NRPN Gen 2

user guide v1.0

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
 NRPN - MSB/LSB …………………. 7


A few words ………………………… 2
Data Size ……………………………. 7

Disclaimer …………………………… 2
Value ………………………………… 8

License ………………………………. 2

Getting and giving support ………… 2

DEVICE STACKING ………………………… 8

GET STARTED

STORAGE AND AUTOMATION

About NRPN Gen 2 ………………… 3

Value Storage ………………………. 9

Quick Start ………………………….. 3

Value Automation ………………….. 9

NRPN HANDLING
Live recording Automation ………… 9

Ableton Live and filtered CC's ..….. 4

Understanding NRPN ……………… 4

FORCE SEND PARAMETERS ……………… 10

NRNP Handling …………………….. 4

MIDI Learn

DEVICE SETUP
Using MIDI Learn ……………………. 10

One-way setup ……………………… 5

MIDI Learn misinterpretation ………. 10

Bidirectional setup ………………….. 5

CONFIGURATION SETTINGS

ACTIVITY LEDs ………………………………. 6

MIDI Thru Filter ……………………… 11

Flow Optimization ………………….. 11

PARAMETERS SETUP

Data Rate ……………………………. 11

Lane On Off ………………………… 7

Label ………………………………… 7

 NRPN Gen 2 User Guide

A few words Getting and giving support

NRPN Gen 2 is the sequel of the previous People asked me for a way to contribute.
version for which I got great support from the Some ways to contribute are:

Ableton Live users community. Thank you for

that!
- User Guide corrections - If you find some
error on the user guide or think a proper
grammar could be used, feel free to send
Also big thanks to Ableton and Cycling’74 for
me your suggestions.

such wonderful and inspiring tools.

- User Guide translations - If you want to

I wrote this new version from scratch. It contribute translating this user guide to
includes many new features. Some of them your own language (or a language you
was already planned since the first version, know well), feel free to send it to me and I’ll
some are new ideas, and some was requested include it on the manuals’s drop box folder
by users. so it will be available right away.


Please read this user guide in full. You will find - Bug Reporting - Found a bug? Just report
essential information needed to success on and I’ll try to fix it ASAP.

the utilization of the NRPN Gen 2 Max for Live
device. - Feature suggestions - Do you have an
idea for a new feature or workflow
All the best, improvement? Please share it with me.

Gustavo Bravetti
Also…



Do you need Support? - There is something
Disclaimer that doesn’t work?. Do you need help with a
particular setup or any related to the utilization
This device is provided as is. of NRPN Gen 2?

I’m not responsable for any damage or lost,

material or intelectual, that could occur Either to give or to get support, just email me
directly or indirectly by the utilization of this at: [email protected]

device. If possible Include “NRPN Gen 2” on the

about field and I’ll try to respond ASAP to all
your e-mails.

License

PayPal donations - You can also support my

This device is distributed work by donating through PayPal using this
under the Attribution- link: https://paypal.me/gustavobravetti Any
NonComercial-ShareAlike amount is very welcome and will be used to
Creative Commons buy new software, hardware and/or wine.
license. “This license lets others remix, tweak, Thanks in advanced.

and build upon your work non-commercially,

as long as they credit you and license their
new creations under the identical terms.”

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 NRPN Gen 2 User Guide

About NRPN Gen 2

NRPN Gen 2 is a Max for Live device capable

of generate up to 8 NRPN MIDI messages. It
can be used to control and or automate
The MIDI ports you’ll be using must be Track-
synthesizers ’s parameters that are accessible
enabled (Ableton Live / Preferences / MIDI
via NRPN MIDI messages, like the DSI
tab).

Prophet series, DSI Tetra, Novation Peak,

Korg EMX, etc.

