Steinberger Midex 8 Operation Manual
MIDEX-8
Operation Manual
ENGLISH
MIDEX-8
English – 1
❐
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies AG. No part of this publication may be
copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written
permission by Steinberg Media Technologies AG. All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners.
© Steinberg Media Technologies AG, 2001. All rights reserved
Declaration of Conformity
We, Steinberg Media Technologies AG,
Neuer Hoeltigbaum 22 - 32, D-22143 Hamburg
herewith confirm that the product:
Type: USB/MIDI interface
Model: MIDEX-8
meets the requirements of the council of the European communities as
specified by the following norms (or normative documents)
CENLEC EN 55 024
CENLEC EN 55 022
DIN EN 60 950
relating to electromagnetic compatibility
(Council Directives 73/23/EEC and 89/336/EEC)
The CE symbol is awarded to high-quality appliances which comply with the
European Directive 89/336/EEC or the EMVG (law relating to electromagnetic
compatibility of appliances) and which offer the following significant benefits:
• Simultaneous and interference-free operation of adjoining appliances
• No unpermitted interference signals
• High resistance to electro-smog
MIDEX-8
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Table of Contents
Declaration of Conformity.................................................................................2
Table of Contents..................................................................................................3
Introduction............................................................................................................4
Contents of the Package.....................................................................................5
System Requirements – PC................................................................................6
System Requirements – Apple Computer....................................................6
The MIDEX-8 Features.........................................................................................7
MIDEX-8 – Controls and Sockets.....................................................................8
Connecting and Setting Up.............................................................................10
Software Installation – PC................................................................................13
Software Installation – Macintosh.................................................................15
Setting up your MIDI Program.......................................................................28
The Linear Time Base Method........................................................................29
ENGLISH
The Buttons...........................................................................................................30
Windows Problems with the USB Reset......................................................32
Practical Tips.........................................................................................................33
Questions and Answers....................................................................................39
MIDEX-8
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Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of MIDEX-8!
The MIDEX-8 can be used to transfer MIDI data between your computer
and external MIDI equipment. MIDEX-8 is a multi port MIDI interface.
Each MIDEX-8 has eight independent MIDI input and output pairs (MIDI
ports).
Each of the eight MIDI ports lets you use 16 MIDI channels. Therefore,
one MIDEX-8 interface can simultaneously send and receive MIDI data
on up to 128 separate MIDI channels. The MIDI out socket number 8 is
available twice and both sockets can simultaneously be used.
The USB port is used to connect your computer and the MIDEX-8. USB is
a powerful technology that simultaneously lets you connect up to 127
peripheral devices to your computer, if it is USB-compatible. With USB,
there is no need to configurate jumpers, i/o addresses, DMA channels
etc.
Two important factors ensure that MIDEX-8 offers an extremely reliable
and accurately timed MIDI data transfer:
• The communication takes place via the Universal Serial Bus (USB).
• Furthermore, the MIDEX-8 uses Steinberg´s LTB- technology. LTB is the abbreviation for Linear Time Base, a MIDI Time Stamping method, which transfers
MIDI data to your sound modules with utmost timing accuracy.
MIDEX-8 and LTB have been developed in close co-operation with Access
Music, the company that has acquired an excellent name with its Virus
synthesizer products.
This operation manual contains important information on how to install and use the MIDEX-8. Please read it so that you can quickly and
successfully use your new interface.
Have fun using the MIDEX-8!
The Steinberg Team
MIDEX-8
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Contents of the Package
The MIDEX-8 package should contain these items:
• MIDEX-8 interface.
• This operation manual.
• 1 USB A/B standard cable for connection to a Macintosh or PC.
• CD-ROM with driver software for all supported computer operating systems.
Since newer driver software might be available when you read this, we recommend that you visit the Steinberg web site ( http://www.steinberg.net) and
download the latest versions.
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Please take the time to read any ReadMe files that you might get with this
product or when downloading driver software! These files contain important late-breaking information.
ENGLISH
MIDEX-8
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System Requirements – PC
To be able to use MIDEX-8, you need:
• A PC with a main board (motherboard) that is equipped with USB connectors or
a PC that is equipped with a PCI USB host adapter.
