BFD 1124P Owners... the MIDI issue...

**Sonnie** · **10-19-06, 09:10 PM**

I am conversing with Behringer tech support in reference to the MIDI not working on newer units and they have asked me for some specifics.

I need a little help from some of you.

From your 1124P, I need the following:

Date Code: on back
Serial Number: on back
Version Number: fully power down the unit, press and hold the Filter Select button and power up

Then I need to know if MIDI works with your unit or not.

You may post the info here, PM or email me.

I really don't know if we'll get anywhere with this but we'll try it anyway. My unit works fine with MIDI and is an older model Version 1.0, but I'd like to see if we can get those with the newer units up and working.

Thanks!

**rcarlton** · **10-19-06, 10:29 PM**

Sonnie,
Date code: 0602
Serial Number: N0600433124
Version Number: 1.3

MIDI does not work.

**Otto** · **10-19-06, 11:23 PM**

Hi Sonnie,

Quick question -- is the problem that MIDI doesn't work at all, or that you can't automatically "save" the changes to whatever preset.

I was never able to save the just-downloaded filters through MIDI on my original 1124 BFD. I also have an older one (not exactly sure of the date, but I can check later), and I don't have any problem saving to that one. However, I'm using a newer version of REW, one in which JohnM may have addressed this issue. I have not tried that newer version of REW with my newer BFD, so maybe I can "save" there as well.

Anyway, if this applies to me, I can get the info you need.

Thanks.

**Sonnie** · **10-19-06, 11:47 PM**

Yeah... if you have 1124's please let us know on both if you can.

The issue is that you cannot save the REW settings to the BFD via MIDI. Basically I consider that "MIDI not working"... so to speak. The latest version of REW hasn't fixed anything that I know of. As stated, my unit works fine... and that's using the latest version of REW on my laptop. However, when I attempted to load the settings from REW on my laptop to Wayne's new BFD, it would not save... the STORE button just flashes as best I can remember.

I'm assuming everyone is having the same problem... after sending the settings to the BFD the STORE button flashes and nothing is saved... even if you press the STORE button twice, it does not save anything. Is this the same for everyone or have I got it off a little?

**tdamocles** · **10-20-06, 05:33 AM**

Date code: 0802
Serial: L0254681124
Version: 1.0

Midi does work.

**Malice** · **10-20-06, 03:35 PM**

Date Code 0504
Serial N0513116124
Version: V1.0

European 220/240V version.

Midi DOES work

**akardash** · **10-22-06, 07:47 AM**

Sonnie,

Date code: 0602
Serial Number: 060448312A
Version Number: 1.3

MIDI does not work!

**Otto** · **10-22-06, 12:57 PM**

Hi Sonnie,

BFD 1124 #1:
Date Code: 1204
Serial Num: L0417042124
Version: 1.0

BFD 1124 #2:
Date Code: 0801
Serial Num: G0114356124
Version: 1.0

MIDI works OK for both (even though I was sure (I mean sure) that I had a problem with #1 above at one point. I tested it again today, and both are OK for transfer and save of filters).

Thanks!!!

**tbrooke** · **10-22-06, 03:37 PM**

I was just ggetting ready to order a BFD. Is this something I should worry about?

Tom

**Otto** · **10-22-06, 03:53 PM**

Quote:

tbrooke wrote:

I was just ggetting ready to order a BFD. Is this something I should worry about?

Tom

Hi Tom,

I don't think it is. I believe that worst case you will have to plug in the filter numbers by hand, so you won't be able to take advantage of the MIDI feature between REW and the BFD. However, from the answers in this thread, you might ask the seller if they can see what "version" their BFD is. As Sonnie notes in the OP, you can determine this by holding down the Filter Select button as you power up the device. I presume this "version" is describing firmware. From the answers here, it seems like version 1.0 is good and 1.3 has some problems.

For the price, you can't beat these things, even if you have to enter the filters by hand. Also, if you weren't planning on using the MIDI, the it doesn't make any difference to you whatsoever. Go for it -- especially if you can find a 1.0 version.

