Behringer U-Control UMX490 Owner's Manual

U-CONTROL UMX610/UMX490 User Manual

For USB operation, a current WINDOWS PC or MAC with a USB connection is 

sufficient. Both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 are supported.

Application possibilities for the UMX models are truly wide-ranging. We’ll start 

with a couple of general explanations and examples that should quickly let you 

get a good understanding of MIDI basics.
The definition of the MIDI standard began in 1982 with the cooperation of various 

international companies (MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface). At that 

time, musicians were looking for a possibility of managing the communication of 

electronic musical instruments of different makes with one another.

What exactly does the UMX do?
Simply put, this is a remote control for all kinds of MIDI equipment. Using the 

faders, rotary knobs and buttons, the foot pedal and the keyboard, an entire 

array of control instructions can be generated, which in turn can control the most 

diverse functions of external devices.

What kinds of equipment can I control with the UMX?
You can basically control any device supporting the MIDI format. Both hardware 

and software MIDI devices are controlled in exactly the same way. The only 

difference is in the wiring. Here are a couple of suggestions on how you can use 

your UMX:

Editing sound parameters of (virtual) synthesizers, sound samplers, 

GM/GS/XG sound generators

Controlling parameters on effects equipment/software plug-ins such as 

effects processors, reverbs, compressors, equalizers

Remotely controlling software mixers (volume, panorama, mute functions, 

etc.) Remotely controlling transport functions (playback, forward, stop, etc.) 

on sequencers, hard disk recorders, drum computers, etc. Live control of 

volume and sound parameters on expanders

Remotely controlling groove boxes, step sequencers, MIDI generators and 

other “live” software

Program changes and volume control on sound generators (just like on a 

master keyboard)

Can be used by band keyboardists, solo entertainers, organists, 

electronic music performers, DJs, sound engineers, home/project studio 

owners, theater technicians, etc.

And how does it work?
Remote control is realized by assigning the individual control elements of the 

UMX to individual MIDI parameters. Whenever one of these control elements is 

operated, the UMX generates the control data assigned to this control element, 

which are then transferred to external devices over a data link. Thus, for example, 

the VOLUME/DATA fader is factory-set to send data controlling the volume level 

of a channel.
The data connection is usually a standard MIDI cable with a 5-pin DIN plug on 

each end. Such cables should not exceed a length of 15 meters. With the UMX 

there is one more data connection available: the USB cable to the host computer. 

Here, the cable should not exceed a length of 5 meters.
The data transmission takes place over 16 channels.
The control data generated by the individual control elements are also called 

MIDI messages, which can be divided into 3 major groups:

Channel Messages: Here, channel-specific control information is 

transmitted. An example of a channel message is the note-on instruction. 

As soon as a key is played on the keyboard of the UMX, the device generates 

an instruction which contains the pitch, channel number and velocity. 

The receiving sound generator “knows” which tone has to be played.

System Messages: These messages are not channel-specific but relate to 

the entire system to which they are sent. They are divided into 3 groups: 

System Exclusive Messages (for operating system backup, updates, 

management of memory contents); System Real-Time Messages (e.g. for 

remote control of other devices); System Common Messages (e.g. for the 

synchronization of several devices).

Control Messages: Also known as Control Changes or Controllers, 

abbreviated as “CC… (Control Change)”. There are 128 controllers in total, 

which are numbered from 0 to 127.

What settings do I have to make? Where? How?
Basically, which control element generates which controller must be set on the 

UMX, and how incoming controller commands should be interpreted must be 

set on the receiving device. Regarding controller assignment, there are two 

possible principles:

You use the preset controller configuration set in the factory (see Fig. 3.1). 

In this case, you only need to make the assignments on the receiving device.

You use your own controller configuration set up in ASSIGN mode. How to 

assign controllers to the UMX is described in Chapter 4 “Operation”.