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Some older main boards support USB, but don’t offer the physical USB
ports on the rear of the computer. You can easily change this by buying a
port extension and installing it in your PC. Please find all corresponding
information in the manual of your computer. If necessary, consult an experienced technician.
• To use MIDEX-8 in connection with a PC, please make sure that your computer
runs a Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating
system.
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Windows 98 Gold is not supported.
System Requirements – Apple Computer
To be able to use MIDEX-8, you need:
• An Apple Computer that is equipped with USB connectors, e.g. the iMacs, G3/
G4 Power Books or G3/G4 desktop computers. Furthermore you need Mac OS
8.6 (or higher).
• At the time of writing of this manual, Mac OS X compatible drivers were not yet
available. If you use Mac OS X, please check out www.steinberg.net, from where
you can download the driver software as soon as it becomes available.
• OMS version 2.3.8 or a newer version.
• If you use a PCI card that provides the USB ports, you will also need a Mac OS
that supports your USB PCI card.
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Not all USB cards available for retrofitting do function well in all Macintosh
computers. We have not experienced problems with cards manufactured
by Sonnet.
MIDEX-8
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The MIDEX-8 Features
The MIDEX-8 USB MIDI interface has the following features:
• Full speed connector for USB-compatible PCs or Apple Computers (12Mbit/sec).
• MIDI interface with eight separate inputs and outputs (each connected MIDEX8 interface can address up to 128 MIDI channels).
• MIDI activity indicators for all inputs and outputs.
• Under normal circumstances, the MIDEX-8 doesn’t need any external power
supply. As an external device, it is connected to the USB bus of your computer
and therefore receives the necessary power from here. Opening the computer
is not necessary. If needed, the MIDEX-8 lets you also connect a standard power
supply. Find more information on page 35 and page 38.
• A “MIDI Thru” function enables MIDI data transfer without an active sequencer.
You can directly address your instruments without the need to change your MIDI
cable connections.
• Compatible with Mac OS 8.6 (or higher). OMS 2.3.8 or higher required.
• At the time of writing of this manual, Mac OS X compatible drivers were not yet
available. If you are a user of Mac OS X, please visit www.steinberg.net to find the
latest information on available drivers.
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• Compatible with Windows 98 SE (Second Edition), Windows ME, Windows 2000
and Windows XP. Plug & Play installation without the need to set IRQs, I/O addresses or DMA Channels.
• MIDEX-8 supports multi-client operation: several active applications can simultaneously access the physical MIDI inputs or outputs.
• 19" rack compatible housing
MIDEX-8
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MIDEX-8 – Controls and Sockets
Front
➀➂ ➃ ➄➁➅
In 8 socket – The last of the available eight MIDI inputs.
➀
Panic/Cablecheck button – Briefly pressing this button starts a MIDI cable check,
➁
pressing it longer (for ca. 3 seconds) sends a MIDI Reset (All Notes Off and Controller
Reset on all channels) and thus removes “hanging notes”. Simultaneously pressing
this button and the MIDI Thru button triggers a USB Reset. Find more information on
page 32.
Out 8 socket – The last of the available eight MIDI outputs.
➂
Power LED – the blue Power LED indicates that the MIDEX-8 is ready for use. This
➃
lights up a few seconds after the connection has been made.
MIDI In and Out LEDs – these LEDs indicate MIDI activity on the MIDI inputs and
➄
outputs.
USB/MIDI Thru button – This lets you toggle between the two MIDI Thru modes.
➅
MIDEX-8
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Rear
➀➂➃➄➁
The eight Out sockets represent the MIDI outputs of the MIDEX-8. A second Output 8
➀
socket is available on the front panel. Both outputs are connected in parallel.
The seven In sockets represent the MIDI inputs 1 to 7 of the MIDEX-8. The eighth
➁
MIDI input is available on the MIDEX-8 front panel.
LED Sensitivity – Using a small screw driver, you can change the response time
➂
setting of the MIDI In and Out LEDs. This is an elegant method to prevent flickering
MIDI LEDs, caused by “Active Sensing” messages that are constantly sent out by
some MIDI devices.
The available sensitivity settings vary from “slow” (a MIDI Event activates the LED for
at least half a second) to “swift” (a MIDI Event lets the LED just light up briefly, but
“Active Sensing” has no effect on the LED).
