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MC6 MK1 (DISCONTINUED)

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 * •
   Manual
 * •
   MIDI Types Glossary



MC6 MK1 (Discontinued)Manual
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MANUAL


 * James Toh

Owned by James Toh

Last updated: Dec 06, 2020
11 min read
 * 1 Introduction
   * 1.1 FIRMWARE v2.5.0
 * 2 Overview
 * 3 Powering the MC6
 * 4 Connections and I/Os
   * 4.1 Midi In/Receive
   * 4.2 Midi Out/Send/Thru
   * 4.3 USB port
   * 4.4 EXP 1 & 2
 * 5 Global Settings
   * 5.1 Set Midi Thru (mThru)
   * 5.2 Factory Reset (Reset)‌
   * 5.3 Set Midi Channel (MidiCh)
   * 5.4 Change Input (ChgInp)‌
   * 5.5 Switch Sensitivity (SwSens)
 * 6 General Usage
   * 6.1 Scrolling through banks
   * 6.2 Switch and display names‌
     * 6.2.1 Activating Presets‌
     * 6.2.2 Dual Switch Functions‌
 * 7 Programming Switches‌
   * 7.1 To program a switch‌
   * 7.2 Msg‌
   * 7.3 Clear
   * 7.4 Copy (To all banks)‌
   * 7.5 Paste‌
   * 7.6 Name‌
   * 7.7 Toggle Name Change‌
   * 7.8 Name Placeholders
 * 8 FullName‌
 * 9 Bank Settings
 * 10 BankName
   * 10.1 Copy‌
   * 10.2 Paste‌
 * 11 Using Expression Pedals‌
   * 11.1 Programming Expression Pedals‌
   * 11.2 Expression Pedal Settings Menu
   * 11.3 Edit‌
   * 11.4 Sensitivity (Sens)‌
   * 11.5 Calibrate‌
   * 11.6 Display‌
 * 12 Using External Controllers
   * 12.1 Aux Switch Controllers‌
 * 13 Midi Implementation Table
   * 13.1 The functions you can control include:‌
     * 13.1.1 Control Change
   * 13.2 Program Change
 * 14 MC6 Editor
   * 14.1 Using the MC6 Editor
 * 15 Updating the Firmware
   * 15.1 How to update‌
 * 16 Troubleshooting
   * 16.1 General‌
     * 16.1.1 I’ve got no idea why I can’t get it to work‌
   * 16.2 Outgoing Messages‌
     * 16.2.1 MC6 not sending expected messages‌
     * 16.2.2 MC6 is sending unexpected messages‌
   * 16.3 Web/Desktop Editor‌
     * 16.3.1 I can’t get the Editor to connect
   * 16.4 Fractal/AxeFX Specific‌
     * 16.4.1 I can’t get phantom power to work‌
   * 16.5 I can’t get the Tuner to work.
   * 16.6 Using an External Aux Controller‌
     * 16.6.1 Screen hangs when I plug it in‌


INTRODUCTION


FIRMWARE V2.5.0

‌

This section explains how the controller works and how pressing individual
switches or different switch combinations will interact with the controller.

‌

Please refer to the Midi Type Reference as well for more information on
selecting the correct midi type that you need.

 


OVERVIEW

The MC6 is a fully programmable Midi controller. How it is structured is simple:
There are 30 banks. Each bank has 12 presets, 6 of which are accessible from the
6 switches, while the other 6 are hidden but can be activated by other means
such as dual switch presses or external controllers. A Page Toggle function is
also available to flip between the first 6 presets and the last 6 presets.

‌

Each preset can be programmed to send out 8 different messages. These messages
can range from your standard Midi messages such as CC and PC messages, or
advanced functions such as Toggling, Midi Clock and much more.

‌

The full list of message types can be found in the Midi Type Reference Manual.

 


POWERING THE MC6

Open


‌

Your MC6 can be powered by any one of these methods:

‌

 * 9VDC Centre Negative power supply
   
   * Connect a 9VDC centre negative power supply to the power input of the MC6.

 * Phantom Power (9-12v AC or DC)
   
   * Connect a 7-pin Midi cable to the MIDI OUT port of the MC6. Phantom power
     is supplied through pins 6 and 7. Phantom power is chained to pins 6 & 7 on
     the MIDI IN port as well, allowing you to power other devices.

 * USB powered
   
   * Connect a USB cable to the MC6. The MC6 is capable of being fully powered
     by USB.

 


CONNECTIONS AND I/OS

Open


 


MIDI IN/RECEIVE

This is where the MC6 receives MIDI messages from other MIDI devices.


