mption that n meric keypad is sed, b t the same can be achieved with lowest
10 keys of any keyboard. It helps to add a sticker over those keys with n mbers
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from 0 to 9 if only m sical keyboard is sed.
If yo also have dedicated LCD mod le - MiDisp , all setting activity is clearly visible.
It's m ch easier then to follow what stage of programming yo are in, and short
prompts are displayed according to yo r selection.
5.1 Tran po ition ( tarting note)
Transposition of any keyboard connected to MBBS is nlimited, that means any key
can generate any note from f ll MIDI range of more than 10 octaves. Each
keyboard, or act ally each split in every keyboard scanner, can be individ ally set.
Change is always performed for the last controller that was sed prior entering
transposition edit mode. There are three ways of single keyboard transpose, and
one for global transposition. If MiDisp mod le is available, transposition is displayed
after each change.
5.1.1 Middle "C" select - #1
This one is sable when yo want to q ickly align yo r keyboard with act al MIDI
notes. First yo select the keyboard to edit by playing any note in it. Enter „#”
followed by „1" on the keypad (or EDIT pin, and lowest contact in any keyboard
scanner). Now, whatever key yo press, it will be the new position of the middle C
MIDI note afterwards - MIDI note n mber 36. Yo can select new position of
middle C note anywhere between 3rd and top key of the keyboard.
5.1.2 Transpose +/- buttons
Second option is to se transposition b ttons. There can be 4 of them, two for
semitone steps p/down, and two for octave steps p/down. S ch b ttons can be
assigned as special events for potentiometer inp ts. The event n mbers for this
feat re are:
- one semitone p: 150
- one semitone down: 151
- one octave p: 152
- one octave down: 153
Pressing s ch b tton (shorting inp t to gro nd) will affect the last played keyboard,
and this setting will be memorized in non volatile memory. Here yo don't have to
enter entire command every time, instead, setting is accessible with single b tton
stroke. Go to chapter 5.2. for details on how to assign events to inp ts.
5.1.3 Transpose +/- command - #10 #11
Third option ses lowest 2 keys of the keyboard, or n mbers "0" and "1" of the
keypad. It doesn't matter if keyboard starts with key C or F or whatever, those are
always two lowest keys. The lowest one shifts the keyboard one semitone down
with each seq ence (#10), the 2nd key shifts the keyboard one semitone p (#11).
This is sef l if yo want to slightly change the transposition once, and there's no
need for easy accessible +/- b ttons.
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5.1.4 Global Transpose
Apart from methods j st described, which are mostly sed d ring initial set p,
there's different kind of transposing, more s itable for live playing. Global transpose
affects ALL keyboards in the system with the same n mber of semitones shift from
defa lt position. This one is not memorized in nonvolatile memory. After power
cycle, all keyboards ret rn to initial state. To access this way of transposing yo can
assign special f nctions to any POT inp ts. Available are +/-1 semitone and octave
steps. The event n mbers for this feat re are:
- one semitone p: 156
- one semitone down: 157
- one octave p: 158
- one octave down: 159
Go to chapter 5.2. for details on how to assign events to inp ts.
5.2 MIDI event a ignment for keyboard and analog
input
MIDI event assigned to given potentiometer or keyboard split can be easily
changed. To perform this, t rn the knob, or play a key on the split yo want to
assign, and then select the controller type by entering keys # then 2 and then
appropriate n mber from the list that follows. Yo need to enter 2 or 3 digits for
each inp t controller depending on entered n mber. To assign another one, again
yo m st t rn the pot it a bit, or play the key on another split, and then start from
"#2" seq ence followed by event type n mber.
Possible MIDI event codes are from 000 to 161.
Standard etting for a keyboard i "# 2 131" - ingle note , and for
analog input it' Continuou Controller: "# 2 nnn" - where "nnn" is n mber
from 001 p. This is factory defa lt.
If a keyboard is assigned to note on/off event (131 or 161 only), starting note by
defa lt is MIDI n mber 36, the same as most MIDI keyboards se. Any other event
sends MIDI val es starting from 0 at lowest contact. If, for example keyboard is
assigned to After To ch event, the lowest contact will send MIDI After To ch with
val e 0, next - val e 1 and so on. The starting point can be adj sted with
transposition setting (chapter 5.1), so the first contact can act ally take any
possible val e.
