Rivera FS1-6M User manual

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 1
External MIDI Interface
OWNERS MANUAL
Version 1.0
May, 2002

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 2
INTRODUCTION
The FS1-6M External MIDI interface replaces the FS1, FS2, FS3, FS5 or FS6
footswitch and allows MIDI control of the amplifier. You cannot use the footswitch and
the interface at the same time.
CONNECTORS ON THE PANEL
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
15
14
13
12
11
10
9

AMP
1
6-15
VDC
PIN
NEG. MIDI
IN MIDI THRU MIDI
CHANNEL
6-15 VDC PIN NEG.
The interface requires DC power to operate. This power can be obtained from a wall-
wart style power supply, or from the 12VDC POWER OUT connector on the Rivera
Head Master.
Depending on which model you ordered, you should have received a power supply or a
cable.
If it ever becomes necessary to replace the power supply, here are a few guidelines:
Because it is internally regulated and does not draw much current, the interface is very
tolerant of voltage. Any DC voltage from about 6 to 15V will work. The size and polarity
of the connector was deliberately chosen to be compatible with commonly available
stomp box power supplies of the wall-wart variety. Supplies made by Roland or Korg
should work fine.
WARNING!
There is no agreement among power supply manufacturers on the polarity of
connectors. You MUST select a power supply with the center contact NEGATIVE and
the outer barrel POSITIVE or the unit will not work! Also, you must use a DC supply. An
AC supply WILL NOT work! DO NOT assume that just because the connector fits, it will
work. Read the label on the power supply, and if it is not labeled, use a voltmeter.
AMP 1
For FS1, FS2 and FS3 compatible amps use this connector only.
For FS5 and FS6 amps connect a cable from this connector to the connector marked
FS5 1 or FS6 1 on the amp.

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 3
AMP 2
This connector is not used for FS1, FS2 and FS3 amps.
For FS5 and FS6 amps connect a cable from this connector to the connector marked
FS5 2 or FS6 2 on the amp.
It is also possible to connect a second FS1, FS2 or FS3 amp to this connector. See the
section below on Dual Amp Compatibility.
For both Amp Connectors, use a cable with 8 pin male DIN connectors on each end.
You should have received a cable or pair of cables with your unit. Be careful with this
cable. It IS NOT commonly available in most music or electronic stores.
If it ever becomes necessary to replace it, you can order one from Rivera or make it
yourself. It does not require shielded cable, and the pins are wired straight through.
(1-1, 2-2 etc.)
FS1-3 Dual Amp Compatibility
Since the interface was designed to replace the FS5 and FS6, it needed two 8 pin DIN
connectors. When it is used to replace an FS1, FS2 or FS3, only one connector is
required.
The second connector can be used to control a second amplifier if grounding issues are
addressed. If you connect the audio path of two amplifiers together and also connect
the footswitch control path, a ground loop will be created. This ground loop may
produce a bad hum. There are many different techniques to eliminate this problem.
Solving ground loop problems can sometimes be tricky depending on the details of your
setup. This manual does not provide instructions for fixing ground loops. If you have a
question about a specific combination of amps, please contact the factory, we will try to
help.
MIDI IN
Standard MIDI input. Use this to connect any standard MIDI controller.
MIDI THRU
Standard MIDI thru, passes data from the MIDI IN to additional MIDI gear.
The Midi Channel Selector Switch
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
The Interface uses a rotary switch to select the MIDI channel. It is a high quality switch,
and is much easier to use than the DIP switches used by some manufacturers.