MIDI OUT/SEND/THRU

This is where MIDI data is sent from the MC6 to other devices. You can use a
standard 5-pin MIDI cable, or a 7-pin one if you want to power the MC6 with
phantom power. The MC6 also has MIDI THRU, which allows incoming MIDI messages
to be relayed to other MIDI-capable devices.


USB PORT

The MC6 can also send and receive MIDI data via USB, allowing you to have
control over your DAWs and music software. It is class compliant and compatible
with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.


EXP 1 & 2

Connect your expression pedals to these ports. You may also connect aux switches
here to add more programmable switches to the MC6.

 


GLOBAL SETTINGS

‌

Open


To access the Controller Settings Menu, hold down Switches D+F before powering
up the MC6. The display will indicate that it is booting into the configuration
page, and the menu below will be displayed:


SET MIDI THRU (MTHRU)

Switch on/off the MIDI thru function on the MC6. This function allows the MC to
relay MIDI messages from other devices to devices further down the MIDI chain.


FACTORY RESET (RESET)‌

To do a factory reset, hold down for 2 seconds. The MC6 will show that it is
performing a factory reset. All user presets and settings will be reset to
factory default when a reset is done.


SET MIDI CHANNEL (MIDICH)

Set the MIDI receive channel for the MC6. The MC6 can receive and respond to
messages from external midi controllers. The MC6 also communicates with the
Editor through its Midi Channel.


CHANGE INPUT (CHGINP)‌

Change Expression Input Type. The two 1/4 inch inputs on the MC6 can each be
used independently for expression pedals or external aux switches.

‌

IMPORTANT- Please note that if you do not have any expression pedals/external
switches connected to the MC6, your Expression Inputs should be set to [Expn
Pedal]. Otherwise the MC6 will hang on the main page as it will think that an
external switch is being pressed.


SWITCH SENSITIVITY (SWSENS)

Set switch sensitivity. Choose from 1 (least sensitive)to 5 (most sensitive). By
default, this is set to 3 and should be comfortable for most users. Depending on
personal taste, you may adjust sensitivity to help you bank up/down (by stepping
on 2 switches at once) more accurately. More sensitive means that the lag
between the time when a message is sent out and when the switch is pressed it at
its minimum.

 


GENERAL USAGE


SCROLLING THROUGH BANKS

Open


‌

Step on Switches [A + B] together to bank down and Switches [B + C] to bank up.
There are a total of 30 banks on the MC6.


SWITCH AND DISPLAY NAMES‌


ACTIVATING PRESETS‌

Each switch corresponds to the display name closest to it. Pressing switch [A]
activates Preset A, switch [B] activates Preset B and so forth.

Open


‌


DUAL SWITCH FUNCTIONS‌

The MC6 makes use of dual switch combination to carry out certain functions.

Function

Switch

Bank Down

A+B

Bank Up

B+C

Bank Lock

B+D

Bank Edit

B+F

Toggle Editor Mode

C+D

Toggle Midi Thru

A+F



‌Besides this, you can also use dual switch presses to call the extra presets.

Preset

Switch

G

D+E

H

E+F

I

A+D

J

B+E

K

C+F



 


PROGRAMMING SWITCHES‌

On a new controller, all switches are initially labelled as EMPTY. It is up to
you to decide exactly what each one will do.

Open


 


TO PROGRAM A SWITCH‌

 1. Press the switch you wish to program

 2. Press Switches [D + F] together. This will take you the the Switch Settings
    Menu shown below.

Open



MSG‌

Edit the MIDI messages that will be sent by each switch.

Open


 

‌Use Switches A+B to move between parameters, and Switches F+C to increase and
decrease parameter values. At any time, press Switches D+E together to save your
current message settings, and press Switches E+F to return to the previous menu
without saving.

 * M: This is the message number of the MIDI message that you are editing. Each
   switch on the MC6 can send up to 8 different MIDI messages at once. Press to
   scroll through the 8 messages to edit each one.

 * Type: Choose the type of MIDI message you want to send. You can select from
   Program Change (PC), Control Change (CC), Toggle messages and many others.
   Please refer to our MIDI Message Types List on page 15 for the full list of
   messages available and what each one can do.

 * 0:0: The first pair of zeros you see on the screen are Number 1 : Value 1.
   Each parameter on your other MIDI devices have corresponding MIDI numbers. By
   changing MIDI Number 1, you can choose which parameter you want to affect on
   your other devices. By changing you MIDI Value 1, you set the value you want
   the chosen parameter to be at.

 * 0:0: The second pair of zeros you see on the screen are Number 2 : Value 2.
   These are required only when you use toggle type MIDI messages, allowing you
   to toggle between Number 1 : Value 1 and Number 2 : Value 2 using the same
   switch.

 * Ch: This determines the MIDI channel (1-16) that your MIDI message will be
   sent through. Assign different MIDI channels of each of your other devices so
   that messages for specific devices will not conflict with each other.


CLEAR

Hold down to clear all settings on current switch.


COPY (TO ALL BANKS)‌

Press to copy the settings of the current switch.

Press and hold to copy the preset to the same preset in all banks.


PASTE‌

Press to paste copied switch settings onto current switch.


NAME‌

Name your switches. This will be displayed on the main screen of the MC6.

Open


‌

 * Use Switches [A] and [B] to move between characters, and Switches [F] and [C]
   to change characters. Pressing Switch [D] allows you to skip characters and
   scroll through more quickly. At any time, press [D+E] together to save your
   current settings and exit, or press [E+F] to exit without saving.

‌

HANDY TIP: Quick Scroll through Common Names Some common names have been
pre-programmed for your convenience. Use Switches A+B and B+C to scroll through
them.

‌


TOGGLE NAME CHANGE‌

If you add a "#" to the first character of your long name, it will be designated
for use with toggle messages. You can now switch between 2 short names in your
main preset display page. For example, if you have Preset A programmed to be a
CC Toggle, short name = "Clean" and long name = "#Crunch", your display for
Preset A will switch between "Clean" and "Crunch", depending on the toggle
position for that preset.‌


NAME PLACEHOLDERS

You can display the scroll number of your PC scroll arrays directly on the
preset short name and/or long name. SImply add a %E0 to your name to display the
first number in the array. The numeric value determines which number to show. A
%E7 will display the last number in the array.


FULLNAME‌

Choose a longer name for the selected switch. This name will be displayed when
the switch is stepped on. If left blank, no full name will be shown when the
switch is stepped on.


BANK SETTINGS

Open


ACCESSING BANK EDIT MODE‌

On the home screen, press Switches [B+F] to enter Bank Edit mode shown above.


BANKNAME

Open


‌Name your current bank. Naming banks is done the same way as naming switches.‌

Hiding the Bank Number: If you do not want the bank number to be displayed when
switching banks, set the first bank name character to “#”. The MC6 will skip the
bank number display when changing banks and immediately display the presets.


COPY‌

Copy current bank settings. All bank and switch settings on the current bank
will be copied to clipboard.


PASTE‌

Paste copied bank settings to current bank.

 


USING EXPRESSION PEDALS‌


PROGRAMMING EXPRESSION PEDALS‌

Similar to programming switches, pressing Switch [A + C] will allow you to
program your last moved expression pedal.‌


EXPRESSION PEDAL SETTINGS MENU


EDIT‌

Choose what you want your expression pedal to control. Be sure to calibrate your
expression pedal first (see below). Use only expression pedals with 10k to 25k
potentiometers (10k preferable), with wiper to tip.

Programming expression pedals is very similar to programming switches. The CC
number for your expression pedal message is represented by Number 1 and the
range of values sent will be from Value 1 to Value 2. Each expression pedal can
send up to 8 MIDI messages.‌


SENSITIVITY (SENS)‌

Adjust the sensitivity level of your expression pedal. The MC6 works best with
Expression Pedals using 10k ohm potentiometers, and you can set the sensitivity
to the highest. If you’re using a high valued potentiometer, you may encounter
the expression read being jittery. If so, simply adjust the sensitivity to a
lower setting.


CALIBRATE‌

Calibrate your expression pedal by setting the Heel Down and Toe Down positions.
This allows the MC6 to send the correct values for the full range of your
Expression Pedal.


DISPLAY‌

When this feature is enabled, your expression pedal’s name (as named by you) and
the expression pedal’s position will be displayed when the pedal is being moved.
While the name is being displayed, the MC6 will not send out any presets when a
switch is pressed. Press Switch C to immediately exit the Expression Display

 


USING EXTERNAL CONTROLLERS

You can connect external Aux or Midi controllers to your MC6 and expand its
functionality and capability.


AUX SWITCH CONTROLLERS‌

Connect your aux switches via stereo 1/4” cables to the expression inputs of the
MC6. Each expression input can accept up to 3 aux switches. This will give you 6
more fully programmable switches (that’s a total of 12 switches).

The Aux switch should be using momentary switches, with each switch connecting
the Tip to Sleeve, Ring to Sleeve, or Tip and Ring to Sleeve to engage the
different presets.

 


MIDI IMPLEMENTATION TABLE

Connect an external Midi controller to the MIDI IN of the MC6. This will allow
you to control specific functions on the MC6, such as jumping immediately to
specific banks, adding extra switches or banking up and down with your external
Midi controller.

The MC6 is able to read incoming MIDI messages. It will read messages sent to
the MIDI channel that it is set to. You can set the MC6 MIDI channel from the
Global Controller Settings menu.


THE FUNCTIONS YOU CAN CONTROL INCLUDE:‌


CONTROL CHANGE

Function

CC Number

CC Value

Comments

Bank Down

0

0 - 127



Bank Up

1

0 - 127



Set All Toggle

2

127



Set Specific Toggle

2

0 - 11

Value set specific preset

Clear All Toggle

3

127



Clear Specific Toggle

3

0 - 11

Value clears specific preset

Preset A - L

10 - 21

0 - 127

Down press only.



‌


PROGRAM CHANGE

Function

PC Number

Jump to Bank

0 - 29



 


MC6 EDITOR

A software and web editor is available for you to program your MC6 switches more
quickly and easily.

Download the MC6 Software Editor from our downloads page at:
http://www.morningstarfx.com/downloads

The Editor is also available on the web, and can be accessed via Google Chrome
or Opera browsers here: http://editor.morningstar.io


USING THE MC6 EDITOR

‌

 1. Connect your MC6 to your computer via the included USB cable.

 2. On the home screen of your MC6, press switches [C+D] to enter Editor mode.
    This enables the MC6 to start sending messages to the Editor.

 3. To program a switch, just press on the switch you wish to program. It’s bank
    number and switch letter will be displayed on the Software Editor’s screen.

 4. Name your switch, and input the parameters and values you wish to use.

 5. Click on ‘Save’ or hit Enter to save your switch’s name and message
    settings.

 6. When using the MC6 to communicate with your devices make sure to toggle out
    of Editor Mode so that the MC6 will not send any unnecessary messages.

 


UPDATING THE FIRMWARE

We regularly work on firmware updates to continually improve your MC6
experience.

Download the MC6 Updater Software and latest Firmware Updates from our downloads
page at: http://www.morningstarfx.com/downloads

‌

The firmware releases can be found in our online repository: GitHub -
Morningstar-Engineering/MC6-Midi-Controller: Binary releases for the Morningstar
Engineering Midi Controllers

‌

Once in the page, click on Releases to view all the latest firmware release.
Beta versions are available for you to try out the new features that we are
working on, but might be unstable. Stable releases have been tested.


HOW TO UPDATE‌

Connect the MC6 to your computer via the included USB cable, and then run the
Firmware Updater software. In the software, click on Upload. A file select box
should appear. Simply navigate to the folder where you downloaded the firmware,
and select the firmware that you downloaded. The software will load the new
firmware into the controller and it will be indicated by a progress bar.

 


TROUBLESHOOTING


GENERAL‌


I’VE GOT NO IDEA WHY I CAN’T GET IT TO WORK‌

 * Head over to www.midimonitor.com to view the outgoing messages from your MC6.
   You can verify whether the messages coming out from the MC6 is as what you
   expected.

 * Check that the MC6 Midi Out (closest to the USB port) is connected to your
   device Midi In.

 * Ensure that your MC6 is not in Editor Mode.

‌


OUTGOING MESSAGES‌


MC6 NOT SENDING EXPECTED MESSAGES‌

 * Check that your MC6 is OUT of Midi Editor mode when trying to control your
   Midi devices. If your MC6 is in editor mode, it will be sending a bunch of
   messages meant for the Editor.


MC6 IS SENDING UNEXPECTED MESSAGES‌

 * See 1a.

‌


WEB/DESKTOP EDITOR‌


I CAN’T GET THE EDITOR TO CONNECT

There are 3 reasons why the Editor cannot connect to your MC6.‌

 1. You need to use a Midi-enabled browser. As of time of writing, only Google
    Chrome supports Web Midi.

 2. Your MC6 Midi channel is not aligned with the Editor channel. If your MC6
    Midi Channel is set to 1, the Editor Channel drop down box should also be
    set to 1.

 3. Your MC6 is not in Editor mode. For v2.4 firmware, press Switch C+D to
    toggle in and out of editor mode.


FRACTAL/AXEFX SPECIFIC‌

Please read through theAxeFX MIDI Wiki


I CAN’T GET PHANTOM POWER TO WORK‌

 * You will need a 7/8 pin Midi cable that connected from your AxeFX Midi Out to
   your MC6 Midi In. You also need an additional AC power adaptor that connected
   to the back of your AxeFX phantom power port.

‌


I CAN’T GET THE TUNER TO WORK.

‌

 * You need 2 midi cables connected the MC6 Midi OUT to the AxeFX Midi IN, as
   well as the AxeFX Midi OUT to the MC6 Midi IN. Disable Midi THRU on the MC6
   and the AxeFX. Enable SysEx Messages on the AxeFX.


USING AN EXTERNAL AUX CONTROLLER‌


SCREEN HANGS WHEN I PLUG IT IN‌

 * Check that you are using a stereo cable. Also, you need to go into the config
   menu and set the expression input to [Aux Sw].












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