5.2.1 Control Change - #2 CC
Any MIDI Control Change n mber, where "CC" is n mber in range from "000" p to
"127".
5.2.2 Pitch Bend - #2128
The pot will work then like typical pitch bender. If assigned to a keyboard, each key
will set pitch bender in 1/128 steps across the keyboard. Range can be adj sted
with transposition settings.
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5.2.3 Program Change - #2129
If assigned to a keyboard, pressing each key will generate MIDI Program Change
message with different patch n mber. Starting n mber can be adj sted with
transposition setting. This is sef l for organ em lators, where bank of Program
Change b ttons can be sed to work as pistons (sets of registers). Altho gh this is
rather n s al sage for a potentiometer, it will generate MIDI Program Change
messages with its every move. Program Change can be also generated from the
keypad, by sing seq ence "# 4 <n mber>" – this is described later.
5.2.4 Channel After Touch - #2130
T rning s ch pot will ca se Channel After To ch messages to be sent o t. If
assigned to a keyboard, each key will set After To ch in 1/128 steps across the
keyboard. Range can be adj sted with transposition settings.
5.2.5 Standard keyboard action – single notes - #2131
Whenever MIDI event 131 is assigned to a keyboard, it works as typical MIDI
keyboard, playing MIDI notes. It is also possible to generate a b rst of glissando
notes, when this event is assigned to a pot. Select the pot to be edited, enter "# 2
131". This knob becomes then a note generator resembling q antized Theremin,
spitting series of notes with every pot move. There's only one note played at a time
(with velocity set like described later) and it is released j st before new note is
abo t to play. Whole knob slow rotation plays 128 notes from entire MIDI range.
5.2.6 Note on only - #2132
This mode is somehow similar to the action described j st before, b t only "note-
on" messages are generated, that means whenever yo move this pot, new notes
will be played, and they will stay on forever nless proper note-off message will be
iss ed by another means.
5.2.7 Note off only - #2133
This is like "note-on" mode described before, b t instead it sends o t only note-off
messages. Both modes can be sed if yo want separate inp ts for note-on, and
note off, like for example in d al-contact stop tabs in organs. If assigned to a
keyboard, it will send only note-offs, so it may be sed to q iet some notes played
earlier.
5.2.8 One-touch Patch Recall - #2134
Keyboard in this mode serves as an array of Program Change memory b ttons.
Each key recalls Program Change (or in another words - selects a patch/preset)
that was earlier programmed. There's 64 memory locations, so yo can se one f ll
64 key scanner. For example yo can program key 1 to send Program Change 37,
key 2 as PC#76, key 3 as PC#20 etc. All b ttons work in one channel selected with
#3 command as described in chapter 5.3. Assigning Program Change n mbers to a
specific key is described later, in chapter 5.6 "Programming Patch Recall B ttons".
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5.2.9 CC keyboard - #2135
This feat re can be sed only with keyboard. In this mode yo can se keyboard as
toggle switches selecting min/max val es in a s bset of CCs. All keys have
increasing MIDI Contin o s Controller assigned. Pressed key sends CC with max
val e (127), while key release generates the same CC b t with minim m val e (0).
5.2.10 MIDI channel shift for all controls - #2136
This is mostly sable with contact scanners. First 16 keys work like MIDI channel
selector for all controllers. After one of the keys is hit, notes played on all
keyboards are played in altered channel. Individ al channel settings for every
keyboard and potentiometer described in chapter 5.3 work together with this
setting. For example if one keyboard was set to channel 3, and yo change the
channel sing this feat re to +4 (by hitting 5th key), res lting channel is 7 (3+4).
If all controllers are set to channel 1, then all 16 keys assigned to this feat re are
direct channel selectors from 1 to 16.
To se pot, yo sho ld first red ce its resol tion to 4 bits (chapter 4.2).
After sing controls assigned this way, act al channel change is displayed in MiDisp
mod le if s ch is connected.
