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Peter edited this page Apr 29, 2024 · 52 revisions

In order to use menu-driven operation it is possible to attach an alphanumeric 16x2 1602 LCD with a HD44780 compatible chipset like this and a rotary encoder like this to the Raspberry Pi. This is optional. You can use the instrument without such a display and rotary encoder, but in this case you will need to configure the instrument using MIDI commands and/or configuration files edited on a computer.

Instead of a rotary encoder, you can also use a set of 4 button switches configured in a "cursor keys" arrangement (up, down, left, right). In this case, you need to press the corresponding keys instead of operating the rotary encoder.

Depending on the contents of the file performance.ini on your SD card the default settings that are loaded when the instrument is switched on may vary.

This page describes the default behavior of the rotary encoder and the button built into it. NOTE: The actions for the buttons can be configured differently by editing minidexed.ini, for example a separate "back" button can be configured instead of a long-press.

This is the menu when you switch on the device on a multi-core Raspberry Pi (i.e. not Pi 1 or V1 Zero):

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There are up to 8 tone generators (TG) that can be used simultaneously (Pi 2 onwards, Pi 1 only supports a single TG). To select another tone generator, rotate the knob. The > symbol indicates that you can rotate the knob clockwise. if you do, the display changes from "TG1" to "TG2" and other tone generators:

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The < and > symbols indicate that you can rotate the knob counter-clockwise and clockwise, respectively.

Turn the knob counter-clockwise until TG1 is selected, then Click the knob to open the submenu for that tone generator. You will see:

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This is also the default "home" menu for a single-core Raspberry Pi that only supports a single TG. To select another voice, Click the knob to open the voice submenu. You will see:

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Turn the knob to select a voice.

To return to the menu "above", long-press the knob.

You can always return to the initial screen, no matter where in the menu tree you are. To do so, double-click and the menu returns to the initial screen:

image

To restart the device hold the knob pressed until the device restarts (2 minutes).

Shortcuts

While you are editing a parameter that applies to one of the Tone Generators (TG1...8) or one of the Operators (OP1...6), you can go from TG1...8 or from OP1...6 quickly by keeping the knob pressed and rotating it at the same time. This allows you to quickly edit the same parameter for multiple tone generators or operators.

Menu tree

Click to open a submenu, long-press to close it.

