Midi Solutions F8 8 Input MIDI Footswitch Controller Relay Box

CONTROL CHANGE
Each footswitch input of the F8 can be programmed to send out up to eight Control Change messages when the footswitch is depressed, with a zero value of the Control Change messages sent when the footswitch is released. The MIDI channel is programmable (a single MIDI channel or all 16 MIDI channels), and the Control Change number and value of each Control Change message is programmable.

Rather than sending the zero value on release of the footswitch as described above, the F8 can be programmed to send the zero value after a programmable duration time, regardless of when the footswitch is released. Or, the zero value can be sent out when the footswitch is released after a minimum duration, or held until a maximum duration has expired, or not sent out at all. Duration times are programmable from 8 - 1016 ms in 8 ms increments, and from 1 - 127 s in 1 s increments.

The F8 can also alternate between sending the programmed value and the zero value each time a footswitch is depressed by programming the Toggle parameter of that footswitch to ON.

PITCH BEND
Each footswitch input of the F8 can be programmed to send out a Pitch Bend message of programmable value and MIDI channel (a single MIDI channel or all 16 MIDI channels) when the footswitch is depressed, with a zero pitch bend message or nothing sent when the footswitch is released.

The F8 can also alternate between sending the programmed value and the zero pitch bend value each time a footswitch is depressed by programming the Toggle parameter of that footswitch to ON.

PROGRAM CHANGE
Each footswitch input of the F8 can be programmed to send out a Program Change message of programmable Program Change number and MIDI channel (a single MIDI channel or all 16 MIDI channels) when the footswitch is depressed. Nothing is sent on release of the footswitch.

START/STOP
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be programmed to send out a MIDI Start message when the footswitch is depressed, with a MIDI Stop message sent when the footswitch is released.

The F8 can also alternate between sending the Start and Stop messages each time the footswitch is depressed by programming the Toggle parameter of that footswitch to ON.

SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE
Each footswitch input of the F8 can be programmed to send out a System Exclusive message when the footswitch is depressed, and/or another System Exclusive message when the footswitch is released. The maximum length of each System Exclusive message is 20 bytes.

The F8 can also alternate between sending the two System Exclusive messages with each tap of the footswitch by programming the Toggle parameter of the footswitch to ON.

Other functions include:

PROGRAM CHANGE INC/NEC
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be programmed to operate as a Program Change INC control, on a selected MIDI channel or all 16 MIDI channels. A tap of the footswitch causes the F8 to increment its current Program number on the selected MIDI channel and send out the new Program value (nothing is sent on release of the footswitch). The Program number continues to increment with each tap of the footswitch until it reaches 127, after which it wraps around to 0. If a Program Change is received by the F8 at any time on the same MIDI channel, it will update its current Program number to that value. This is useful when overriding the F8 and jumping to other Programs since the new value is recognized by the F8, and the next tap of the footswitch causes it to increment from this new position.

A Program Change INC/DEC function can be created by programming a second input of the F8 to operate as a Program Change DEC control. A tap of the footswitch causes the F8 to decrement its current Program number on the selected MIDI channel and send out the new value.

With the F8's eight footswitch inputs it's possible to set up different combinations of INC/DEC controls on various MIDI channels, enabling control of multiple devices that are receiving on separate MIDI channels.

RECHANNELIZE
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be programmed to control the Rechannelizing function, on a selected incoming MIDI channel or all 16 incoming MIDI channels. In this mode depressing the footswitch allows any number of notes to be entered corresponding to the MIDI channel to rechannelize to. For example, to rechannelize to MIDI channel 5, depress the footswitch, press any five notes (the notes don't need to be played sequentially, they can be played at the same time to allow them to be entered as quickly as possible), and then release the footswitch. After releasing the footswitch, all incoming MIDI messages on the selected incoming MIDI channel are rechannelized to the MIDI channel that has just been entered. The power-up state is for all channels to pass through unchanged.

An All-Notes-Off message on the current MIDI channel is sent out on depression of the footswitch to turn off any notes that may still be playing before switching to the new channel. Any notes played on the current MIDI channel while the footswitch is depressed are not echoed to the F8's MIDI Out, allowing the new channel information to be entered without being heard. Also, once a channel has been entered it is possible to toggle between the original and new MIDI channel without having to reenter the channel each time.

A preset MIDI channel to rechannelize to if no notes are entered can also be specified, allowing desired MIDI channels to be called up quickly without entering them by playing notes. This is useful for selecting various MIDI channels by tapping different footswitches.

TRANSPOSE
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be programmed to control the Note Transpose function. In this mode depressing the footswitch allows a note to be entered corresponding to the transpose interval. For example, to transpose up by a major third depress the footswitch, press the E above middle C, and then release the footswitch. After releasing the footswitch, all incoming MIDI Notes are transposed by the selected interval. The Transpose function can be applied to notes on a selected MIDI channel, or all 16 MIDI channels. The power-up state is for incoming notes to pass through untransposed.

An All-Notes-Off message on the selected MIDI channel is sent out on depression of the footswitch to turn off any notes that may still be playing before switching to the new key. Any notes played on the selected MIDI channel while the footswitch is depressed are not echoed to the MIDI Out, allowing the new transpose interval to be entered without being heard. Also, once an interval has been entered it is possible to toggle between the original and new interval without having to reenter the interval each time.

TAP TEMPO
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be programmed as a Tap Tempo input. When programmed for this function, the F8 continuously sends out MIDI Timing Clock messages at a tempo corresponding to the most recent taps of the footswitch. For example, to send out MIDI clock messages at a tempo of 120 bpm, tap the footswitch at 1/2 second intervals. The F8 continues to send out MIDI timing clock messages at the current tempo until a new tempo is entered by retapping the footswitch.

NOTE-ON FILTER
Any footswitch input of the F8 can be programmed to operate as a Note-On Filter control. In this mode depression of the footswitch causes the F8 to filter incoming Note-On messages. An All-Notes-Off message is sent on depression of the footswitch to turn off any notes that may still be playing.

The Note-On Filter function can be applied to messages on a selected MIDI channel or all 16 MIDI channels. With the F8's eight footswitch inputs, this allows different combinations of MIDI channels to be filtered by pressing different combinations of switches.

The F8 can also alternate between filtering/not filtering the Note-On messages with each tap of the footswitch by programming the Toggle parameter of that footswitch to ON. Or the F8 can be programmed to filter Note-On messages only when the footswitch is released by programming the Polarity parameter of that footswitch opposite to its normal operation.

MIDI Echo and Footswitch Toggle parameters are selectable on/off.

The Polarity of each footswitch can be determined automatically on power-up, or programmed to normally-open or normally-closed. It's also possible for the F8 to send out the state of its footswitches immediately on power-up rather than waiting for each to be depressed.

The F8 is programmed by sending it MIDI System Exclusive messages (read the Programming FAQs for more details). This is easily done with the MIDI Solutions Programming Tools software. Once programmed, the F8's settings are retained even after power is removed. The F8 can be reprogrammed with new settings as often as needed.

The F8 is MIDI-powered, and requires no batteries or power supply to operate with most MIDI products (for more information read the Power FAQs). A MIDI indicator LED lights up when the product is powered and flashes when MIDI data passes through it.