5.2.11 Small Transposer - #2137
Select the pot to be edited, enter "# 2 137". T rning s ch pot will shift all notes
played on ALL connected keyboard scanners by n mber of semitones determined
by pot position. In the middle it gives no shift, and f ll rotation covers range from
-4 to +4 semitones. It's most sef l when pot is replaced by 9-position switch with
8 resistors of eq al val e connected between switch leads. Assigning this to a
keyboard is also possible, b t yo cannot reach f ll range of transposition then.
After sing controls assigned this way, act al transposition is displayed in MiDisp
mod le if s ch is connected.
5.2.12 Big Transposer - #2138
T rning s ch pot will shift all notes played on all connected keyboard scanners by
n mber of semitones determined by pot position. In the middle it gives no shift,
and f ll rotation covers range from -8 to +8 semitones. Assigning this to a
keyboard is also possible, b t yo cannot reach f ll range of transposition then.
After sing controls assigned this way, act al transposition is displayed in MiDisp
mod le if s ch is connected.
5.2.13 Velocity - #2139
Position of this pot will then determine velocity parameter of all MIDI notes played.
If assigned to a keyboard, each key will set velocity of all notes in 1/128 steps
across the keyboard. Range can be adj sted with transposition settings. There can
be only one s ch potentiometer for the whole system, and its settings affect all
notes played on all keyboards in all channels. It's not intended for initialisation
set p d ring installation, b t rather as a way of performance expression d ring
play. To set the velocity once, and always se chosen val e, even after power cycle,
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se parameter #2149 (chapter 5.2.23). It works exactly like the one described
here, b t additionally it remembers last position in nonvolatile memory, so it will
se the same val e after next power- p.
5.2.14 Native Instruments B4 chorus/vibrato -
#2140
T rning this pot will be reflected in B4 as "chor s/vibrato"
switch move. It has only 6 positions, and appropriate command
will be sent from MBBS to B4 every time the potentiometer
crosses each threshold representing another vibrato/chor s
mode. The circ it on the right shows proper B4 connection.
5.2.15 MidiTzer stops control - #2141
When assigned to a keyboard, each key becomes specific stop
controller. When a key is pressed, MIDI controller 81 (51 hex) is sent, and when it
is released, MIDI controller 80 (50 hex). Val e of the controller is determined by
the b tton pressed. This is defa lt way of controlling stops in MidiTzer organ
software.
5.2.16 Ahlborn Archive module stops control - #2142
If assigned to a keyboard, each key becomes stop control in Ahlborn Archive organ
so nd-mod le. When a key is pressed, MIDI controller 73 (49 hex) is sent, when
released, MIDI controller 74 (4A hex). Val e of the controller is determined by the
b tton pressed. This is defa lt way of controlling stops in Ahlborn Archive mod le.
5.2.17 Ahlborn Organs stops control - #2143
When assigned to a keyboard, each key becomes specific stop controller in Ahlborn
Organs. When a key is pressed, MIDI controller 70 (46 hex) is sent with bit 6 of the
val e set, and when it is released, the same MIDI controller b t with bit 6 of the
val e cleared. Other bits of the val e are determined by the b tton pressed. In
another words, pressing the b tton sends CC 70 with val e range 0-63, and
releasing a b tton - CC 70 with val e range 64-127. This is defa lt way of
controlling stops in Ahlborn Organs.
5.2.18 Program
selector - #2144
Together with another pot config red
as in 5.2.19 this mode allows to
select one of 120 available MIDI
Program Changes (presets) by se of
2 rotary switches. Program selector
selects one of 12 Programs within a
bank. For better feel, yo sho ld
rather se 12-position rotary switch.
To do so, se the following
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schematics to b ild appropriate resistor network aro nd the switch.
5.2.19 Bank selector - #2145
This mode works in combination with the one described in 5.2.18. A potentiometer
or switch assigned to this mode selects banks of 12 Programs. E.g. if it is in lowest
position, yo can select any of Program n mbers from range 1-12 sing Program
selector described before. If yo change the bank one position higher, Program
selector will then select programs from range 13-24, and so on, p ntil program
n mber 120. To se 10-position rotary switch instead of potentiometer, yo m st
add appropriate resistor network aro nd the switch leads, as shown in schematics
above.
