The Ekdahl FAR - Command language: Difference between revisions

[irq]mev:pb:"bchsh:pitch*4"

</pre>The first part of the return message tells us that the incoming message is of "rqi"-type ("[irq]") which means it's responding to a information request ''command'' sent. The second part tells us what ''command'' the data pertains to, and any ''parameters'' that may be pertinent. The third part of the message is the actual data stored.   

For the FAR < 1.1 the data returned is for the ''command'' "mev" with the first ''parameter'' set to "pb", the ''command reference'' tells us this means the ''command'' "midieventhandler" and the ''parameter'' "pb" indicates this has to do with the ''pitch bend''. The data is "bchsh*4".

that the ''pitch bend MIDI message'' is executing a "bchsh" / "-command with the parameter ''pitch*4''. Looking in the ''command reference'' we can see that ''bchsh'' is the ''short name'' of the ''bowcontrolharmonicshift''-command which shifts the frequency of the ''bowing wheel'' from the current frequency, the first (and only) parameter sets how much we want to shift it (depends on the ''bowcontrolharmonicshiftrange command'').

If we look in the list of ''[[The Ekdahl FAR - Command langue#Variables|variables]]'' above we can see that the ''pitch bend MIDI message'' will set the ''pitch variable'' which is indeed used. Now what is the '''*4''<nowiki/>' all about? Well the ''bchsh''-command expects a ''16-bit signed'' value, meaning that a full ''harmonic shift'' downwards is equal to -32767, a full ''harmonic shift'' upwards is 32767 and no ''harmonic shift'' is 0. The ''pitch bend MIDI message'' however is only 14-bits, meaning its range is -8192 to 8192, so in order to be able to use the entire range we have to multiply ''pitch'' by 4.

This whole thing about number of bits can seem confusing but in the end it's all about how fine control you have over things; the more possible values, the more detailed control. In fact, most ''MIDI'' values are only 7-bit (!) meaning a range of 0 - 127. While this may sound like a lot of detail for something like a volume control, it is not even close to enough resolution to for instance set the ''bowing speed''. Imagine that our lowest possible note frequency is 50 Hz, that means that with a 0-127 range we can only go from 50 Hz to 127 + 50 = 177 Hz - and with no decimals! This meager range and the very coarse steps of only 1 Hz would mean the instrument would never be able to sound in tune and wouldn't even have two octaves of range. The idea of limiting the Ekdahl FAR to what is possible through ''MIDI'' seemed like a poor choice thus it was decided that <u>most</u> parameters will instead be 16-bit.

Now let's break down what happens when this ''MIDI message'' is received, i.e. when a ''MIDI'' key is pressed down:

# ''m:0'' - Sets ''module'' to 0

# ''b:0'' - Sets ''bow'' to 0

# ''bchb:note'' - Invokes the ''bowcontrolharmonicbase-''command with the first ''parameter'' set to the ''variable note''.  

# ''bmr:1'' - Sets the ''bowmotorrun''-command to '1', starting the ''bow motor''

# ''bpid:1'' - Sets the ''bowpid''-command to '1', making sure the ''PID'' is used

# ''bpe:1'' - Sets the ''bowpressureengage'' to '1' which moves the ''bowing jack'' to the ''engage position''

# ''se:(velocity*512)*(1-notecount)'' - Executes the ''solenoidengage''-command with the value ''(velocity*512)*(1-notecount)''

# ''bcsm:0'' - Sets the ''bowcontrolspeedmode'' to '1' which enables automatic shut down of the ''bowing motor''

The first two ''commands'' are the ''module''- and ''bow-''command. These ''commands'' are is intended for future versions of the Ekdahl FAR that may contain more than one string or more than one bow per string. For now ''0'' is the only valid ''parameter'' value that will be accepted for either ''command''.''<nowiki/>''

The ''bowcontrolharmonicbase''-command sets the speed of the ''bowing wheel'' to its corresponding ''harmonic number'' but also takes into account its ''<nowiki/>'base''' which is the ''MIDI key'' that is mapped to ''harmonic number 0''.

After this the bowing motor is started and the ''PID'' is turned, now the instrument will try and make sure that the ''bowing wheel'' is at the right speed.