  • MiniDexed
    • TG1 Contains parameters for Tone Generator 1
      • Voice Selects a voice from the curently selected Bank
      • Bank Selects a bank of 32 voices (loaded from a .syx file each)
      • Volume Level Can be set graphically from 0 bars (silent) to 14 bars (loudest)
      • Pan Stereo panning Can be set graphically from left to right
      • Reverb-Send Sets the amount of reverb that gets applied to the selected Tone Generator (TG) if reverb is enabled under Effects
      • Detune Adjusts the tuning of the selected Tone Generator (TG). This can be used to match the pitch with other instruments, or to enrich the sound by using this in conjunction with other slightly detuned Tone Generators. Can be set from -99 to 99
      • Cutoff Lowpass filter setting that determines which frequencies get filtered out. Can be set from 0 (filters even the lowest frequencies) to 99 (no filtering, default) (NOTE: This functionality is not part of the DX7/TX816 series of instruments)
      • Resonance Lowpass filter setting. Can be set from 0 (default) to 99 (NOTE: This functionality is not part of the DX7/TX816 series of instruments) [FIXME: Improve description]
      • Pitch Bend Determines what happens when the Pitch Bend wheel or button on the MIDI controller is used to apply changes in pitch
        • Bend Range Can be set from 0 (no change in frequency) to 12 (plus or minus an octave = 12 semitones). The numbers in the programming display indicate how many semitones the wheel can change the pitch in each direction
        • Bend Step Can be set from 0 (perfectly smooth) to 12 (1200-cent = 1 octave steps). If set to 1, the pitch will bend in 100-cent (semitone) steps
      • Portamento Can be used to make changes in pitch from one note to a subsequent note spread out over time, either as a continuous slide ("portamento") or in discrete steps ("glissando")
        • Mode Can be set to Fingered (portamento is applied only when the second note is pressed before releasing the first note, "legato") or Full time (portamento is always applied) ✏️ Note: This is not correctly implemented in synth_dexed yet
        • Glissando Can be set to On (the glide in pitch occurs in discrete steps) or Off (a normal continuous glide "portamento" effect is produced). This effect is best heard with a slower time and when two widely separated notes are played one after the other
        • Time Can be set from 0 (default, changes in pitch are immediate) to 99 (maximum time, changes in pitch are slow)
      • Poly/Mono Enable and disable monophonic (single note synth with upper note priority) or polyphonic mode of the Tone Generator
      • Modulation Allows to set (on and off) modulation wheel, foot controllers, breath controller and after touch targets. For any of this controllers there are three main components of voice to witch LFO modulation can be applied: to the PITCH, to the AMPLITUDE and to EG (Envelope Generator) BIAS. Each operator may or may not be programmed to be sensitive to modulation sources. Range parameter. Some settings could result in little or no audible sound, especially when EG BIAS is On.
        • Mod. Wheel
          • Range Allows to set the amount of effect that will be applied to one or more than one of Pitch, Amplitude, EG Bias. Can be set from 0 (no effect) to 99 (maximum effect)
          • Pitch Can be set to Off or On (default)
          • Amplitude Can be set to Off (default) or On
          • EG Bias Envelope Generator Can be set to Off (default) or On
        • Foot Control (as Mod. Wheel above) but Pitch is Off (default)
        • Breath Control (as Mod. Wheel above) but Pitch is Off (default)
        • Aftertouch (as Mod. Wheel above) but Pitch is Off (default)
      • Channel Specifies which MIDI receiving channel number the selected Tone Generator (TG) reacts on. Can be set from 1 to 16, Omni (react to all MIDI channels), or Off (react to no MIDI channels)
      • Edit Voice Allows the parameters of the loaded voice to be edited
        • OP1 Contains parameters for Operator 1
          • Output Level Controls the overall level of the Envelope Generator (EG). Can be set between 0 and 99. If an operator is not needed to produce the desired tone, its output level can be set to 0 to make it silent
          • Freq Coarse If Osc Mode is set to Ratio, the frequency ratio can be set from one half (0.5 times) to 32 times, default is 1. If Osc Mode is set to Fixed, one of the following frequencies can be selected: 1, 10, 100, and 1000 Hz
          • Freq Fine If Osc Mode is set to Ratio, the frequency set by Freq Coarse can be adjusted from 1 to 1.99 times. If Osc Mode is set to Fixed, the frequency set by Freq Coarse can be adjusted from 1 to 9.772 times
          • Osc Detune Detunes the frequency set by Freq Coarse and Freq Fine over a range of -7 to +7
          • Osc Mode Determines the behavior of Freq Coarse and Freq Fine. Can be set to Ratio or to to Fixed
          • EG Rate 1 The Envelope Generator (EG) determines how a tone changes over time. If the current Operator is used as a carrier, this results in amplitude changes over time; if the current Operator is used as a modulator, this results in timbre changes over time. Each EG Rate determines how long it takes for the envelope to reach the corresponding EG Level. Can be set from 0 (slowest) to 99 (fastest)
          • EG Rate 2 (as EG Rate 1 above)
          • EG Rate 3 (as EG Rate 1 above)
          • EG Rate 4 (as EG Rate 1 above)
          • EG Level 1 Can be set from 0 (no output) to 99 (maximum level)
          • EG Level 2 (as EG Level 1 above)
          • EG Level 3 (as EG Level 1 above)
          • EG Level 4 Normally set to 0. In this case, EG Level 1 should be greater than 50 to ensure proper operation of the Envelope Generator
          • Break Point Keyboard Level Scaling allows to raise or lower the Envelope Generator (EG) levels for keys to the left and right of any key specified as the Break Point key. Can be set from A1 to C8
          • L Key Depth Varies the depth of the curve left from the Break Point key. Can be set from 0 (flat curve with no variation) to 99 (maximum scaling depth)
          • R Key Depth (as L Key Depth but for the curve right from the Break Point key)
          • L Key Scale
          • R Key Scale
          • Rate Scaling The Envelope Generator (EG) can be set for a long bass decay and short treble decay, like in an acoustic piano. Can be set from 0 to 7.
          • A Mod Sens. Amplitude Modulation Sensitivity, determines how strongly the modulation wheel affects the sound. If the current Operator is used as a carrier, this results in amplitude changes (tremolo effects); if the current Operator is used as a modulator, this results in timbre changes ("wow" effects). Can be set from 0 (no response to modulation wheel) to 3 (maximum response)