Bank selector and Program selector are sef l only if yo really want to select
programs by rotary switches, for example to match MIDI controller behavior to NI
B4 Hammond em lator, where bank selector works exactly like that. In typical case
yo 'd probably se different way of selecting programs, like "#4<n mber>
described in chapter 5.4.
5.2.20 Ahlborn Common Functions - #2146
When assigned to a keyboard, the b ttons act in a way sable for gro p of controls
in Ahlborn mod le called "Common F nctions" like general cancel, t tti, etc. It
works very m ch like mode 143 described in chapter 5.2.17. When a key is
pressed, MIDI controller 71 (47 hex) is sent with val e 64-127, and when it is
released, the same MIDI controller b t with val e lower by 64.
5.2.21 3-note chord collect - #2147
This mode of operation is sed only for keyboard scanners. Yo m st play at least 3
notes at once to see any MIDI activity. When 3 notes are pressed, whole 3-note
chord is immediately sent. This ass res that the chord is played clean, and it's not
spread in time. All additional notes (4th, 5th etc.) are played in MIDI right after
they are detected. This is especially sable in chord section of MIDI accordions,
where mechanically co pled switches do not always close in the same time.
5.2.22 Dual note (layered sound) - #2148
If assigned to a keyboard, every note played will be do bled in MIDI as 2 notes,
played in ser selected channels and m sic interval. The settings of channel and
starting note of do bled (layered) channel are the same as sed for pper split. So
in order to change defa lts, yo sho ld first set the split at any point of the
keyboard (# 5 and any key) , then set the channel (any key in pper split, # 3 and
channel n mber) and optionally change starting note of pper split (# 1 and one of
the 2 lowest key in the keyboard, which are act ally located in lower split - see
chapter 5.1 for details) . When finished - cancel the split by setting its position to
the top key. Go to chapter 5.5 for details on split sage.
5.2.23 One time velocity setup - #2149
This is similar to velocity settings described in 5.2.13, b t in addition, it saves last
15

sed velocity settings in nonvolatile memory. This sho ld be sed only d ring
installation, when yo want to set defa lt velocity of notes after each power p. For
expression and freq ent sage, control the velocity by assigning #2139.
5.2.24 Single keyboard transposition buttons - #2150 to #2153
A potentiometer, or special switch inp t can be assigned as set p b ton for
keyboard transposition. There are 4 of them to choose and their event n mbers are
150 to 153: one semitone p (150), one semitone down (151), one octave p (152)
and octave down (153). Pressing s ch b tton (shorting inp t to gro nd) will affect
only the last played keyboard, and this setting will be memorized in non volatile
memory. Go to chapter 5.1.2 for more details.
5.2.25 Channel set buttons - #2154 & #2155
MIDI channel of the last sed keyboard or potentiometer can be changed in single
steps p or down, by sing these special events. They can be assigned to any pot,
or special switch inp t. Event 154 rises the channel n mber of last played
keyboard, or last t rned pot by one p, while event 155 does the same, b t one
channel down. The settings are stored in non volatile memory.
5.2.26 All keyboards transposition - #2156 to #2159
This is similar to transposition setting described in chapter 5.2.24, also yo can
have +/-1 semitone b ttons (events 156 & 157), and +/-1 octave b ttons (events
158 & 159). B t there are 2 main differences. Here, transposition is set at once for
ALL keyboards in the system, regardless of what was played last, and this setting is
applicable only as long as the power is on. After power cycle, transposition ret rns
to initial settings, as adj sted by other means. This way of transposing is
recommended for performance control, where yo may want to freq ently shift all
keyboards. Go to chapter 5.1.2 for more details.
5.2.27 MIDI notes for stops control - #2160
In this mode keyboard plays normal MIDI notes, j st like with standard note event
131 (chapter 5.2.5), b t there are 2 differences: Global Transposition does NOT
affect this keyboard, and starting note n mber is 0, like other non-note events. This
is sef l in organ em lators, where stops can be controlled by note-on/off
messages, b t yo really don't want the stops to change positions, every time
Global Transposition is sed.
