Setting Up NRPN Midi Controller

The Lounge Other Gear
1

Hey guys and gals,

I’m planning on getting hold of a midi controller that works with NRPN messaging. Is it difficult to set it up? I’m looking at the new Faderfox EC4 but I’ve never worked with NRPN messages before. Clearly it’s going to take me to do some research but is it problematic or just a little slow for a new to set up? I will be pairing it with a DSI Mopho at first then with other bits down the line.

Is there a particular online resource that explains the process well? Or does anyone have any advice on getting started? Thank you

2

It’s pretty straight forward, find the midi cc list of the instrument you want to control. Enter cc#, LSB and MSB. Some of the newer devices have a midi learn function which makes things easier.

1 Like
3

There are two videos from Ranzee (he does good midi tech videos) and he runs through the whole thing from the basics up.

Part 1 Intro
Part 2 Demonstration

In the second part he sets up a Roland A-500 Pro MIDI Controller to control a Novation Circuit with NRPN. He shows the data sheet for the Circuit and shows how to read and interpret what is a pretty typical notation.

I think the Circuit is a good example beyond the DSI Mopho, of a synth that uses NRPN.

Here’s the Roland A-500 Pro manual.
And here’s the Novation Circuit Programmer’s Reference Guide.

I think one of the keys to this is to not freak out – Ranzee is more or less saying the same thing.

2 Likes
4

Here’s another video of someone setting up a Behringer BCF2000 controller to send NRPN data. I show this one because there is no software to setup the (old fashioned?) BCF2000, it is all done from the front panel, with button pushes and knob dialing. It’s more complicated without the software interface, but ultimately it amounts to the same thing.

2 Likes
5

This is basically all NRPN is.
It allows a higher resolution than cc#’s.
Instead of 128 values you have 16384 values.

Basic explanation/example of how NRPN’s work:

You still have a control number (like a cc#)

MSB (most significant bit, think of it like a coarse setting) starts at 0

LSB (least significant bit, think of it like a fine setting) starts at 0

As LSB increases from 0-127 the MSB is still 0.
When LSB would change to 128 it actually starts back at 0 and the MSB increases to 1.

So MSB of 1 and LSB of 0 is actually the value 128.
A value of MSB of 2 and LSB of 0 is 256 and so on.

Since we start at 0 the “actual” value is always 1 more in reality. But Its easier to follow if I don’t bring that up until the end.
128 steps is 0-127.
Which is also how they fit more values (NRPN) without breaking the original 128 steps MIDI standard. By using MSB 0–127 and LSB 0-127

6 Likes
6

Also it allows you to have more of them, you’re not limited to the 128 CC numbers.
So higher resolution and more of them.

Good explanation Airyck.

1 Like
7

Thanks Jukka, yes this too :slight_smile:

8

Fantastic help guys, thank you so much for your informative input!!!

2 Likes
9

Hi Pete - How did you go setting up the controller with the Mopho?

I’m interested in this as a way to make the Mopho Keys internal sequencer more ‘playable’, similar to the Korg Ms2000, where each rotary is linked to a step in the sequence and can alter the parameters real time. I’m not very savvy with NPRN, so interested to hear how it went