          • K Vel. Sens. Key Velocity Sensitivity, determines how key velocity (how soft or hard keys are pressed) affects the sound. If the current Operator is used as a carrier, this results in amplitude changes; if the current Operator is used as a modulator, this results in timbre changes. Can be set from 0 (no touch response) to 7 (maximum response)
          • Enable The operator can be set On (default) or Off
        • OP2 (as OP1 above)
        • OP3 (as OP1 above)
        • OP4 (as OP1 above)
        • OP5 (as OP1 above)
        • OP6 (as OP1 above)
        • Algorithm Determines the layout in which the Operators are aligned, i.e., which ones are used as carriers (directly audible) modulators (changing the sound of the carriers)
        • Feedback One Operator in each algorithm is the Feedback Operator, which has its output routed back into its input. The amount of feedback determines the harmonics. Can be set from 0 (no feedback) to 7 (most feedback; noisy sound)
        • P EG Rate 1 The Pitch Envelope Generator (P EG) allows pitch to be changed over time. Each P EG Rate determines how long it takes for the envelope to reach the corresponding P EG Level. Can be set from 0 (slowest) to 99 (fastest)
        • P EG Rate 2 (as P EG Rate 1 above)
        • P EG Rate 3 (as P EG Rate 1 above)
        • P EG Rate 4 (as P EG Rate 1 above)
        • P EG Level 1 Can be set from 0 (-4 octaves), 50 (standard pitch), to 99 (+4 octaves)
        • P EG Level 2 (as P EG Level 1 above)
        • P EG Level 3 (as P EG Level 1 above)
        • P EG Level 4 (as P EG Level 1 above)
        • Osc Key Sync When set to On, all oscillators begin to oscillate from the same 0 degrees phase angle. When set to Off, the phase angle at which an operator starts is taken from the previous note. For example, in polyphonic mode, the maximum simultaneous output is 16 notes. When a 17th key is pressed, the first note smoothly transitions to the 17th note
        • LFO Speed The Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) can be used to apply vibrato, tremolo or "wow" effects. Can be set from 0 (slowest) to 99 (fastest)
        • LFO Delay Introduces a delay between the time at which a key is pressed and the time at which the Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) modulation begins. Can be set from 0 (no delay, modulation begins instantly) and 99 (longest delay)
        • LFO PMD Pitch Modulation Depth. Determines how much depth is applied to pitch by the Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO). Can be set from 0 (no pitch modulation) to 99 (maximum modulation)
        • LFO AMD Amplitude Modulation Depth. Determines how much depth is applied to amplitude by the Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO). Can be used to apply tremolo effects independently from controller settings. Can be set from 0 (no amplitude modulation) to 99 (maximum modulation)
        • LFO Sync When set to On, the Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) modulation starts at the same point in the waveform when a key is pressed. When set to Off, LFO modulation starts at a random point in the LFO waveform
        • LFO Wave Determines which of six waveforms is used for the Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO). Can be set to Triangle, Saw down, Saw up, Square, Sine, Sample/Hold
        • P Mod Sens. Pitch Modulation Sensitivity, determines how strongly the modulation wheel affects the sound. This results in pitch changes (vibrato effects). Can be set from 0 (no response to modulation wheel) to 7 (maximum response)
        • Transpose Transposes pitch. Can be set from -2 to +2 octaves in semitone steps with C3 as the default
        • Name Change current voice name. This will not change voice .syx files but will be saved in performance files; see Performance menu
    • TG2 (same structure as TG1 above) - NB: TG2-8 only appear on a multi-core Raspberry Pi (Pi 2 onwards).
    • TG3 (same structure as TG1 above)
    • TG4 (same structure as TG1 above)
    • TG5 (same structure as TG1 above)
    • TG6 (same structure as TG1 above)
    • TG7 (same structure as TG1 above)
    • TG8 (same structure as TG1 above)
  • Effects NOTE: This functionality is not part of the DX7/TX816 series of instruments. It is only available on a multi-core Raspberry Pi (Pi 2 onwards).
    • Compress
    • Reverb (stereo plate reverb)
      • Enable Reverb can be set On or Off
      • Size Sets reverb time
      • High damp Sets the high frequency loss in the reverb tail
      • Low damp Sets the low frequency loss in the reverb tail
      • Low pass Sets the output/master lowpass filter, useful for darkening the reverb sound
      • Diffusion Lower settings will make the reverb tail more "echoey", optimal value 0.65
      • Level Sets the amount of reverb applied overall
  • Performance
    • Load Loads a saved performance file wither from performance.ini or from the performance directory. The flag "[L]" at the upper left of the display indicate the currently loaded performance file
      • Default Loads performance.ini from the root directory
      • [Other entries] Load the respective file from the selected Bank
    • Save Saves the performance configuration
      • Overwrite Writes changes to the currently loaded performance file, overwriting it
      • New Create a new performance file. By default a suggested name will be generated, but it can be edited before the new file will be created. To do that, Push select (= down) button and move rotary encoder or increment/decrement (= left/right) buttons to move cursor. Select (= down) to confirm and back (= up) to abort
      • Set as default Saves the current performance parameters to the default performance.ini file, overwriting it. This performance will be loaded each time the device is turned on
    • Delete Deletes the currently loaded performance file. Note that the performance.ini default performance file cannot be deleted
    • Bank Select a bank. Each bank can contain up to 128 performances. “Default” is bank 001. The currently loaded bank is marked with [L] in the top line of the display.
    • PCCH If MIDIRXProgramChange=1 in minidexed.ini then this can be used to make Program Change messages select performances rather than individual voices. Can be set from 1 to 16, Omni (react to all MIDI channels), or Off i.e. Program Change messages act on individual TG voices.

Notes

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