User Manual

5
Merging Rules
You may find it useful to have an understanding of the following rules which the
MERGE-8 uses when handling certain types of MIDI data.
Note: If the MERGE-8 is in split mode (LED lit amber), these Merging Rules apply to
both of the four into one merges separately.
The MERGE-8 defines one of the inputs as the master input for each of the following
data types. One input may be the master for one or more data types whilst a different
input may be the master for another data type.
MIDI Clock
When power is first applied, no input is defined as a master and all clock messages
from all inputs will be passed until one input is defined as a master.
The most recent input to receive a START command (or Song Position Pointer=0
followed by CONTINUE) will become the clock master.
That input continues to be the clock master until another input satisfies the above
condition.
Active Sensing
The first input to receive an Active Sensing message will become the Active Sensing
master. Active sensing messages from that input will be passed to the output, any
active sensing messages received at other inputs will be ignored. An input will stay
as Active Sensing master until no more Active Sensing messages are received at
that input for a period of around 5 seconds. Then another input has the opportunity
to become the Active Sensing master.
SysEx Messages
While any input is handling a SysEx message it becomes the SysEx master, and
SysEx messages from all other inputs will be locked out until the message at the
master input has finished.
SysEx messages may be terminated either with an End Of SysEx command (F7) or
with any other status command.
Firmware version Request:
A firmware version request must be issued within 10 seconds of power being applied
to the unit, otherwise it will be ignored.
The firmware version request message is - F0 00 20 13 18 60 F7 (hex)
The unit replies with the version number as F0 00 20 13 18 6F xx xx xx xx F7 (hex).
Where xx is a number in ASCII and the leftmost digit is the most significant.
For example - F0 00 20 13 18 6F 31 32 33 34 F7 (hex) = version number 1234