The ''bowing jack'' is raised to the ''engage position'', any added ''pressure modifiers'' will also be taken into account - once the ''bowing jack'' has reached its intended position the ''bowing wheel'' should (hopefully) make contact with the string and the Ekdahl FAR will start to produce sounds.

 

After this we have the ''solenoidengage''-command ''command'' that engages the ''hammer'' and uses the first and only ''parameter'' as the force used. Like with most ''commands'' the ''se''-command is 16-bit (0 - 65535) but the ''MIDI velocity variable'' is 7-bit (0 - 127), so to get the ''velocity'' variable to cover the entire range it needs to be multiplied with 512.  

 

The ''<nowiki/>'*(1-notecount)'''-part is a way of making sure that we are using ''legato'' mode, i.e. that the ''hammer'' is not triggered if a key is already held down when a new key is pressed. The ''notecount''-variable contains the number of ''MIDI'' notes currently held down.

 

Let's postulate that the Ekdahl FAR is tuned to a 'C' at 65.4Hz and has its ''base'' set to middle 'C' (''MIDI key'' no 36). We are using the equal-temperament 12-tone scale and the Ekdahl FAR is set to respond to <u>all</u> ''MIDI channels'' (omni). Without having previously held any keys we press the middle 'C' (''note'' value 36) as hard as possible (''velocity'' value ''127'') on ''MIDI channel'' number 1 (''channel'' value of 0). The Ekdahl FAR will get a ''note on MIDI message'' sent to it and from our mapping it will create the following ''command string''<pre>[irq]mev:noteon:'m:0,b:0,bchb:36,bmr:1,bpid:1,bpe:1,se:(127*512)*(1-0),bcsm:0'</pre>What has happened here is that all ''variables'' have been replaced with the values sent by the ''MIDI message''. Since those ''commands'' that doesn't have any ''variables'' with them will execute just as previously, only those ''commands'' whos ''parameters'' have changed will be explained:

# ''bchb: 36'' - The ''bowcontrolharmonicbase'' gets a value of ''36'' (middle 'C'), because ''harmonic number 0'' is mapped to this key it will set the ''bowing wheel'' frequency to the ''fundamental''; ''65.4'' Hertz

# ''se: (127*512)*(1-0)'' - the value of ''127'' comes from the ''velocity''-variable, ''127 * 512 = 65024'' which is awfully close to a maximum hammer force of 65535. Since no previous notes were held down ''notecount''  is equal to ''0'' and thus ''65024 * 1 = 65024''. The hammer is engaged with near maximum force.

[irq]mev:noteon:'m:0,b:0,bchb:48,bmr:1,bpid:1,bpe:1,se:(63*512)*(1-1),bcsm:0'

</pre>Now we can see that the ''note'' variable is ''48'' because the 'C' one octave up is exactly 12 keys above the first, the ''velocity'' variable has changed to ''63'' since we hit it with a lighter touch - and because we are <u>still holding the first key down</u> ''notecount'' is equal to ''1''. Here's what happens

# ''bchb: 48'' - Due to the ''base'' being set to ''36'' the ''harmonic number'' is set to ''48 - 36 = 12''. Because we are using a 12-tone scale ''harmonic number 12'' is exactly one octave above the ''fundamental'' thus the speed of the ''bowing wheel'' is set to ''65.4 * 2 = 130.8'' Hertz.

# ''se: (63*512)*(1-1)'' - So ''63 * 512 = 32256'' and ''1 - 1 = 0'' thus ''32256 * 0 = 0''. When the ''solenoidengage''-command gets a ''parameter'' of ''0'' it will not engage the ''hammer'' - so the ''hammer'' doesn't strike

''CV Mapping'' works exactly like the ''MIDI mapping'' with the difference that the command for setting the ''CV mapping'' is different and that <u>all</u> events pertaining to this <u>only</u> change the ''value''-variable. The ''command'' for changing the ''CV mapping'' is ''adccommandmap'' or ''acm'', it take two ''parameters''; ''channel'' and ''command string''. We retrieve the ''command string'' for channel ''0'' which reads the sum of the ''harm. v/oct''-jack and the ''harmonic''-knob by sending a command of<pre>

rqi:acm:0

<pre>[irq]acm:0:'bcha:value/1327.716667-20'</pre>

 

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