User guide

472 Chapter 18 Editing MIDI Events in the Event List
Program Change Events
Program change events transmitted to connected MIDI devices are used for patch
(preset or setting) selection. These may be sounds in a synthesizer, programs in an
effects unit, or snapshots in an automated mixing desk, as examples.
 Val(ue): A program number between 0 and 127.
 Some manufacturers (such as Yamaha) number the programs in their devices from
1 to 128, not 0 to 127. If you have devices that follow this numbering protocol, you
will need to subtract 1 from the program number shown on the device itself, when
adding or altering a program change event.
 Other manufacturers use various methods of dividing internal memory locations
into groups (or banks), and sounds. The most common is divisions into 8 groups of
8 sounds, each numbered 1 to 8. These devices respond to program numbers 0 to
63 by addressing storage locations 11 to 88. The instruction manuals for these
devices should contain conversion tables to assist you.
 Num(ber): Bank select. Normally you will see this symbol (–), which means no bank
select message will be sent. If you assign a number between 0 and 126, a bank select
event is sent before the program change event.
This allows you to address the different sound banks (preset, internal, card, and so on)
of connected MIDI keyboards and modules. The synthesizer must be able to recognize
controller 32 as bank select, but unfortunately this standard is not used by all
manufacturers.
If you have any problems with bank select, check your synthesizer’s manual to see
whether, and how, it responds to bank select commands.
Note: You can change the type of bank select messages sent by Logic Express (see
“Defining Custom Bank Selects” on page 906), if necessary for your devices.