Good luck.

**tbrooke** · **10-22-06, 09:32 PM**

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I ordered the BFD today from Musician's Friend. I have been working with REW and have it basically set up, I was looking at a digital DRC program that would work with my Squeezebox but it just got too complicated so I am lookig forward to delving into the BFD. It is a little offputting to read all the posts re: hum. midi etc. but at least there is a froum to get you through any issues

**10-23-06, 08:22 AM**

Serial No. N0604549124
Date Code 0602
Version 1.3

Midi not working

**JohnM** · **10-23-06, 09:07 AM**

Julian, please add the version number of your unit (fully power down the unit, press and hold the Filter Select button and power up).

**Sonnie** · **10-23-06, 10:24 AM**

If I can get one more not working I think that would be enough. Wayne?

**Wayne A. Pflughaupt** · **10-23-06, 06:43 PM**

S/N: N0600319124
Date Code: 0602
Version: 1.3
MIDI doesn't work.

Regards,
Wayne

**Sonnie** · **10-23-06, 07:41 PM**

Thanks guys... that should do it. I have forwarded these to Behringer and we'll see what happens.

**Snookboy** · **10-27-06, 08:18 AM**

If you need anymore, let me know. I didn't notice the post until this morning, but I have a newer unit and the MIDI certainly does not work. Anxious to find out what you hear from them.

**rcarlton** · **10-27-06, 06:44 PM**

Quote:

Snookboy wrote:

If you need anymore, let me know. I didn't notice the post until this morning, but I have a newer unit and the MIDI certainly does not work. Anxious to find out what you hear from them.

Looks like you may have version 1.3.

**Sonnie** · **10-27-06, 08:12 PM**

I'm curious as to what 1.3 includes that 1.0 does not have? Obviously 1.3 brought in a MIDI bug. It would be nice to simply be able to load 1.0 and our problems be fixed.

**Sonnie** · **10-30-06, 02:25 PM**

Response from Behringer support:

Quote:

Reference: Incident: 061005-000144

Thank you for writing back, Sonny - engineering indicates that they tested all versions, but found no significant changes related to MIDI operations. The only differences between all the revisions are to accomodate hardware changes but not related to the MIDI interface. Unfortunately, this puts us back to the drawing board as far as troubleshooting mode goes... I suggest a phone consultation at this point. You can reach us at 425.672.0816 xt 141 from M-F 8-5 PST. Looking forward to hearing from you.

We need someone who is willing to connect up the non-working version of the MIDI and call them at the above number and see if we can figure out the problem.

**JohnM** · **10-30-06, 02:58 PM**

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

We need someone who is willing to connect up the non-working version of the MIDI and call them at the above number and see if we can figure out the problem.

I suspect that won't work out too well as there is no visibility of what REW is sending, the tech at the other end isn't going to be able to contribute much. I recall a Midi diagnostic app I came across when doing the original dev work on the Midi interface, I'll see if I can find it again and we can then use that to send messages the units should react to in a certain way, then we will have something more concrete to work with. I'll post again when I track it down.

**brucek** · **10-30-06, 03:02 PM**

But did anyone try a non-working unit with the beta_REW_3.30 that has the feature:

Increased interval between midi commands to DSP1124P to see if it helps with reports of unit not accepting filter settings via midi

brucek

**Otto** · **10-30-06, 03:09 PM**

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

We need someone who is willing to connect up the non-working version of the MIDI and call them at the above number and see if we can figure out the problem.

Sonnie,

That sounds like fun, but since my two are working, I won't be able to play. However, I have a comment in the event that someone does give them a call: Behringer may well ask how the MIDI is configured and being controlled. If it were me (with "me" not being a MIDI expert at all), I would have to say at that point, "I dunno, I just plug it into this great software I found on the 'net and it goes." Then Behringer is gonna say "well, maybe your program isn't working right." And then, with all due respect to REW and JohnM for all his hard work, I would have to say, "well, I'm not sure. I guess it could be the software." Of course, I find that its being the software is unlikely because the same rev of REW works with the other revs of the BFD, which definitely implicates the BFD as being the thing that changed. I'm not trying to volunteer JohnM, but he will certainly know the most about the inner workings of REW.