It Is really important to avoid moving any

parameter on your synthesizer before adding
Features
the NRPN Gen 2 device on an already armed
• Up to 8 NRPN messages per device
MIDI track. If you are not sure, just delete the
• Multiple devices can be stacked
MIDI track and start with a fresh new one. To
• Setup parameters in NRPN or MSB/LSB
learn more about why this has to be done this
• Bidirectional control and visual feedback
way check NRPN Handling section further on
• Record automation directly from your this user guide.

synthesizer

Follow this steps and you’ll be up an running:

• MIDI Learn function for easy parameter and

data size setup

1) In Ableton Live, create a new MIDI track

• Adjustable data rate and redundancy filters

2) On that track, drop an NRPN Gen 2

• Configurable MIDI Thru Filter

device
• Easy draw and edit automation with 3) Record enable that track by activating the
multiple Data Sizes

Arm button.

4) Select for that track “MIDI From” and

“MIDI To” ports that matches the ones
Quick Start
your synthesizer is connected to.

5) Click the MIDI Learn button on the first

NRPN lane.

Here is a quick start to get you up and running

6) Move a parameter on your synthesizer to
right away.

it’s maximum value 


TIP Read the user guide - a parameter should be recognized
Even if you have experience with Ableton 7) Optionally you can write a parameter
Live and NRPN MIDI messages, I strongly name on the Label field.
advice you to read this User Guide in full to
know in deep how NRPN Gen 2 ’s features Now changing that parameter’s value on your
works, and to discover a couple of hidden synthesizer should change the Value on
features too. NRPN Gen 2's GUI. Also changing the Value
field on NRPN Gen 2’s GUI should change
Your synthesizer has to be properly connected that parameter’s value on your synthesizer.

to your computer via a MIDI interface, a

combined Audio/MIDI interface, or if your If all gone just fine, congratulations!

synthesizer has an integrated MIDI through

USB interface you can use your synthesizer’s
USB MIDI ports instead. 


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 NRPN Gen 2 User Guide
Each time new values arrives, they replace the
NRPN Handling

last received values at each “place”:

Why Ableton Live filters repeated CC? A replaces A, B replaces B, C replaces C, and
You may know that Ableton Live filters D replaces D, and a new AB-CD message is
incoming MIDI Continuous Controllers (CC) if conformed and routed to the relevant
they are repeated. Repeated MIDI CC's are synthesizer’s parameter.

considered redundant. Wiping them out for

the sake of the optimization isn’t a bad idea. Because of this, there is no need to send the
While using Ableton's own MIDI Mapping whole set of values (A, B, C and D) each time
system this can’t cause any kind of problem, a single value changes. If only D value
but when we start using MIDI data to control changes, the only needed value is D. The
non Ableton things, like a VST who responds synthesizer will use the previous values stored
to MIDI CC's messages, or external hardware on A, B and C “places” to conform AB-CD,
(through Ableton), then this filtering in some then route the CD value to the correspondent
specific situations could lead to some issues. AB parameter.

This could be particularly problematic, when

working with NRPN messages who uses to
repeat CC's a lot. NRPN Handling
NRPN Gen 2 also works this way. That’s why
it works even when Ableton Live filters
Understanding NRPN repeated MIDI CC.

NRPN parameters can be defined with four

7bit values. Two values that defines the NRPN TIP: Flow Optimization
parameter’s number, and other two values that NRPN Gen 2 can also takes advantage of
defines the NRPN parameter’s value.
this behavior reducing the amount of
outgoing MIDI data, just choose the desired
This allows to have up to 16384 NRPN Flow Optimization method that better fits
parameters, each one with a value range of 0 your needs (check Configuration Settings
to 16383.
section further on this guide).

Lets call those four 7bit values A, B, C, and D.

Lets say that A and B defines the parameter
So the bad side with this approach is that if
number and C and D the parameter’s value.

your synthesizer1 or NRPN Gen 2 misses a



“key” 7bit value, the upcoming NRPN MIDI
So figuratively speaking, on a MIDI capable
messages could be wrongly interpreted.

synthesizer there is a dedicated “place” for

each one of those values. A single place for A
But don’t worry. If something could go wrong,
type values, another single place for B type
that probably would be related to incoming
values, for C type and for D type.

