Table of Contents

...

We pride ourselves on making the easiest-to-use programmable MIDI controllers on the market. If you have any questions that this manual cannot answer, please send us an email at help@morningstarfx.com. We are happy to help.

...

.

...

...

Power Requirements

You can power your MC8 in any of the following ways.

9V DC (centre negative) Power Supply

...

Omniports are multi-function ports found on our MIDI controllers. Each port can be configured to work as any of the following:

• TRS MIDI Output (configurable to send via the tip or ring to suit all pedals) or

• TRS Expression Pedal Input or

• TRS Aux Switch Input (up to 3 switches per port)

...

For all the available MIDI message types and descriptions of what they do, please refer to our MIDI Message Type Glossary. It gets continually updated as we add more features.

...

For all the available Action types and their descriptions, please refer to the Action Glossary.

...

Programming Switches

All switches on your Morningstar controller come empty by default. It’s up to you to decide what you want each switch to do. Each switch can send up to 16 different MIDI messages simultaneously. The combination of MIDI messages a switch sends, makes up a preset.

...

It also gives you access to many other features such as Preset & Bank Re-ordering, Controller Backup (backup your controller to your computer), MIDI CC Waveform Generators, MIDI Dictionary and much more.

We have a separate MIDI Editor manual for the Morningstar Device Editor. Please refer to that for more information.

...

1. Select which switch to edit

   1. First, press the switch that you want to edit

   2. Then press switches [E+H] to enter the editing menu. The switch you last pressed will be displayed in the menu. For eg. If your last pressed switch is switch A, you will see ‘Preset A’ in the menu

   3. Press ‘Preset A’ to program switch A

2. Edit the messages being sent by this switch

   1. Press ‘EditMsgs’ to edit the MIDI messages you want to send with this switch

3. Select which message you want to edit

   1. Use the 🔼 and 🔽 arrows to scroll through the 16 MIDI messages you can send. By default, all of them are empty until you select a message

   2. Once you’ve scrolled to the message you want to edit, press ‘Next’

4. Choose what action you want to use to send the message

   1. Use the 🔼 and 🔽 arrows to choose what action (Press, Release, Double Tap, Long Press etc) you want to use to send this MIDI message. For all the available Action types and their descriptions, please refer to the Action Glossary

   2. Once you’re done, press ‘Next’

5. Choose which toggle position you want the message to be in

   1. You only need to be concerned with this setting if you want to use this switch as a toggle switch. If you are not not, leave toggle position at 'Both'.

   2. If Toggle Mode is activated for a particular switch (refer to the Toggle Mode section for how to activate it), messages in Position 1 will be sent with the first press of a switch and messages in Position 2 will be sent upon the second press of a switch. Messages that get sent will alternate between positions 1 and 2 with each press. Messages set to ‘Both' positions will get sent every time a switch is pressed, regardless of toggle position. If Toggle Mode is not activated, only messages in Position 1 or ‘Both’ will be sent.

   3. Use the 🔼 and 🔽 arrows to choose which position you want this MIDI message to be in.

   4. Once you’re done, press ‘Next’.

6. Choose what type of MIDI message you want

   1. Morningstar controllers can send virtually any type of MIDI messages you need. For all the available MIDI message types and descriptions of what they do, please refer to the MIDI Message Type Glossary. It gets continually updated as we add more features.

   2. Use the 🔼 and 🔽 arrows to choose what type of MIDI message you want to send.

   3. Once you’re done, press ‘Next’

7. Edit your message parameters

   1. Set the parameters for your chosen MIDI message type (eg. PC Number, CC Number, CC Value, Note Number, Note Velocity etc.)

   2. Once you’re done, press ‘Next’

8. Select the MIDI Channel you want to send the message on

   1. Use the 🔼 and 🔽 arrows to choose what MIDI channel you want to send this message on. It should be sent via the same channel that your receiving device is set to.

   2. Once you’re done, press ‘Save’

...

Select Expression Messages to Send or Omit

The Select Expression Message message type allows you to decide which expression messages you want to send or omit. You can use your MC8 foot switches to do this on the fly. Refer to this video for an in-depth tutorial: https://youtu.be/m6rMVbxCoa4

...

Changing TRS MIDI Configuration using the internal Jumper Switches

There may be instances that require you to physically change your TRS MIDI configuration by using the internal jumper switches. For example, Chase Bliss Audio pedals require MIDI to be sent via the Ring and the Tip to be disconnected (more on this later).

...

Dual switch press combinations allow you to control certain utility functions and access hidden presets beyond the first 16 presets.

...

Global Settings

To access the Global Settings Menu, press switches [E+H] and then press Config. The following options will be displayed and you can use the NextPage button to scroll through more settings options.

...

There are many special functions and features on the controller to help you achieve your desired workflow. We have documented these concepts and features under Concepts and Features How-to articles

• Adding PC Scroll Numbers to your Preset Short / Toggle Name

• Looper Mode for Zero-latency Looper Control

• Preset Message Scroll (scroll through messages within a preset)

• Custom Bank Sequence

• CC Waveform Generators

• CC Sequencer Generators

• Toggle Switch Mode (send different MIDI messages with each alternate press)

• Sending incremental/decremental PC numbers or CC Values

• Using Strymon Nixie with Morningstar Controllers

• Using a Bluetooth MIDI adaptor to connect with the Editor (CME WIDI)

• Using the Web Editor on a Mobile Device

• Bank Presets (send MIDI messages upon entering or exiting a bank)

...

PC messages will change the banks on the MC8, where a PC#0 message will engage Bank 1, and PC#1 message will engage Bank 2, and so on.

MIDI PC Implementation Chart

CC Messages

CC messages allow you to navigate through the MC8’s banks, engage presets and clear toggle states.

MIDI CC Implementation Chart