Connect & Control: OXI E16 manual

The OXI E16 is focussed on MIDI parameter control of one or more external devices, whether a PC/Mac Digital Audio Workstation, synths or audio effects. Multiple connectivity options are available for a high level of flexibility across devices. These include USB-C, Bluetooth Low Energy or MIDI TRS In and Out. The target device MIDI accessible parameters such as CC - Control Change, PC - Program Change, Pitch Bend, Notes and more can be controlled by the E16. The choice of connectivity method will depend on the application and the devices to connect with. It is important that you have knowledge on the destination device MIDI parameter mappings to align the E16 controls. It is also possible to use instrument definitions with the E16 to quickly set predefined parameter mappings. The MIDI configuration documentation from the equipment manufacturer will provide details of the MIDI Mappings, especially the CC definitions used with each device.

2.1 Connectivity Overview

OXI E16 has a variety of connection options including Bluetooth Light Energy, TRS MIDI and USB MIDI. This allows multiple devices to be connected and the choice of connection gives flexibility for the application required. A typical setup is shown in the illustration although many other options are possible.

2.2 MIDI USB Connectivity

It is possible to connect the E16 to another device directly with the USB-C connection. Bear in mind that this is also the power supply input so any connected device, for example a PC or Mac, must be able to supply the 5V, 200mA source..

Rear Edge

Example: MIDI USB OXI E16 to Mac / PC Ableton Live DAW

2.3 MIDI TRS Connectivity

OXI E16 can be used to control MIDI devices using a TRS MIDI connection in and out. This can also connect to the classic MIDI 5 Pin Din style connections with a type ‘A’ adapter / interface or by using a TRS Stereo cable if both devices are type A compatible.

MIDI In / Out / Thru

MIDI Thru can be set in the Conf > MIDI settings for TRS, USB or BLE. If set to On, MIDI messages from this input will be echoed to the other MIDI outputs. If set to off MIDI inputs will not be automatically be passed through the device to an output and only E16 generated messages are output.

2.4 MIDI Bluetooth Connectivity

OXI ONE uses BLE MIDI or Bluetooth Low Energy for wireless communications. BLE can sometimes be technically challenging to set up on some devices so it is advised to use a MIDI dongle such as WIDI Master, WIDI Jack or WIDI uHost when using devices like iPads. Android can be more robust for MIDI BLE.

Ensure the external device has bluetooth turned on in order to pair. The pairing process will be determined by the device itself and may be different between devices. The E16 will show up as a Bluetooth central MIDI device not a peripheral.

On the OXI E16, turn Bluetooth on in: Conf > Bluetooth > On/Off.

Once the option is selected, turn the lit knob to select On or Off and then tap the knob to confirm. The bluetooth connection will be active or inactive.

Example: MIDI Bluetooth OXI E16 to iPad AUM App.

2.5 MIDI Ports & Channels

OXI E16 has the ability to interface with multiple MIDI ports, each with 16 MIDI channels. Port A and B are the available ports integral to the E16 device but use the same physical output. These may be identified as 1 and 2 on some external DAWs and devices. The output ports and the 16 channels in E16 can be assigned at a page level for all controls within that page or at an individual control level, per destination.

Example: Channel and Output Configuration

Page level output and channel can be set at the individual control level. This means the control destination uses the collective page level settings. If the control destination setting has a dedicated output and channel number assigned then this will be used for this destination.

2.6 Control Settings Overview

The E16 can control a variety of MIDI message formats. The default parameter configuration is control change but each knob can be configured individually. The configuration and setup options will depend on the parameter type. Controls are configured in the control settings, accessed from the control view.

Each parameter can control:-

• 2 x Control Destinations - Variable MIDI message sent by turning the rotary knob.
• 1 x Push Control - Discrete MIDI message sent by pushing the rotary knob.

Output operates over a defined range to affect a destination parameter. For example, CC over a 0-127 range for a filter cutoff control.

Output operates over a defined range to affect a destination parameter. For example, CC over a 0-127 range for filter cutoff control.

Output operates similar to on/off behaviour with two values. For example, Note value on or off, or CC On/Hi value 127 and Off/Low value 0.

The rotary LEDs will indicate the value of a rotary control, A single, lit LED on the knob control will indicate if a configured push + toggle state is on or off.

The push command can also initiate scripts and navigate pages.

2.7 Configuring a Control

The E16 can control a variety of control types. The settings menu is the starting point for configuring on board the device. Also a quicker solution is to use the OXI App which contains a dedicated scene editor, used to configure the pages and controls.

The control settings are accessed from the control view. Hold (Knob) + Tap [Shift] to edit the selected control. This will configure the control in the current scene and page of parameters. Turn the lit knob to scroll and tap to select an option to edit.

Editing a Control

1. The settings edit menu is accessible from the control view. Tap [Shift] if necessary to

backup the menu to the main home screen. Select a scene by tapping the associated knob to choose the scene and its control view.