5.2.28 Reversed notes action- #2161
If keyboard's contacts are normally closed, and open only when key is pressed, yo
may take advantage of this mode. If keyboard is assigned to reversed action, MIDI
note-on is sent when contact opens, and note-off when contact closes. There is no
need to short any n sed inp ts of keyboard scanner.
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5.3 MIDI Channel - #3
Channel of each potentiometer and keyboard or split can be set individ ally. To
change MIDI channel of certain potentiometer select the pot by simply t rning it a
bit. Likewise, to select a contact scanner, play any note or flip any switch, whatever
is connected. Then yo can select MIDI channel with the following seq ence: "# 3
<channel n mber>". The channel n mber m st be in range 1-16. Channels from 2
to 9 req ire only 1 key stroke, while channel 1 needs to be entered as 2 digits –
namely "01". Channel 10 and above of co rse need 2 keystrokes too. Then t rn
another potentiometer or strike a key in other keyboard and select its channel the
same way.
Channel can be also set by +/- b ttons if yo assign any 2 potentiometer, or special
switch inp ts in the system to proper events. They become then 2 inp ts for
b ttons, that change channel in steps one p or down for last sed device in the
system, like keyboard or potentiometer. Go to chapter 5.2.25 for details.
There's also temporary channel shift control for all devices (keyboards and pots)
available if yo assign event 136 for example to a small contact scanner like BBS24.
This way yo can have direct inp ts for selecting MIDI channel with single key
stroke. Go to chapter 5.2.10 for details.
5.4 Program Change - #4
MBBS allows to send Program Change MIDI messages in range 1-128. Several ways
are available, here's s mmary of them:
- series of Program Change b ttons in contin o s n mbering range sing event
129 described in chapter 5.2.3
- same as above b t with each inp t programmable to a specific n mber, sing
event 134 described in 5.2.8
- rotary switches for Bank and Program select described in chapters 5.2.18-19
It is also possible to select n mbers greater than 128 with help of Bank Select MSB
message. This is exactly how patch select works in mode described here. To select
any patch n mber from range 1-999, yo can se #4 command followed by the
patch n mber. To change the patch on selected keyboard directly to specific
n mber, play a note on this keyboard and enter the seq ence: "# 4 <program
n mber>". The Bank Select and Program Change MIDI messages are sent directly
after 3rd digit of entered patch n mber. Yo m st type 3 digits every time, even for
single digit program, like 001.
5.5 Keyboard plit - #5
It is possible to split each keyboard into 2 independent parts. The split point can be
anywhere on the keyboard, and both parts can work with independently adj sted
MIDI channel, type of event and starting note (transposition) or range of other
controllers if something else than notes is assigned to a keyboard. Ass ming that
all inp ts of MBBS are eq ipped with DMS-2K d al keyboard scanner, it is possible
to make a system with 10 splits. To set p the split point, yo have to select the
17

keyboard by playing a note on it, and then enter seq ence „# 5” followed by stroke
of the key that yo want to be the top one of the lower part. Since then lower part
remains at the same channel that was sed for whole keyboard, while pper part
takes settings of pper part, which by defa lt is 5 MIDI channels higher. To change
MIDI channel, type of event, transposition, or send a Program Change for split
part, follow directions described before, regarding non-split keyboard, b t now
change are made only to the plit la t played before entering the edit mode.
To cancel existing split of a keyboard, as s al play any note on that keyboard, and
set the split for the top note like this: # 5 <top note>. This sets the end of 1st split
at the top note, so in fact the pper one is not visible anymore.
Channel and starting note settings of pper split are also sed in d al note mode
described in 5.2.22.
5.6 Programming Patch Recall Button - #6
Whenever a program/patch/instr ment selected from MBBS is often sed, it is
worth to memorize as fast recall b tton. There can be 64 s ch b ttons, working in
single MIDI channel. Those b ttons can be connected to any keyboard scanner.
MBBS will send the patch n mber in channel previo sly assigned to all those
b ttons with #3 command (see chapter 5.3.). To memorize any patch this way, yo
have to first select this patch somehow by sing any method described in chapter
5.4. Then simply press "# 6", and the key where the patch sho ld be stored. Next
time whenever yo press this key/b tton, the MIDI Program Change message will
be transmitted, with the n mber previo sly stored.
