• coral
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Topic: MIDI Standalone clarification

Hello!

I have a Fireface UCX II, my simple goal is to control the main out volume / headphone volume from an external controller that always controls the interface, regardless of host computer status.

I've read the manual and it mentions the TotalMix MIDI mode and Standalone mode. My understanding is that the TotalMix mode is just the computer software listening to MIDI and translating this into messages it sends down to the driver, whereas the standalone mode is the interface itself listening to MIDI messages.

Now, my question is, are these mutually exclusive? When I plug in the USB cable and the interface registers, the Mackie messages stops spamming on the MIDI port so I have a suspicion this is the case? Am I just misunderstood?

If so, what messages are "always read" by the interface over MIDI? Is the standalone protocol always active?

2 Reply by MC

  • MC
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Re: MIDI Standalone clarification

The stand-alone mode is only active in stand-alone mode.

That said: the Main Out volume can be controlled by the standard MIDI control for volume (CC7 on channel 1) in both modes (TMFX USB and Offline), and Stand-alone MIDI can stay ON as it is automatically disabled in online mode.

You must enable MIDI Control in TM FX options. Then in Settings, MIDI tab, Remote Controller Select must be set to 1 and In Use checked (that is default). Finally set the correct MIDI In port.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

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  • coral
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Re: MIDI Standalone clarification

Ok so to clarify there are essentially 3 modes

1) Offline mode: Device is not connected to USB
2) Online mode: Device is connected to USB and processing audio, Totalmix is NOT open on computer
3) Online mode & TM control: Device is connected to USB and processing audio, Totalmix is open

What you are saying is that in 1) and 3), the device listens to CC7 on Channel 1 for main volume.

What i'm trying to solve for is 2)

So to further clarify my question, is there a way to control the UCXII when it's connected to a host computer, processing audio but without TotalMix being opened?

4 Reply by MC

  • MC
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Re: MIDI Standalone clarification

coral wrote:

Ok so to clarify there are essentially 3 modes

1) Offline mode: Device is not connected to USB
2) Online mode: Device is connected to USB and processing audio, Totalmix is NOT open on computer
3) Online mode & TM control: Device is connected to USB and processing audio, Totalmix is open

What you are saying is that in 1) and 3), the device listens to CC7 on Channel 1 for main volume.

What i'm trying to solve for is 2)

So to further clarify my question, is there a way to control the UCXII when it's connected to a host computer, processing audio but without TotalMix being opened?

No. Attaching USB will disable MIDI stand-alone functionality immediately.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website