As of this writing, the MIDI implementation does not differ in between MIDI messages that are sent over hardware MIDI or USB-MIDI. In order to use MIDI to control the Ekdahl FAR you need to have all the MIDI parameters and configurations setup correctly. By default the instrument will respond to all midi channels (omni), any keyboard / sequencer sending Note On / Note Off MIDI messages (standard) can be used to control the overtone being emphasized.
The tuning of the instrument is decided by the stored fundamental frequency and base note, where the fundamental frequency is the tuning of the string and base note is which MIDI key that is mapped to the fundamental (harmonic number 0). All other keys will be playing harmonics that are calculated up and down from the base note using the selected harmonic table. The default setting for the fundamental frequency is a G at 99 Hertz and the base note is set to MIDI key G5 (G on octave 5).
<div style="border: 1px black solid>Please note that MIDI note G5 does not necessarily mean the 5th octave on whatever controller you are using, MIDI allows for a ~10 octave span and the 5th MIDI octave is normally considered the "middle" octave of the keybed of whatever controller you are using. For a 4 octave keyboard, the 3rd physical octave from the bottom will usualy be the 5th MIDI octave.</div>
When a key is depressed on a midi keyboard and received by the Ekdahl Far, it will (by default) start the motor, set the bow frequency to the corresponding harmonic number and raise the bowing jack to the engage position. The engage position is the lowest point for the bowing jack where the bowing wheel is barely, or not quite, touching the string. In order to make a fuller / louder sound the bowing jack will have to be raised further by either sending the pressure baseline or the pressure modifier commands. By default, the MIDI modulation wheel controller (CC #1) is mapped to the pressure baseline command and MIDI Channel After Touch is mapped to the pressure modifier command. If your controller has neither a modulation wheel nor after touch you will have to map a knob, slider or similar to send the pressure modifier or pressure baseline commands using the configuration utility.
When a key is depressed that is outside the range of what the instrument can play (higher or lower frequency than the bowing motor is physically able to produce or control reliably) the instrument will do one of the following things;
a) set it to the closest possible frequency
b) attempt the frequency and fail, this will result in the bowing motor either stopping or going into oscillation
c) refuse to do anything