MIDI messages. Outgoing messages will be

just fine. Procedures to deal with common
issues will be provided when relevant.


1 Only when using Full Optimization method

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 NRPN Gen 2 User Guide

Bidirectional communication setup

Device setup

A bidirectional setup will keep consistency

Because NRPN Gen 2 is a Max for Live MIDI between NRPN Gen 2 ’s values and their
device it must be placed on a MIDI track.
hardware counterpart in case you manually
tweak them directly on your synthesizer. Also
Depending on your needs, setup can be made with a bidirectional setup you can use NRPN
for one-way communication or for two-way or Gen 2 ’s MIDI Learn function to setup NRPN
bidirectional communication between NRPN parameters as easy as twisting a knob.

Gen 2 and your synthesizer.

For a bidirectional setup NRPN Gen 2 needs

One-way communication setup also to receive MIDI data from your synth.

If you just need to control/automate your

So besides performing
synth’s NRPN parameters from Ableton Live,
the one-way setup
setup NRPN Gen 2 for one-way usage:
described before, you
will need to set MIDI
For one-way usage, Track’s “MIDI From” to
NRPN Gen 2 needs to the MIDI Interface’s MIDI
be able to send MIDI I n P o r t w h e re y o u r
data to your synth. Just synthesizer’s MIDI Out is
set MIDI track’s MIDI To connected. If your
to the MIDI interface’s synthesizer has MIDI
MIDI Out port where your through USB and you
s y n t h ’s M I D I I n i s have it connected that
connected. If your way, you can choose
synthesizer has MIDI that MIDI port instead.

through USB and you

have it connected that Also in order to allow that track’s incoming
way, you can choose that MIDI messages to get in to the NRPN Gen 2
MIDI port instead.
device, you’ll need either to activate Arm
Session Recording and keep Monitor set to
Setup MIDI Track’s MIDI channel to the same Auto, or to set Monitor to In.

MIDI Rx (receive) channel set on your

synthesizer.

! Monitor In vs Arm Record

TIP Need Multiple MIDI Channels? Setting Monitor to In has the disadvantage of
If your synth’s NRPN parameters uses filtering MIDI data contained on MIDI clips.
So if you want to use MIDI Clips to send
multiple MIDI channels you will need to
create an extra MIDI track per needed notes or MIDI CC's to your synth, and still
have bidirectional communication, then go
channel, then load an extra NRPN Gen 2
for the Arm Session Recording option.
instance on each. This is a limitation inherent
to Ableton Live.

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 NRPN Gen 2 User Guide

! Changes not reflected on NRPN Gen 2 ! Risk of MIDI feedback loop


Changing a preset on your synthesizer (or Depending on your synthesizer and setup,
preforming functions like preset initialize/ while working on bidirectional mode there is
paste/ reload/ etc.), could change parameter’ a chance of a MIDI feedback loop to occur.
s values on your synthesizer. In general this This could be solved by choosing the proper
changes doesn’t output parameter’s MIDI MIDI Thru mode. Check MIDI Thru mode on
data, so those changes won’t be reflected on Configuration Settings section further on this
NRPN Gen 2. guide.

Live Recording automation directly from

your synth knobs. Activity LEDs

While it is possible to record automation

directly from your synthesizer’s knobs, doing
that besides recording parameter automation,
could record synthesizer parameters ‘s MIDI For you convenience two virtual LEDs
data too. Then when that Clip is launched, indicates activity for incoming and outgoing
MIDI data recorded on that Clip will disable messages.

NRPN Gen 2 parameter’s automation. 


To learn the proper way of doing this check
Rx (reception) LED
Values: Storage and Automation further on
this user guide.
Indicates activity for incoming MIDI messages
that matches the current parameter number.
Note that repeated incoming MIDI CC's values
TIP Jam and recover “à la” Elektron will be filtered by Ableton Live. Check NRPN
For live performing, is pretty useful to save Handling further on this user guide to know
on a Clip your sound’s favorite “jamming” more about this.

parameters’s default values.

