Behringer B-Control Fader BCF2000 Manual De Propietario

B-CONTROL FADER BCF2000/ROTARY BCR2000 User Manual

Although your B-CONTROL is very easy to use, it still makes sense to review 

some information about this data format. Each MIDI command, also called 

message, consists of a status byte and up to two data bytes. The status byte 

defines the command type, and the data bytes contain the corresponding values. 

Different types of MIDI messages used by the B-CONTROL are explained next:

Note messages:
Among keyboard hotshots, Note On and Note Off messages are among the 

essential MIDI messages. Playing MIDI instruments from a master keyboard 

or computer is only possible with these messages. The B-CONTROL can also 

send Note Messages; however, this is not absolutely necessary to play music. 

This way, note events are also used to trigger drumloops or individual notes from 

a sampler. Many effects processors also allow rhythmic entering of delay times or 

song tempos with note commands.

Note Off

&8n (n = channel #)

Note #

Velocity

Note On

&9n (n = channel #)

Note #

Velocity

Table 2.1: Data format of Note On and Note Off messages

The value range for channel numbers is between 1 and 16; for data bytes it 

is 0 to 127. Even though Note Off messages are not really used by keyboarders 

anymore, the B-CONTROLs support sending this status information.
Velocity corresponds to the key pressure, and therefore to the volume of a 

touch-sensitive keyboard (piano). Since the B-CONTROL does not feature 

touch-sensitive keys, the velocity value is transmitted with a fixed value that can 

be set during programming.

Control Change (CC):
Control Change Messages are some of the most “powerful” MIDI messages. 

Using them, a vast number of parameters and functions can be recalled and 

automated. Individual control elements (faders, rotary dials, keys etc.) can be 

assigned to CC messages on your B-CONTROL. Because not only keys but also 

faders and rotary dials can be used, control values can be controlled in real time 

either statically or dynamically. A list with the standard controller numbers can 

be found in this user manual’s appendix.

NRPN:
Additionally, controllers that have no standardized assignment can also be 

used, and can therefore be assigned according to no predetermined rule. 

These controllers are called NRPNs (Non-Registered Parameter Numbers). 

NRPNs are further subdivided into MSB (Most Significant Byte) and LSB 

(Least Significant Byte) in order to achieve a higher resolution. A lower resolution 

is particularly easy to observe during fader movement of a mixer, in which 7-bit 

(= 128 values) jumps in the signal level can be heard. By subdividing NRPNs 

into MSB and LSB, you can achieve 14-bit resolution of faders and rotary dials, 

which means that the movement of a fader is divided into more than 16,000 

steps (214)! In addition to NRPNs, there are also RPNs (Registered Parameter 

Numbers). RPN commands are defined as GM (general MIDI), GS (Roland) and 

XG (Yamaha) MIDI standards.

Pitch Bend:
The pitch-bend wheel of a keyboard is used for tone modulation and has its own 

commands in the MIDI format.

After Touch:
MIDI keyboards featuring After Touch can respond to varying key pressure even 

after you release the key (i.e. after the keystroke is over) and can send this data 

via MIDI. This function either reacts key-specific (key pressure) or it reacts to all 

notes at the same time (channel pressure).

MIDI Machine Control (MMC):
With MIDI Machine Control, you can assign transport  functions of a sequencer or 

drum computer (e.g. start, stop, FFW / RWD) and locator points to individual keys 

with a permanently adjustable time position (locate, punch in / out points).

Program Change Messages and MIDI Bank Select:
Program change messages are used to recall programs / presets in MIDI devices 

connected to your B-CONTROL. 128 program numbers can be recalled. For devices 

with more than 128 presets, use the bank select function, which lets you select a 

storage bank before sending a program change.

Running Status:
Because the MIDI interface is a serial data transmission format (meaning that 

its data is transmitted as a succession of individual data segments), it became 

apparent very quickly that it may not be fast enough. To avoid perceptible delays 

in the output of MIDI data, Running Status was designed. It suppresses the 

transmission of the status byte when the same MIDI messages are transmitted 

in succession. This means that, for example, during a continuous change of 

the data byte of a controller (e.g. volume), the status byte is only sent once. 

The only thing that is transmitted are the changes in the data byte. This goes on 

until another status byte is sent. 8 bits are saved for each message sent.

SysEx Dump:
System-Exclusive data refer to a function that makes transmission of nonspecific 

data via MIDI possible. This is often used for reading out memory contents and 

storing them externally.
The status byte notes the data type (SysEx); the first three data bytes are a 

manufacturer ID, so that when you have a large MIDI network, you can still “talk” 

to the correct MIDI device.
To make using several identical B-CONTROLs at the same time possible, you can 

assign a device number (device ID) in the global setup menu to each B-CONTROL, 

which assures that only the correct device receives the data intended for it.

In this chapter, we will describe various control elements of your B-CONTROL. 

All controls and connectors are explained in detail, and we’ll give you useful tips 

on how to use them.

(1) 

The 8 infinitely variable PUSH ENCODERS are used to send MIDI data. 

They have two functions (turn and press) that can be assigned to different 

MIDI commands.

(2) 

Each of these 16 KEYS can send one MIDI command.