Configuration
Overview
General Configuration
X,Y and Z Encoding
Mono Function
Midi Device Compatibility
Rounding and Tuning
Continuum Voltage Converter
Multiple Configurations
Overview
The Continuum Fingerboard and the Continuum Voltage Converter may be configured by pressing on its playing surface while pressing the Continuum Fingerboard's Red Button. Overlay Strips can be attached above and below the playing surface to aid in identifying the various configuration options. These same configuration options (and a few additional) are available using the Continuum Fingerboard's Midi In, as described here.
Non-Registered Parameter Number
To change the Continuum Fingerboard's configuration using Midi, send it a NRPN (a Non-Registered Parameter Number, pronounced "nerpin") with hex bytes as follows:
Bn 63 6q 62 pp 06 vv
n specifies the Midi channel (values 0-F hex)
q is the configuration number (values 0-A hex)
pp selects one of the parameters listed below
vv is the parameter value as specified below
Except where explicitly noted below, configuration parameters affect all Midi channels, and n may be any value. For the current configuration q is 0, for one of the ten saved configurations q is 1-A hex.
For example, sending BF 63 60 62 01 06 05 to the Continuum Fingerboard's Midi In will select polyphony 5 in the current configuration.
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General Configuration
Polyphony (number of simultaneous notes tracked by the playing surface)
pp = 01, vv = polyphony (decimal values 1-16, 10 is default)
Keyboard Split
The Continuum Fingerboard's Keyboard Split allows you to limit the pitch range of each of its Midi output channels. Send a pair of NRPNs on each active Midi channel to set that channel's pitch range. Then enable Keyboard Split using any channel.
pp = 0B, n = Midi channel, vv = low pitch for the Midi channel n
pp = 0C, n = Midi channel, vv = high pitch for the Midi channel n
pp = 0D, vv = 01 to enable keyboard split
pp = 0D, vv = 00 to disable keyboard split (default)
Select Midi Program
Transmit Midi program change on each Midi channel used by the Continuum Fingerboard.  The Midi program change will be transmitted immediately, and whenever this configuration is loaded.
pp = 11 hex, vv = 1..127 program number
pp = 11 hex, vv = 0 to disable this feature
Merge and Note Priority
The Continuum Fingerboard's Midi In may be merged to any or all of the following: Midi Out, Continuum Voltage Converter (CVC), and Kyma. Select Exclusive if you want only the Midi In data, and no data generated from fingers on the playing surface. Select LVN if you want notes generated from fingers on the playing surface assigned to the lowest voice number available; if you do not select LVN, the least recently used (LRU) voice will be used.
pp = 1A hex, vv = any sum of: 1= Midi Out, 2= CVC, 4=Kyma, 32=LVN, 64=Exclusive
Map Quarter Inch Input Jacks
Some Continuum Fingerboards have two quarter inch input jacks in place of the Midi Thru connector.  You may specify which Midi controller corresponds to each jack.  The quarter inch input jacks have been tested with Yamaha FC4, FC5, and FC7 pedals.  Using a quarter inch jack is exactly equivalent to sending the corresponding Midi controller value to the Continuum Fingerboard's Midi In on channel 16; see the Midi Input section for details.
pp = 16 hex, vv = controller number (default is vv =  64 sustain pedal)
pp = 17 hex, vv = controller number (default is vv =  66 sostenuto 1 pedal)
Continuum Firmware Version
The Configuration Dump includes the following NRPNs to indicate the firmware version:
pp = 18 hex, vv = high 7 bits of 14-bit firmware version number
pp = 19 hex, vv = low 7 bits of 14-bit firmware version number
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X,Y and Z Encoding
Octave Shift
pp = 08, vv = 3E for 2 octaves down
pp = 08, vv = 3F for 1 octave down
pp = 08, vv = 40 for no octave shift (default)
pp = 08, vv = 41 for 1 octave up
pp = 08, vv = 42 for 2 octaves up
X Pitch Bend Range
pp = 02, vv = bend range in half steps (decimal values 1-96, 24 is default)
Front-Back (Y) Encoding
pp = 05, vv = select continuous controller (decimal values 0-127, 12 is default)
Pressure (Z) Encoding
pp = 03, vv < 3F: vv is continuous controller (7 is default)
pp = 03, vv = 3F: encode z with Midi channel pressure
Velocity Encoding
pp = 07, vv = 01 for downward finger velocity (z) used in velocity byte of Note On
pp = 07, vv = 00 for constant 3F used in velocity byte of Note On (default)
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Mono Function
Default Mono Function (select between legato, retrigger, and portamento transitions)
The Continuum Fingerboard allows you to select between legato, retrigger, and portamento transitions using the Mono Function Controller (controller 65 on channel 16). In the absence of a Mono Function Controller, the Default Mono Function will be used.
pp = 14 hex, vv = default mono function (vv=0 legato, vv=64 retrigger, vv=127 portamento)
Mono Interval
The Mono Interval allows you to play single-note lines when the continuum is configured with polyphony greater than 1.  Sequential notes played within the Mono Interval will be performed as single-note lines.  The Mono Switch (controller 68 on channel 16) can be used to enable and disable effect of the Mono Interval during a performance.