Tx (transmission) LED
This is accomplished by creating static
Indicates outgoing (generated) MIDI messages
automations (single point envelopes) for
for the current NRPN LSB/MSB parameter
each parameter you’ll want to “recover”. By
number.

doing this you can jam tweaking those

parameters on your synth, which will
deactivate the correspondent envelopes on TIP Tx Force Send
the Clip. Then when you want to back to the Clicking the Tx LED will Force Send the
original un-tweaked sound, just launch that NRPN MIDI message for the current
Clip. That will re-enable automation returning parameter bypassing the current Flow
those parameters their default state. The Optimization filters. Check Force Send
beauty of this is that it can be done remotely function further on this user guide.

and/or automatically.

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 NRPN Gen 2 User Guide

Parameters setup
TIP Use MIDI Learn
NRPN or MSB-LSB parameters numbers are
Up to eight parameters can be programmed usually listed on the MIDI implementation
per NRPN Gen 2 instance.
section of your synth’s user guide. Get those
numbers effortlessly by using the MIDI
Learn function (Check MIDI Learn on this
TIP Need more than eight?
user guide).
If more than eight parameters are needed,
multiple devices can be stacked (check
Device Stacking on this user guide).
Data Size / Set parameter’s size

On / Turn each parameter lane On-Off

Choose the Data Size value accordingly to the

parameter range you want to control.

Each lane holds one of the eight available

programable parameters per device. By
Parameters can range from a single bit
default all lanes are turned Off. Just turn On a
parameter (0 - 1) to a 14bit parameter (0 to
lane by using the On button that is located
16383). Selecting the right Data Size will make
right to the lane’s number.

a big difference when drawing or editing

envelopes. Just imagine trying to draw with
! Inactive parameter lanes
precision an envelope for a parameter that has
… will still receive external MIDI messages
a 0 - 12 range on an envelope grid that can go
that could disable their automations.
from 0 to 16383. Quit a hard task.

Label / Name your parameter

In the previous NRPN Gen version the use of
Rack’s Macros was a quick workaround to
this matter. Now if we want to work in both
directions, Rack’s Macros are out of the table.

You can name you parameter using the Label

Since the unified automation system was
field. This is for your organization only and
introduced in Ableton Live, a device’s
therefore completely optional.

parameter controlled by a Rack’s Macro can’t

be controlled by anything else, and that
NRPN-MSB/LSB / Your parameter’s number
includes external MIDI messages. This would
broke bidirectional communications between
NRPN Gen 2 and your synth.

After turning a lane on, next step is to set the

Because Maxforlive parameter’s range can’t
parameter’s number. This can be done either be modified dynamically (or at least I don’t
by entering the combined NRPN parameter
know how to), all the available sizes already
number, or the separated MSB and LSB
exists inside NRPN Gen 2. You’ll be able to
parameter’s numbers. Note that NRPN MSB-
see all of them on the CLIP’s Control Chooser,
LSB numbers are calculated from each other.
and you’ll be able to create automations for
Entering the NRPN combined number will
any of them. But note that only the parameter
update MSB and LSB numbers, and
selected on the Data Size field will output it’s
viceversa.

automation (or receive external MIDI data).

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 NRPN Gen 2 User Guide
Because of that, I strongly advice you to TIP Data Size automatic detection
refrain from manually select parameters on the When using the MIDI Learn function try to
Envelope Box. Instead, select the parameter reach on your synthesizer the maximum
just by clicking on the Value field on NRPN parameter value. The last value received
Gen 2, as you probably do with most of the while MIDI learning is used to automatically
parameters you want to automate.
set the Data Size.

Value / Set/Automate parameter’s value

N ’ T
DO Any change here will send the correspondent
NRPN MIDI message. Can be automated.

Don’t choose manually!

Device Stacking

The available Data Size types are: 1bit, 7bit,

8bit, 10bit, 12bit and 14bit.

