Loading...

The Midi Show Control (MSC) input protocol allows remote controlling the Pandoras Box timeline and layer parameters. MSC commands are based on System Exclusive messages (SysEx) according to the MSC specification.

MSC Syntax

This shows how the format of a MSC (Midi Show Control message) is defined and what Pandoras Box accepts. Below you find some examples.

<data>
All data must be encoded from ASCII Format. So the decimal number 1 in ASCII is ONE and in hex 31h.
Multiple data elements must be separated (SET) with 00h.
Separators as dec.(2Eh) are accepted but the next value is not processed.

The chapter "Syntax TCP- / UDP- / Serial Messages" shows a table with hexadecimal values translated to more human readable decimal values and ASCII.

In case you would like to test the MSC feature with Widget Designer, you can send a command called MidiSendSysEx. As shown in the command's help, the syntax is slightly different: instead of the above shown "XXh" format it should be "hXX" in WD.

 
Examples for PB Sequence Control

As above, for the examples the Sequence ID should be 1 and the command format is "All Types", which gives us this string:

GO-command = 01h

GO - without a cue:
a) if the last command was a LOAD cue, the loaded cue will be called.
b) in all other cases the timeline will continue from its actual play position.

<command> = GO = 01h
<data> = not needed

GO - in conjunction with a cue:
Jump to Cue + Play (the cue will overwrite a previously loaded cue)

<command> = GO = 01h
<data> = Cue, e.g. Cue 24 is TWO FOUR which is 32h 34h

It is valid to send a cue 24.001 which is : 32h 34h (TWO FOUR) 2E (decimal separator) 30 30 31 (ZERO ZERO ONE) 00 (SET separator is optional)

As decimal places for cue numbers are not supported in Pandoras Box, you can use the check box option "Use Cue Subsection" in the Configuration tab > Remote Control Prototcols > Midi. Doing this will multiply the incoming cue command x1000 (for example: GO to Cue 24.001 will no be interpreted as GO to Cue 24001). With this option three decimal places are supported.

PB also accepts this string which is according to the GrandMA format with cue list and cue path – only the first cue is processed.

Go to Cue 0 (ZERO = 30h) can have different result according to the option "Cue ID 0 Handling" in the Configuration tab > Remote Control Prototcols > Midi.

STOP-command = 02h

This pauses the PB timeline at the current position.

RESUME-command = 03h

This has the same effect as the GO-command.

LOAD-command = 05h

LOAD must be used with a cue. The example loads Cue 24 which is processed by the next incoming GO or RESUME command. In other words, the LOAD command by itself is not visible in Pandoras Box.

RESET and GO_OFF-commands = 0Ah or 0Bh

Both commands stop the timeline so that the time is 0:00:00:00

Examples for PB Parameter Control

As above, the examples refer to Sequence ID 1 and use the command format "All Types", which gives us the same string to start with:

SET-command = 06h

This allows you to transmit individual device parameters. The <data> message consists of 4 values which must be followed by a 00h-separator. All decimal values will be ignored.

<data1>: Device ID
<data2>: Layer ID
<data3>: Parameter ID
<data4>: Value

Sample message with:
Device 1 = ONE = 31h
Layer 3 = THREE = 33h
X-Position = see table, EIGTH = 38h
Value 32768 = THREE TWO SEVEN SIX EIGTH = 33h 32h 37h 36h 38h

The Value 32768 translates to 0 generic units for all position parameters. Per default, Pandoras Box version 6 displays pixel values where applicable. In the Configuration dialog > Unit Management values can be set back to the old default. In that case value 0 (30h) translates to -256 units and 128 (31h 32h 38h) to -255 etc.

List of Pandoras Box Parameter IDs: