Behringer BCF2000-WH - Manual (Page 5)

5
B-CONTROL FADER BCF2000-WH
1. INTRODUCTION
Thank you very much for expressing your confidence in BEHRINGER
products by purchasing the B-CONTROL BCF2000-WH. The
B-CONTROL is an extremely flexible control surface suitable for
a wide array of applications. Regardless of whether you want to
intuitively control your sequencer software with mixers, plug-ins
and virtual instruments, or if you wish to use its broad MIDI
functions for controlling rack synthesizers, general MIDI sound
generators or effect processors, the B-CONTROL offers you
tremendous ease of use that leaves no wishes open.
+
The following user’s manual is intended to familiarize
you with the unit’s control elements, so that you can
master all the functions. After having thoroughly read the
user’s manual, store it at a safe place for future reference.
1.1 Before you get started
1.1.1 Shipment
The B-CONTROL was carefully packed at the assembly plant to
assure secure transport. Should the condition of the cardboard
box suggest that damage may have taken place, please inspect
the unit immediately and look for physical indications of damage.
+
Damaged equipment should NEVER be sent directly to
us. Please inform the dealer from whom you acquired
the unit immediately as well as the transportation
company from which you took delivery of the unit.
Otherwise, all claims for replacement/repair may be
rendered invalid.
+
To assure optimal protection of your B-CONTROL during
use or transport, we recommend utilizing a carrying case.
+
Please always use the original packaging to avoid
damage due to storage or shipping.
+
Never let unsupervised children play with the
B-CONTROL or with its packaging.
+
Please dispose of all packaging materials in an
environmentally-friendly fashion.
1.1.2 Initial operation
Please make sure the unit is provided with sufficient ventilation,
and never place the B-CONTROL on top of an amplifier or in the
vicinity of a heater to avoid the risk of overheating.
A power supply unit which meets the necessary safety requirements
is enclosed for connecting the B-CONTROL to the mains.
IMPORTANT NOTE CONCERNING INSTALLATION
+
The sound quality may diminish within the range of
powerful broadcasting stations and high-frequency
sources. Increase the distance between the transmitter
and the device and use shielded cables for all connections.
1.1.3 Online registration
Please, do remember to register your new BEHRINGER
equipment right after your purchase by visiting www.behringer.com
(alternatively www.behringer.de) and kindly read the terms and
conditions of our warranty carefully.
Should your BEHRINGER product malfunction, our goal is to have
it repaired as quickly as possible. To arrange for warranty service,
please contact the retailer from whom the equipment was
purchased. Should your BEHRINGER dealer not be located in
your vicinity, you may directly contact one of our subsidiaries.
Corresponding contact information is included in the original
equipment packaging (Global Contact Information/European
Contact Information). Should your country not be listed, please
contact the distributor nearest you. A list of distributors can be
found in the support area of our website (www.behringer.com).
Registering your purchase and equipment with us helps us
process your repair claims quicker and more efficiently.
Thank you for your cooperation!
1.2 System requirements
for USB operation:
Up-to-date WINDOWS PC or MAC with a USB connection
+
The B-CONTROL supports WINDOWS XP and MAC OS X
“USB MIDI compatibility”. Soon, you will be able to
download drivers for other operating systems, for multi
unit support, new presets as well as a WINDOWS editor
software free of charge. Just click www.behringer.com
to get it for free.
+
The B-CONTROL can also be operated stand-alone
without a computer as a pure MIDI controller. Software
control via MIDI is also possible, provided your
computer has a MIDI interface.
2. INTRODUCTION TO MIDI
2.1 MIDI control for beginners
Application possibilities for the B-CONTROL are truly wide-
ranging. We’ll start with a couple of general explanations and
examples that should quickly let you get a good understanding of
MIDI basics.
What exactly does the B-CONTROL do?
Simply put, this a remote control for all kinds of MIDI equipment.
Using the faders, encoders (infinitely variable rotary controls) and
keys, an entire array of control functions can be performed.
Adjusting these parameters, you can control various functions of
external (hardware or software) equipment in real time. For
example, countless software mixers, sound generators or effects
can be remotely controlled. With these software applications, you
are dealing with simulations of “real” equipment in your computer,
whereby they are visually represented on the computer screen,
while the computer takes over the function of replicating their
respective functions.
And how does it work?
You can assign particular MIDI data to each control element on
the B-CONTROL; for example, you can assign the so-called “MIDI-
Controller 7” (CC 07) that adjusts the volume of a MIDI device to
one of the controls on your B-CONTROL. If you move / turn the
corresponding control on your B-CONTROL, you can hear how
the volume on the receiving MIDI device also changes (provided it
is also connected to an audio output). Keep the following in mind:
+
MIDI data is only control data and contains no audio
information!
What settings do I have to make? Where? How?
Often, you can assign MIDI control data numbers, the so-called
control change or CC numbers, to individual MIDI parameters.
That’s particularly the case with music software such as software
sequencers, mixers and sound generators as well as the so-called
“plug-ins” (effect units or sound generators integrated into the
software).
Basically, you have 2 options:
You either set the desired control numbers at the B-CONTROL
and transmit them to the software you are controlling, or you can
set the desired control data directly on your MIDI device and let
the B-CONTROL receive the information about number
assignment using the LEARN procedure.
2. INTRODUCTION TO MIDI