In order to have more than eight parameters

multiple NRPN Gen 2 instances can be used.

And two special sizes: 7 bit bipolar (-64 +63)

and MSB-LSB.

Just place several devices in serial.

The MSB-LSB type allows for individual

MIDI Thru filter must be set to None for all the
manipulation of the MSB and LSB values.

instances but the last one on the series. This

TIP MSB-LSB, Coarse and Fine
 is to avoid to filer data generated on the
Some synthesizers uses the MSB part of the previous instances.

NRPN MIDI message as a rounded coarse

MIDI Thru Filter
MIDI Thru Filter
MIDI Thru Filter

value and the LSB part as a fine value (like None None “Any”
Eleketron’s Pitch and Filter frequencies). In
some cases (also in Elektron synths), the
parameter is just 7bit but they uses only the
MSB part of the pair. For those cases you
can use the MSB-LSB Data Size for
controlling and pr automating just the MSB
part of the NRPN parameter.

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 NRPN Gen 2 User Guide

So, how da heck I live record automation


Values: Storage and Automation

without arming the MIDI track?

Value Storage
1) On Ableton’s Preferences on the “Record
All NRPN Gen 2 parameters’s values are Warp Launch” tab, set “Record Session
saved within the Live Set and re-sent upon Automation In” to “All Tracks” (default is
loading.
“Armed Tracks”). 

By doing this you will be able to live
! Watch out those unsaved synth patches
recording automation without arming your
Because values are sent upon loading, your
MIDI track.

synth’s current patch can get modified. That
is not a problem if your patch was already 2) Turn Monitor to On. 

saved. Take that in mind while loading a Live Because your track won’t be armed, this is
Set that contains a NRPN Gen 2 instance… the only way to feed MIDI data into NRPN
and always watch out for those unsaved Gen 2.

synth patches.
3) Activate “Session Record Button”. 

You probably know that but I don’t like
Value Automation even-length step by step lists.

Value parameters can be automated. Also the

Force Send button.
! Turn off “Session Record”…
While “Record Session automation in” is set
TIP: While for a single parameter lane it is to “All Tracks” and Session Record is active,
possible to automate more than one value every “automatable” parameter you’ll move
type, refrain from doing so. And remember in Ableton Live will be recorded in to the
that only the value “type” selected by the active Clips. Remember to turn off “Session
Data Size will be sent. Record” or change back preferences after
you finished.

Live Recording Automations

TIP: The simplest way to live recording
As for any Ableton Live parameter that automations for NRPN Gen 2 Values is to
supports automation, Value automation can use a MIDI controller. Just MIDI map some
also be live recorded. You can even use your knobs to NRPN Gen 2 Values and be sure
synthesizer’s knobs for that if you do it the that “All Ins” isn’t set on NRPN Gen 2 ’s
right way.
track MIDI From, or you’ll be recording it’s
MIDI too.
! Don’t Arm your track…
…while live recording parameter automation
directly from your synthesizer. This will also
record in to the MIDI Clip the actual MIDI
data each parameter generates, which btw
will be constantly disabling your just
recorded Value’s automation.

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 NRPN Gen 2 User Guide

Force Send
! MSB-LSB and 7bit Bipolar…
…aren’t detected automatically. If you need
to use MSB-LSB or 7bit Bipolar data sizes,
choose them manually after performing a
MIDI Learn.
Either to update missed values or just for
testing purposes, there are some situations
when you may need to re-send a NRPN MIDI Learn misinterpretation
message. Just click on the Tx LED and the There are some situations where NRPN Gen 2
NRPN message will be sent ignoring the ’s MIDI Learn can misinterpret a parameter
current Flow Optimization filter.
number. Like this common scenario: You
create a MIDI track, then you drop a NRPN
TIP Force Send All
Gen 2 on it. You click on MIDI Learn, drive a
Hold SHIFT and click on the first Tx LED to
parameter… nothing. Then you realized the
send all the active NRPN messages at once.
track wasn’t armed so you arm the track,
TIP Automate Force Send move the same parameter again… nothing!