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 4
Unfortunately, it is numbered in a way that can create confusion.
As shown on the diagram, the switch is numbered from 0-15.
Most MIDI devices define the MIDI channels as 1-16
So, it is necessary to add 1 to the number on the switch to get the MIDI channel
SWITCH POSITION 5 = MIDI CHANNEL 6
So, why is the switch labeled wrong?
In the world of electronics and programming, it is not labeled wrong.
It selects one of 16 four digit binary numbers, 0-15 is 0000-1111 in binary.
It is labeled correctly for what it does.
Internally, MIDI gear uses channels 0-15.
Long ago, MIDI manufacturers decided that musicians would be uncomfortable.
with channel zero, so they decided to add a 1 to the actual value.
Counting From Zero
As you may or may not know, computer programmers start counting from zero instead
of one.
Most people would count a list of items like this:
One, two, three, I have three items.
A programmer would do the same if he was counting the items, but if he was using
numbers as names he would name the first item "item number zero," the second would
be called "item number one" and the third "item number two." Programmers call this
process enumerating the items.
Why do programmers do this?
Here is an example:
If you are standing in front of your house, how far do you have to walk to get to your
neighbor? You have to walk ONE house unit away.
How far do you have to walk to get to your OWN house? Since you are already standing
in front of your house, you have to walk ZERO house units away.
Zero is the starting point, you move from zero some number of units.
Programmers frequently deal with lists of things. The same logic applies to these lists. If
you are looking at the first item in a list, how far do you have to move to look at the
second? You have to move ONE unit.
How far do you have to move to look at the first item? Since you are already looking at
it, you move ZERO.

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 5
Another way of looking at it is to ask the question, "How many single digit numbers are
there?" There are 10. They are: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. You don't get to the
number 10 until you add another digit. Programmers can't afford to be wasteful, they
use ALL of the digits, especially zero.
This is also the root of the controversy over the year 2000. If you start counting at zero,
2000 is the millennium.
MIDI is a computer communication protocol, and internally, it starts from zero.
MIDI Channels are actually numbered 0-15 and Program Changes are numbered 0-
127.
But, since most people are not comfortable counting from zero, MOST MIDI instruments
add an extra one and define MIDI Channels 1-16 and Program Changes 1-128. NOT
ALL MIDI instruments do this!
We debated long and hard over which philosophy to adopt. In the end we chose to
follow the de-facto standard and number from one. We believed that this decision would
result in less confusion and fewer problems.
One problem we could not avoid was the numbering of the MIDI Channel Selector
switch. The manufacturer of the switch numbered it from 0-15. These are in fact the
actual numbers the switch uses. We had no control over the labeling.
The unfortunate result of this mismatch is that you have to set the MIDI Channel
Selector Switch to 0 to select MIDI Channel 1.

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 6
MIDI Control
Overview
The MIDI interface takes the place of the pedal, and controls all functions that were
originally controlled by the pedal. No more. No less. In other words, the interface does
not provide any additional control beyond that which the pedal provides.
The interface responds to MIDI Program Change Commands only.
It can be controlled by the Rivera Head Master foot-operated MIDI controller or by any
standard MIDI controller.
Combinations And Separate Functions
Two types of commands are provided - Combinations and Separate Functions.
Combinations
When the interface receives a Combination Command, ALL MIDI controllable values
are changed.
For example on an FS6M Program Change 28 selects:
SlaveMaster OFF
Chorus ON
Ninja Boost ON
FX OFF
Reverb ON
Channel 1
Separate Functions
Program Change commands for separate functions have also been defined.
Separate functions change ONE value only, leaving all others unchanged.
These commands act as toggles. This means that if a function is turned off, the
command turns it on. If the function is turned on, the command turns it off. Or to put it
differently, repeatedly sending the command causes the function to turn off, on, off...etc.
FS1-6 Compatibility
The FS1, FS2, FS3, FS5-1, FS5-2, FS6-1 and FS6-2 pedals are electrically identical.
This is the reason that the interface can connect to all of them. The only difference
between the various units is the names of the functions. As a convenience to the user,
we have provided a complete set of charts for each pedal type.
Contact Me
My name is Mike Peterson
My email address is [email protected]
I designed the FS1-6M and wrote the manual.
If you have any questions, comments, praise or criticism, please let me know.