pp = 15 hex, vv = 0: mono interval disabled (default)
pp = 15 hex, vv > 0: mono interval in half steps (may not exceed pitch bend range)
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Midi Device Compatibility
Single Channel Mode
If necessary, it is possible to configure the Continuum Fingerboard to output all Midi information on one Midi channel; this is called single-channel mode. The Continuum Fingerboard is inherently a multi-channel Midi device, and in order to operate in single-channel mode, a few compromises have to be made. The pitch deviation is based on the finger with maximum deviation. The front-back (y) position is based on the average front-back position of all fingers. If you configured your Continuum Fingerboard to use channel pressure, single-channel mode will use polyphonic aftertouch; otherwise, single-channel mode will encode the average pressure of all fingers with the pressure (z) controller you configured. Single-channel mode is really only beneficial if the Continuum Fingerboard is connected to a Midi device or sequencer that has trouble dealing with simultaneous information on multiple channels.
pp = 0A, vv = 02 single-channel mode
pp = 0A, vv = 00 or 01 for normal operation; see Round Initial description for values
Bend Reset
Bend Reset is useful in two situations:
1) When you use a Continuum Fingerboard with a synthesizer or software (such as Logic) that imposes a maximum rate for Pitch Bend or does not preserve the order of Midi Pitch Bend and Note On messages. If your synthesizer has such limitations, configure the Continuum Fingerboard for Bend Reset to avoid getting an unwanted glissando at the start of the next note following a long glissando.
2) When you use a Continuum Fingerboard together with other keyboard controllers on the same synthesizer. Configuring Bend Reset will assure the front-back (y) and pressure (z) controllers are left in default states after you finish playing the Continuum Fingerboard.
pp = 06, vv = 01 to reset Pitch Bend 100 ms after each Note Off, and y and z after 4 seconds.
pp = 06, vv = 00 for no Pitch Bend reset (default)
Moog Voyager Nonlinear Encoding of Midi Pitch Bend
If you would like to control a Moog Voyager through Midi, the Continuum Fingerboard needs to specially prepare pitch bend messages in order to be compatible with the Voyager's non-linear Midi pitch bend encoding. If you control the Voyager through the CVC, this configuration is not necessary.
pp = 27 hex, vv = 01 for Midi control of Moog Voyager (for non-linear Midi pitch bend encoding)
pp = 27 hex, vv = 00 for all other Midi synths (for linear Midi pitch bend encoding)
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Rounding and Tuning
Round Initial  (round initial finger positions)
pp = 0A, vv = 00 for no initial finger position rounding
pp = 0A, vv = 01 for round initial finger positions to nearest half step
Default Round Rate (round finger positions during notes)
The Continuum Fingerboard can automatically round finger positions to the nearest half step after you complete a glissando, or at any time during a note. The Round Rate determines how quickly the rounding occurs. The Round Rate is set by controller 5 on channel 16 on the Continuum's Midi In jack. If there is no controller 5 on channel 16 (see above), the Default Round Rate will be used.
pp = 10 hex, vv = default round rate (vv=0 is default)
Tuning Grid
You can specify the tuning grid that the Continuum Fingerboard uses when it rounds finger positions.
pp = 1B hex, vv = 60 for Just tuning with C tonic center
pp = 1B hex, vv = 61 for Just tuning with C# tonic center
pp = 1B hex, vv = 62..71 for Just tuning with D..B tonic center
pp = 1B hex, vv = 80..87 for one of eight user-defined downloadable tuning grids
pp = 1B hex, vv = 1..50 for n-tone Equal tuning, with vv divisions per octave
pp = 1B hex, vv = 0 for default tuning
Custom Tuning Grids
The Continuum Fingerboard has 8 user-definable downloadable tuning grids. The grid points in a tuning are used for Round Initial Pitches, and for Round Rate. Each grid point is defined by two numbers: a position on the surface (specified by equal tempered note number with fractional value), and the pitch for that position (specified by note number with fractional value). For most tunings, the pitch matches the position at each grid point; if not, the number of cents per inch will vary across the surface. Tuning tables must be downloaded in increasing grid position order, and at most 500 grid points may be defined in each tuning. These tuning grids can be created by sending NRPN values to the Continuum as described below, or by using this Tuning Downloader web application which will create the Midi stream for you.