Force Send can be automated in case you

need it for any reason. What just happened?
By default new MIDI Tracks has All Ins set for

MIDI From. This means that every MIDI

message that enters on any Track-enabled
MIDI Learn
MIDI port is getting into your MIDI track. So
when you moved that parameter on your
synthesizer the four 7bit NRPN values got into
the track, but because the track wasn’t armed
they didn’t get into the NRPN Gen 2. So you
If NRPN Gen 2 has been properly configured arm the track and move the same parameter.
to work on both directions, the MIDI learn Your synth send’s again the four 7bit NRPN
function can be used to configure NRPN values. The problem is that the two 7bit NRPN
parameters effortlessly.
values that defines the parameter number are
exactly the same as before (remember that
To use MIDI Learn just press the MIDI Learn you are moving the same parameter) therefore
button and move any parameter on your those two values got filtered by Ableton Live.

synthesizer. NRPN Gen 2 will automatically

set the current NRPN number based on Another common scenario is when you move
incoming MIDI data.
a parameter before loading the NRPN Gen 2
device.

TIP Automatic Data Size

The last parameter’s value received while TIP The quickest solution!
MIDI learning will be used to calculate the In any of these cases the quick way to fix
best Data Size. Always try to reach this is to delete the MIDI track then perform
parameter’s max value when MIDI learning. a Undo (CTRL+z or CMD+z) to restore it.
If the wrong Data Size is selected just set the This will reset the repeated CC's filter for
right one manually. that track and all will work just fine

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 NRPN Gen 2 User Guide

Flow Optimization / The redundancy

Configuration Settings

optimization level for outgoing data

As explained on the section NRPN handling,

MIDI Thru Filter / Choose what MIDI data there is no need to re-send duplicate values
goes through NRPN Gen 2 for the NRPN messages to work. With this in
mind a Flow Optimization system who filters

Depending on your gear, setup and needs, redundant data was implemented on NRPN
you may want to filter some incoming MIDI Gen 2.
data from going through NRPN Gen 2 back to 

your synthesizer. It has no point to send The are four Flow Optimization levels to
incoming MIDI messages back to the choose from: Full (No redundant data is sent),
synthesizer who just generated them.
High, Mid and Low.

The MIDI Thru Filter filters not only external Default Flow Optimization mode is High.

MIDI messages but MIDI messages contained

on MIDI Clips as well. Obviously this doesn’t If you feel that MIDI isn’t very responsive to
note events or to MIDI Clock go for a higher
affects messages generated by the NRPN
optimization option. If you notice some
Gen 2.

parameter misinterpretation from time to time

go for a lower optimization level.

There are four options to choose from:

In theory there shouldn’t be any problem here,

1) All - All messages got filtered This means
anyway that will depend on how many NRPN
that no MIDI messages will go through.
Gen 2 instances/parameters you’ll have
Anything contained on MIDI Clips will be
filtered. Just Messages generated on automated, how stable is the MIDI installation,
etc. etc. so just in case…

NRPN Gen 2 by parameter automation will

go out.

2) Basic - All but MIDI Notes, Pitch Bend, Data Rate / messages per lane per second
Mod-wheel, Aftertouch. Allows for Basic 

Clip content usage. All incoming CC's are Also to keep MIDI ports unclogged this setting
filtered.
controls the amount of MIDI data each
3) NRPN - Incoming NRPN messages are parameter lane on NRPN Gen 2 can generate.

filtered

There are three Data Rate options to choose

4) None - All messages goes through

from: 20 m/s, 30 m/s and 50 m/s

You’ll probably want to set you synthesizer

MIDI ECHO to Off with this one

Higher values produces more messages per

second, which translates to a smooth
TIP: The use of a MIDI monitor app to see
response at the cost of more MIDI clog. For
what’s going on is recommended… and
my personal tastes 20 m/s are just fine.

always check for MIDI Feedback Loops too.

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This page was intentionally left blank…

…for you to wonder why.

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