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 7
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
TOGGLE CHANNEL

TOGGLE REVERB
TOGGLE FX
65
66
67
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
ON
ON
CHANNELREVERBFX
FS1M MIDI PROGRAM CHANGES
SINGLE AMP COMBINATIONS
SEPARATE FUNCTIONS
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
TOGGLE NINJA BOOST
TOGGLE CHORUS
TOGGLE SLAVEMASTER
65
66
67
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
ON
ON
FS2-3M MIDI PROGRAM CHANGES
SINGLE AMP COMBINATIONS
SEPARATE FUNCTIONS
BOOST
NINJA
CHORUSMASTER
SLAVE
The FS2 and FS3 are almost identical
The FS3 has a CHORUS button
The FS2 does not
FS2 amps ignore all CHORUS 
commands from the interface

Example:
Program Change 1 and 3
have the same effect 
on an FS2 amp

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 8
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
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2
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2
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2
1
1
2
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14
15
16
17
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20
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26
28
29
30
31
32
OFF
OFF
ON
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OFF
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OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF CHANNELREVERBFXBOOST
NINJA
FS5-6M MIDI PROGRAM CHANGES
COMBINATIONS
CHORUS
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
MASTER
SLAVE
OFF
OFF
OFF
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OFF
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OFF
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ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 9
2
1
2
1
2
1
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1
2
1
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1
2
1
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1
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1
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1
33
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48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
TOGGLE CHANNEL
The FS5 and FS6 are almost identical
The FS6 has a CHORUS button
The FS5 does not
FS5 amps ignore all CHORUS 
commands from the interface

Example:
Program Change 33 has the same effect as
Program Change 49 on an FS5 amp
TOGGLE REVERB
TOGGLE FX
TOGGLE NINJA BOOST
TOGGLE CHORUS
TOGGLE SLAVEMASTER
65
66
67
68
69
70
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
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ON
ON
OFF
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OFF
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OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF CHANNELREVERBFXBOOST
NINJA
FS5-6M MIDI PROGRAM CHANGES
COMBINATIONS
SEPARATE FUNCTIONS
CHORUS
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
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ON
MASTER
SLAVE
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 10
2
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OFF
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ON
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2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
OFF CHANNELREVERBFXCHANNEL
FS1M MIDI PROGRAM CHANGES
DUALAMP COMBINATIONS
REVERB AMP 1
AMP 2
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
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FX
OFF
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ON
ON
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 11
2
1
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1
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1
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1
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1
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1
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1
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60
61
62
63
64
TOGGLE CHANNEL

TOGGLE REVERB
TOGGLE FX
TOGGLE CHANNEL
TOGGLE REVERB
TOGGLE FX
65
66
67
68
69
70
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
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ON
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OFF
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ON
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
OFF CHANNELREVERBFXCHANNEL
FS1M MIDI PROGRAM CHANGES
DUAL AMP COMBINATIONS
SEPARATE FUNCTIONS
AMP 1
AMP 2
REVERB AMP 1
AMP 2
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
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ON
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ON
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ON
ON
FX
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 12
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
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ON
OFF
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OFF
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ON
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ON
1
2
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6
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ON
ON
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF BOOST
NINJA
FS2-3M MIDI PROGRAM CHANGES
DUAL AMP COMBINATIONS
CHORUS
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
MASTER
SLAVE BOOST NINJA
CHORUS
AMP 2 AMP 1
MASTER
SLAVE
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
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ON
ON
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ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON

FS1-6M External MIDI Interface 1.0 p 13
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
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OFF
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OFF
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OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF BOOST
NINJA
FS2-3M MIDI PROGRAM CHANGES
DUAL AMP COMBINATIONS
CHORUS
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
ON
ON
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ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
MASTER
SLAVE BOOST NINJA
CHORUS
AMP 2 AMP 1
MASTER
SLAVE
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
33
34
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50
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60
61
62
63
64
TOGGLE NINJA BOOST
TOGGLE CHORUS
TOGGLE SLAVEMASTER
TOGGLE NINJA BOOST
TOGGLE CHORUS
TOGGLE SLAVEMASTER
65
66
67
68
69
70
SEPARATE FUNCTIONS
AMP 1
AMP 2
The FS2 and FS3 are almost identical
The FS3 has a CHORUS button
The FS2 does not
FS2 amps ignore all CHORUS 
commands from the interface

Example:
Program Change 33 35, 49 and 51
have the same effect 
on an FS2 amp