Begin or End Tuning Grid Download
One of these nrpns is sent before tuning grid data (with vv=80..87), and another after (with vv=127):
pp = 20 hex, vv = 80..87 select tuning grid to download; data follows this nrpn
pp = 20 hex, vv = 127 sent after last tuning grid data, saves tuning grid to flash
Tuning Grid Data
Each grid point is transmitted with six pieces of data:
1) Integer part of equal-tempered position (0..127, Midi note number units)
2) 7 fractional bits of equal-tempered position (0..127)
3) Additional 7 fractional bits (for a total of 14) (0..127)
4) Integer part of pitch at grid point (0..127, Midi note number units)
5) 7 fractional bits of pitch at grid point (0..127)
6) Additional 7 fractional bits (for a total of 14) (0..127)
Normally the first three of these are identical to the last three; if they are not, the cents per inch will not be uniform across the continuum playing surface. Tuning grid data must be specified in increasing order of equal-tempered grid position. A maximum of 500 grid points may be specified in each tuning grid.
pp = 21 hex, vv = data (six of these messages per grid point)
Tuning Grid Dump
Dump custom tuning grid data to the Continuum Fingerboard's Midi Out jack. The configuration is dumped using the same Midi messages that you would use to download the tuning grid (the pp=20 and pp=21 NRPNs described above).
pp = 22 hex, vv = 80..87 select tuning grid to dump
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Continuum Voltage Converter
CVC Voltage Outputs
If you have a Continuum Voltage Converter (CVC), the following nrpns allow you to select CVC output voltages.
For linear Z encoding use vv=0..9, for squared Z encoding use vv=10..19.
(Linear Z encoding tends to be good for patches that have audio-taper amplitude controls, squared Z
encoding tends to be good for patches that have linear-taper amplitude controls.)
pp = 1F hex, vv = 0 or 10: Gate 0v to 10v; X 1v/octave with middle C at 0v; Y 0v to 10v; Z 0v to 10 v
pp = 1F hex, vv = 1 or 11: Gate 0v to 10v; X 1v/octave with middle C at 0v; Y -5v to 5v; Z 0v to 5 v
pp = 1F hex, vv = 2 or 12: Gate 0v to 5v; X 1v/octave with middle C at 4v; Y -5v to 5v; Z 0v to 5 v
pp = 1F hex, vv = 3 or 13: Gate 0v to 10v; X 1v/octave with middle C at 0v; Y constant 0v for near half of playing surface, 0v to 10v for far half; Z 0v to 10 v
pp = 1F hex, vv = 4 or 14: Gate 0v to 10v; X 1v/octave with E3 at 0v; Y -5v to 5v; Z 0v to 10 v
pp = 1F hex, vv = 5 or 15: Gate 0v to 10v; X 1.2v/octave with A440 at 5v; Y 0v to 10v; Z 0v to 10 v
New CVC voltage setup choices can be added via a firmware update to your Continuum. If you decide you need a voltage set up not listed above, let Haken Audio know your specifications, and Haken Audio will provide a firmware update including your new voltage set up.
CVC Serial Number
The Configuration Dump includes the following NRPNs to indicate the serial number of the CVC connected to the continuum (0 is returned if there is no CVC):
pp = 1C hex, vv = bits 15-14 of 16-bit CVC serial number
pp = 1D hex, vv = bits 13-7 of 16-bit CVC serial number
pp = 1E hex, vv = bits 6-0 of 14-bit CVC serial number
CVC Communications Verify
When CVC Communications Verify is enabled, the number of CVC transfers and a count of errors is reported once in every 10 second interval. This is useful for testing cabling between the CVC and the Continuum Fingerboard, but it slows down CVC communications and should be normally disabled.
pp = 23 hex, vv = 1: enable CVC Communications Verify
pp = 23 hex, vv = 0: disable CVC Communications Verify
pp = 24 hex, vv = high 7 bits of count of verified transfers in last 10 seconds (read only)
pp = 25 hex, vv = low 7 bits of count of verified transfers in last 10 seconds (read only)
pp = 26 hex, vv = count of transfer errors in last 10 seconds (read only)
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Multiple Configurations
The NRPNs sent to the Continuum are used to set one configuration parameter at a time in the current configuration or in one of the ten saved configurations. NRPNs can also be sent to the Continuum which will copy all the parameter states in the current configuration to one of the ten saved configurations; to copy all parameters from one of the saved configurations to the current configuration; and to write all the configurations to permanent memory (flash memory).
Configuration Save
Copy current configuration to one of the ten saved configurations. This will not write to flash memory; that must be done separately using the NRPN described below.
pp = 12 hex, q = saved configuration number (value 1-A hex)
Configuration Load
Load the current configuration from a one of the ten saved configurations.
pp = 13 hex, q = saved configuration number (value 1-A hex)
Write Flash Memory
Write all configurations into the Continuum Fingerboard's permanent memory (flash memory). This will write the current configuration as well as the ten saved configurations. Writing the configurations to flash memory ensures that they will be remembered even after the Continuum Fingerboard is powered down. To protect the flash memory from excessive accidental writes, this NRPN will be ignored if this same NRPN was received within the previous second.
pp = 0E, q = 0 to save configurations in flash memory
Configuration Dump
Dump configuration to the Continuum Fingerboard's Midi Out jack. The configuration is dumped using the same Midi messages that you would use to set the configuration (the NRPNs described above). For the pitch bend range, both NRPNs and RPNs will be included (RPN format for each channel: Bn 65 00 64 00 06 vv 65 7F 64 7F).
pp = 0F, q = configuration number (0 for current configuration, or 1-A hex)
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