The n mber stored this way can only have range 1-128. If last selected program
was entered with #4 command, i.e. was greater than 128, the n mber memorized
will be the one from Program Change part, regardless of act al Bank Select sed.
For example if patch 700 was selected as #4 700, act al n mber stored will be 700
mod lo 128, that is 60.
To have Program Change memory in m ltiple channels, yo may se m ltiple
keyboard scanners or splits, b t total n mber of PC recall b ttons m st not be
greater than 64 in entire MBBS system. Also, if 2 or more scanners are sed this
way, the same inp t in every scanner will generate the same Program Change,
altho gh in separately defined channel.
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6 MI I utilities
6.1 MIDI monitor - #971
MBBS board has one o tstanding feat re that helps d ring installation and
tro bleshooting. Yo can se MIDI monitor if yo have MiDisp - dedicated LCD
mod le (chapter 7.8). To activate this f nction, select #971, and the LCD will t rn
red, showing "DEBUG MODE". Each activity on any scanner will be shown in the
display. Every time yo press or release any key, or t rn the potentiometer, the
display will indicate last transmitted data. The meaning of displayed val es are:
●"D" - internal device n mber in the system
●"Ch" - MIDI channel
●"E" - event n mber as described in chapter 5.2.
●"S" - MIDI stat s byte in hex
●"V1" - val e of 1st MIDI data byte in hex
●"V2" - val e of 2nd MIDI data byte in hex.
MIDI monitor hould not be enabled at all time , it increases MIDI latency and
may ca se dropped or h ng notes if LCD is connected in one chain with other
scanners. To t rn off the MIDI monitor, enter #970 from the keypad. MIDI monitor
is always disabled at power- p.
6.2 Factory default - #979
MBBS has a lot of feat res to set and yo may sometimes go one step too far, so it
may be sef l to have last resort in form of factory defa lts reset.
To do so, play any note on the keyboard connected to internal MBBS inp ts and
enter command #979 either from the keypad if yo have one, or from any contact
scanner, sing lowest 10 keys as n mbers from 0 to 9, in a way described in
chapter 5. Abo t one second later MBBS is ready to se with all factory settings in
place. If MiDisp mod le is sed, this process is clearly indicated at the display.
19

7 Scanners
MBBS board is the merging point for all keyboard and potentiometer scanners.
Depending on their sizes, the whole system can cover p to 5 keyboards with 319
keys over single MIDI socket together with 64 potentiometers at the same time.
C rrently available sizes are: 32, 64 and 128 keys, the last one has the 128 keys
gro ped in 2 keyboards. For analog (pots) there are boards with 3 and 12 inp ts
7.1 PDS - diode matrix pedal canner
Pedal board controller takes care of 32 keys and two analog inp ts, s ally all
what's needed for pedals with 2 swell shoes. It's a small board that fits inside pedal
board, and it connects to the main board via
s pplied 4-wire cable from J2 connector. 4 pads
labeled in this pict re as J3, are for
potentiometers. The pict re shows how to connect
the pots, and also in which pot position yo get
the maxim m, or minim m val e of given MIDI
parameter controlled by the pot. Go to chapter 4
for more abo t potentiometer connection.
Keys m st be connected in diode matrix exactly like in the schematics below:
The group of 8 witche with 1 common lead mu t be eparate. In ca e
of keyboard with 1 common bu bar going through entire keyboard, you
have to cut the bar every 8th key.
7.2 DMS-2K dual keyboard matrix canner
For keyboards with diode matrix ideal sol tion is DMS-2K, adding 128 inp ts. This
can be described as "diode matrix driver" for 2 keyboards. The layo t is shown on
the next page. There are two 16-way connectors, sed to connect diode-matrix
keyboards. Smaller connector is to connect with main controller board - MBBS. The
keyboards m st have “8x8 scanning diode matrix”, that's very simple circ it, made
of diodes forming electric XY matrix. Us ally all modern keyboards are eq ipped
with it altho gh sometimes the matrix is organized differently, in 5x12 or 6x11. In
s ch case yo m st rewire the diodes, or order c stomized DMS-2K.
20