To set LED sensitivity to “slow”, turn the potentiometer clockwise all the way to the
end. To set LED sensitivity to “swift”, turn the potentiometer counter-clockwise.
USB socket –This MIDEX-8 socket and the host computer’s USB port must be
➃
connected to each other using a USB cable.
Generally, the MIDEX-8 does not need any additional power supply. It gets its power
➄
via the USB port that it is connected to. Any conventional USB port that can provide
500 mA provides enough power to operate a MIDEX-8. For this reason, the MIDEX-8
comes without a power supply unit. But if you use a USB hub, its USB outputs may
not supply enough power for the proper operation of a MIDEX-8. In this case, you
can connect a simple power supply unit to the Powerplug input on the MIDEX-8 to
solve the problem. Find more details on page 35 and page 38.
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MIDEX-8
English – 9
Connecting and Setting Up
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Please install all necessary drivers and other software before connecting
the MIDEX-8 to your computer! Especially when installing it on a Macintosh
computer it is important to follow a certain order to prevent installation errors. Please do carefully read the Software Installation chapters!
Positioning the MIDEX-8
• Position the MIDEX-8 interface in a convenient spot near your computer.
If you have a 19" rack, you can of course also install your MIDEX-8 in that. The
MIDEX-8 provides the necessary holes for the mounting screws.
If the distance between the MIDEX-8 and the computer is too big, you
might need to buy a USB extension cable. This is available in computer
shops. The cable should support the “USB Full Speed Mode”.
Connecting MIDEX-8 and Computer
When you have installed all necessary software, proceed as follows to
connect the MIDEX-8 to the computer:
1. Switch off the computer.
2. Use the USB standard cable that came with your MIDEX-8 to connect the
USB port on the rear of your computer to the USB port of the MIDEX-8.
Your computer’s USB port is a small (1/8 inch x 3/8 inch) rectangular socket.
Desktop computers often have two, Laptop computers mostly have one such
socket. The USB socket on your MIDEX-8 can easily be identified by its label.
3. If you are sure that all necessary software has been installed, you can
switch on your computer.
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We assume that you have properly connected the MIDEX-8 to your computer’s USB bus so that it gets the necessary power, and that the computer
is switched on.
MIDEX-8
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Making the MIDI Connections
Use standard MIDI cables to connect the MIDEX-8 to other external
devices, instruments and sound modules.
A typical MIDI system would e.g. include your MIDEX-8 interface, a
computer, MIDI sequencer software, a MIDI master keyboard and a few
MIDI compatible sound modules. Such a system could be connected as
follows:
• MIDEX-8 interface and computer are connected using the USB standard cable
that came with the MIDEX-8.
• The MIDI output on your Master keyboard is e.g. connected to the first input on
the MIDEX-8 (In 1).
• The first MIDI output (Out 1) on your MIDEX-8 interface is connected to the
MIDI input of a sound module (this can also be your Master keyboard, if it can
generate sound).
• The second MIDI output (Out-2) on the MIDEX-8 is connected to another sound
module.
• You can connect additional sound modules to the other MIDI outputs.
• The second MIDI input (In 2) can e.g. be connected to a second MIDI controller –
say, drum pads or a MIDI saxophone – or can be used as a synchronisation input, e.g. to receive the MIDI clock signals of a drum machine or the MIDI time
code generated by another synchronisation source. The same goes for the
other MIDI inputs.
ENGLISH
In the MIDI system setup illustration shown on the next page, the
MIDEX-8 interface is used to transfer MIDI data between master keyboard, computer with application software and sound modules. MIDI
input In 2 receives its data from an electronic drum kit.
MIDEX-8
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Out
In
In
Out 2 Out 3
Out 1
MIDEX-8
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In 2
USB
In 1
Out In
USB
Software Installation – PC
Once you have connected the MIDEX-8 to your computer, Windows
recognizes that a new USB device has been connected and automatically starts the “Add New Hardware Wizard”.
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The “Add New Hardware Wizard”
1. Click on the “Next” button.
Determine the method that the Wizard should use to find the drivers.
2. Activate “Find the best driver for the device” and click the “Next” button.
Determine where the Wizard should search for the drivers.
MIDEX-8
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