DART_EDITOR basics

Let’s learn to use the DART_Editor to configure a button and a potentiometer.

To configure the buttons in a DART unit, start with the default PRESET, to be loaded by clicking on LOAD.
For this example we use the default preset of the DART ONE and select one of the machine buttons (B1 -B20),
then, in the Settings Box on the right of the screen, all the parameters for the selected button will be shown.
Keep in mind that the setting of the same button may vary depending on the selected PAGE (top left of the screen).

BUTTON SETTINGS in detail

  • MODE : set this selector to BUTTON for normal button operation.
    • it can also be set to TOGGLE and TOGGLE GROUPS, of wich a video example is given later.
  • MIDI TYPE : defines  what kind of MIDI message the button is now controlling.
    • Note, Poly AfterTouch, Control Change, Program Change, AfterTouch, Pitch Bend.
  • DATA BYTE 1 :
    •  in a Note message it will be the Note-Pitch value, from 0 to 127.
  • MAXIMUM: velocity (Data Byte 2) value at the Button_pressed action.
  • MINIMUM:  velocity (Data Byte 2) value at the Button_released action.
  • MIDI CHANNEL : 0 – 16
  • LED : the OUTPUT number the button will be linked to, for the light feedback of the button state.
  • KEY and HOTKEY
    • buttons can be set to emulate KeyStrokes (example: Ctrl+Shift+S)
    • Mouse button emulation can also be accessed from this selectors
    • MIDI output will be disabled when HID emulation is active
    • HID emulation is not available on Arduino UNO.
  • DMX CHANNEL
    • Buttons can control MIDI and DMX signals at the same time
    • the DMX value that is controlled by the button is double the MIN/MAX value (if MAXIMUM is set to 127, a Button_pressed action will output a 255 DMX value)

Preset uploading and testing

the best way to get familiar with the many settings that can be made is to do tests and tests, always keeping an eye on the MIDIMONITOR 😉 so try to change the parameters of the selectors, upload the variations by pressing “SEND THIS” and see what happens!

TOGGLE MODE and TOGGLE GROUPS

  • The MODE selector of a button can also be set in:
    • TOGGLE Mode : The button holds its state until the next pressure.
    • TOGGLE GROUPS 1-4 mode : The button holds its state until the pressure of another button, that is assigned to the same group.
    • RADIO GROUPS 1-4 : emulation of a vintage radio channel selector. the selected button remains lit after pressig it again.

LED light feedback examples

POTENTIOMETERS 

We still refer to the default preset of the DART ONE unit and select one of the machine’s potentiometers (P1-P16, F1-F2). The Settings-Box on the right of the screen is now showing the POT selectors.

Keep in mind again that this settings can be different, depending on what PAGE we have seleceted (top left of the screen)

POT SETTINGS in detail

  • MODE: set this selector to POT for common operation.
  • MIDI TYPE : defined  what kind of MIDI message the button is now controlling.
    • Control Change (CC) – the most used type for pots.
    • Pitch Bend. – provides a higher resolution than CCs
    • AT, Poly AT
  • DATA BYTE 1 :
    •  it is the identification number of the message, ranging from 0 to 127.
  • MINIMUM / MAXIMUM:  the pot range can be restricted or inverted.
  • MIDI CHANNEL : 0 – 16
  • LED : set to “1” to enable led feedback of pot motion on the DART panel (for complete units)
  • DMX CHANNEL
    • Pots can control MIDI and DMX signals at the same time
    • the DMX value that is controlled by the pot is double MIDI value (if MAXIMUM is set to 127, a pot_turning action will output  DMX value ranging from 0 to 255)

the best way to get familiar with the many settings that can be made is to do tests and tests, always keeping an eye on the MIDIMONITOR 😉 so try to change the parameters of the selectors, upload the variations by pressing “SEND THIS” and see what happens!

HYPERCURVE and CENTERCURVE

It is possible to modify the potentiometer curve, wich is the relationship of the knob rotation (or cursor positioning, in a slide pot) to the change in MIDI output values; to do that the MODE selector can be set in:

  • HYPERCURVE 1 –  the maximum value is reached in a reduced range, from Right to Mid position
  • HYPERCURVE 1 –  the maximum value is reached in a reduced range, from Left to Mid position.
  • CENTERVURVE 1 – the center value between Min and Max (64) is fixed in a small portion of the pot excursion.
  • CENTERVURVE 2 -the center value between Min and Max (64) is fixed for a bigger portion of the pot excursion.

POTs and BUTTONS in a DIY circuit example

  • Use the DART_EDITOR to create a config PRESET for a very simple controller cricuit, described in the DIY_TIPS_2 guide,  consisting of:
    • a BUTTON connected to INPUT n.16
    • a SLIDE POTENTIOMETER connected to INPUT n.40
    • an LED connected to the OUTPUT n.16

BUTTON setup in a DIY circuit.

  • Run the DART_EDITOR and connect it to the machine MIDI ports.
  • Select the modifier n.16, in the Modifiers_Area, because the button we want to setup is connectet to the INPUT pin 16.
  • Click on the MODE selector and choose BUTTON, in the Settings_Area.
    • All the Button settings selectors will appear.
  • Set the selectors as in the following image and click on SEND ALL to upload the complete preset.
    • Always do SEND ALL for the first Preset upload.
  • wait for the uploading process to complete (the LED blinks during the upload)
  • Test the button settings.
    • by pressing and releasing the button, the MIDI_MONITOR will show that  a NOTE message 64 is received on Channel 1 with a velocity that alternates from 0 to 127.

 

POTENTIOMETER setup in the DIY example circuit.

  • Select the modifier n.40, in the Modifiers_Area, because the button we want to setup is connected to the INPUT pin 40.
  • Click on the MODE selector in the Settings_Area and choose POT, so the desired selectors will appear.
  • Set the selectors as in the following image and click on SEND THIS to upload the POT setup only.
  • Test the pot settings by tweaking the potentiometer, so  the MIDI_MONITOR will show that  a CC  70 is received on Channel 1 with a Data_Byte_2 value that ranges from 0 to 127.