1. To directly edit a control hold the (Knob) + Tap [Shift]. This is performed from the

control view. The editor will open for the selected control.

1. The editor tab should be open for 'Ctrl'. If not, hold [Shift] and tap (Knob 1) to choose

the controller settings. The page and scene settings tabs are also available.

1. To navigate, turn (Knob 1). Scroll to the desired option and tap (Knob 1) to edit. The

selected option is highlighted and when in edit mode the '►' tag label is shown.

1. Once editing is complete tap [Shift] to backup and exit. After any edits the scene can

be saved. This option is presented when backing up to the home scenes page.

1. Note that a controller's settings can also be erased, copied and pasted to another

control from within this menu.

2.8 Control Colors

Each control can be set with its own color scheme for the control functions. This sets the color of the rotary LED ring for each control knob and its destinations and is useful as a visual reference. The color setting is defined at a control level for each control knob and is set in the control editor. The color spectrum is chosen within a parameter range of 0 to 100.

When setting the color value in the edit menu, the knob LED color will change while editing making it easy to select visually rather than by numbers.

The first LED on the rotary LED ring can be set to on for all controls or stay at the default off. This is a visual indicator for the lowest value. This is set in the config settings under System > Color Indicator.

2.9 Controller Destination Options

A variety of parameter types can be controlled by the E16. These are setup based on the target device and parameter to modulate. The type of control is set up per destination. There are three options per knob, two rotary destinations and one push destination. Select 'Dest 1', 'Dest 2' or 'Push' to configure each destination for the selected knob. If destination 1 is set to Off, destination 2 will be unavailable.

The available destination menu options will change depending on the destination.

CC Abs - Control Change Absolute

Control change sends a value that is used to affect a destination parameter over a defined range. Absolute is the most common application of CC control. The maximum range for absolute control is from 0-127. An example is to control a filter cutoff sweep with a CC parameter. The control sends an absolute value between 0-127 to the destination.

CC Rel 1 & 2 - Control Change Relative

Control change sends a value that is used to affect a destination parameter over a defined range. Relative mode is useful for interfacing to DAWs and other devices where an incremental change iteration is required. Relative 1 will send a value of 1to increment the control and 127 to decrement. Relative 2 operates the same but uses 63 to increment and 65 to decrement the destination.

CC 14 (High Res) - Control Change Absolute - High Resolution

Control change sends a value that is used to affect a destination parameter over a defined range, the standard being 7 bit 0-127. High resolution refers to the ability to send more precise, smoother controlled absolute CC values over a range of 0-16,383. This is implemented using MSB and LSB messaging to the CC numbers.

PC - Program Change

Program change messages also called PC, are used to change a destination device preset, bank, patch or program using values between 1-128. The actual impact and numerical alignment of a PC message from the E16 will depend on how the destination device is designed. Refer to the manufacturers MIDI implementation guide.

PB - Pitch Bend

Pitch bend refers to the adjustment of the note pitch up or down while it plays by use of a modulation control. On many synths this would be represented by a pitch bend wheel. On the E16 a knob can be set to operate the pitch bend command for MIDI out configured over a note range of C-2 to G8.

AT - Aftertouch

Aftertouch is a common feature on many synths and audio devices. Aftertouch represents how hard a keyboard key is pressed after triggering the initial note. Sometimes called channel pressure, aftertouch operates over a 0-127 range. The E16 can send an aftertouch message by using a control knob. Aftertouch messages are part of the MIDI standard so should easily be recognised by a compatible destination device.

Note - Musical Note Values

Note messages represent a musical note value, similar to pressing a keyboard key or triggering a sequencer note. A Note On message is sent at a fixed velocity of 100 over a range of C-2 up to G8 when turning the control knob followed by a Note Off message.

NRPN - Non-Registered Parameter Number

NRPN is an alternative messaging to the MIDI CC standard and offers a higher resolution of control. Not all devices are NRPN compatible so check with the manufacturers MIDI implementation documentation. NRPN and High Resolution CC14 operate in a similar way with an MSB / LSB messaging approach.

Push Control Options

Each knob control can be set to 2 rotary destinations and 1 push destination. The push control sends a MIDI message when the knob is quickly pressed. Slow / long presses may select a secondary function rather than trigger the push option. Once a type has been selected, the available settings will present the configuration options.

About the Push behaviour: When using the push knob configured for a destination, the push requires a quick press. This is important as some commands also operate by holding / long pressing a knob. So for example, tap quickly to change page if set as destination or long press to assign a control to a group from the control view.

2.10 Store

It is useful, especially during a live performance, to capture and recall the current state of the E16 page of parameter value. This allows improvisation and experimentation and then quickly return to the prior value state.

Store is a function that can be assigned per control knob. This allows the current page value to be captured when holding the encoder and after further changes, can be restored to the stored state by tapping the store encoder.

Store can be assigned to an encoder knob from within the control view when editing a control type. The Store knob is pressed to activate a store command.