Another option would be to have someone who is a MIDI expert to hook this thing up through a different MIDI setup (i.e., not REW) and see if the BFD fails in the same way. Then that person will know the inner workings of that setup, and could discuss it with Behringer.

Anyway, just my point of veiw from an engineering/troubleshooting perspective. When I'm working problems on my products, I frequently have to concern myself with the "host" misbehaving. Also, the "Behringer Engineering Department" already thinks it's not their fault, and sometimes it can be challenging to convince engineers that they are wrong.

**JohnM** · **10-30-06, 03:56 PM**

Quote:

brucek wrote:

But did anyone try a non-working unit with the beta_REW_3.30 that has the feature:

Increased interval between midi commands to DSP1124P to see if it helps with reports of unit not accepting filter settings via midi

Unfortunately yes, and it didn't help.

**JohnM** · **10-30-06, 04:49 PM**

OK, I've tracked down the Midi app so soon anyone can become a Midi expert

Home page is here: http://www.bome.com/midi/sendsx/

To try this out, download the V1.30 beta 2 version linked near the top of the page. Start the app and use the Midi Out and Midi In menu entries to select your Midi interface. Connect both the Midi input and output to your BFD. Make sure that the DSP1124P is configured for Midi as detailed in the REW help here: http://www.hometheatershack.com/room...comms.html#top

Select any preset on the BFD other than preset 1. When you turn the preset select knob, messages should appear in the SendSX Midi In window similar to this:

Code:

C0 01
C0 03

The first message appears when preset 2 is selected, the second corresponds to preset 4. If no messages appear either your BFD is not configured per the REW help or your Midi interface is not set up correctly or not working or your BFD Midi doesn't work, if checking the configurations doesn't help you can proceed no further.

If you got over that first hurdle, type the following in the Midi out panel on SendSX

Code:

C0 00

note that those are zeroes, NOT the letter o. Press F4 or the Send button to send the message. Your BFD should select preset 1.

Now press the ENGINE R button on the BFD, the Midi In panel on SendSX should show B0 0C 02

Use "Clear Out" to empty the Midi Out panel then type in

Code:

B0 0C 01

and hit Send, the BFD should select ENGINE L.

If that has worked, press the FILTER SELECT button and select filter 2, the Midi In panel should show B0 0A 01 (and maybe some other B0 0A xx messages if you selected other filters). Clear the Midi Out and type in

Code:

B0 0A 00

and Send it, the BFD should select filter 1.

Press the FILTER MODE button and turn the jog wheel to select OF, there should be a BO 0B 00 message in Midi In if the filter was not already set to OF. Clear the Midi out and type

Code:

B0 0B 01

and Send it, the filter type should change to PA and the STORE LED will start to flash.

Press the FREQUENCY button and turn the jog wheel to select 80, there should be a
B0 0D 06 message in Midi In if the frequency was not already set to 80. Clear the Midi out and type

Code:

B0 0D 07

and send it, the frequency should change to 100. Hopefully you are now getting the hang of things, so try the following in the same fashion:

B0 0E 08 // set FINE freq to -1
B0 0F 01 // set BANDWIDTH to 1/120
B0 10 2F // set GAIN to -1dB

That's the end of the messages used to set up a filter. The next message to try is

Code:

B0 12 00

which should store the filter setting in preset 1, the STORE LED should stop flashing as long as the Store Enable Midi setting is set correctly. If you press the STORE key twice yourself you should see the B0 12 00 message appear in the Midi In panel.

The final command to try is

Code:

B0 13 02

which should set IN/OUT to IN (LED on).

If you have a BFD which does not work with Midi using REW, please let us know if the stuff above works on your unit, and if not, where it goes wrong.

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