SYSEX

System Exclusive messages are special MIDI messages of variable size. They are used for device-specific communication. In particular, lots of physical devices that are known as MIDI controllers can usually be configured by sending specially crafted SYSEX MIDI messages.

SYSEX messages

SYSEX messages are of variable size. They are formed of a prefix byte F0 and a suffix byte F7. All bytes between these two markers can only be coded on 7 bits, i.e. bytes values should always be <= 127.

F0 .. .. .. .. F7

SYSEX Device ID

Usually a device aware of SYSEX messages respond to a generic SYSEX ID request.

The Identity Request message is formed of the following bytes:

Byte	Description
F0	SysEx
7E	Non-Realtime
7F	The SysEx channel. Could be from 0x00 to 0x7F. Here we set it to "disregard channel".
06	Sub-ID -- General Information
01	Sub-ID2 -- Identity Request
F7	End of SysEx

See https://www.midi.org/specifications-old/item/manufacturer-id-numbers for a list of manufacturer IDs

Arturia MIDI controllers

(F0 and F7 prefix/suffix bytes are omitted in the following)

Arturia Minilab mk II

SYSEX Device ID

Byte	Description
7E	Non-Realtime
00
06	Sub-ID -- General Information
02	Sub-ID2 -- Identity Reply
00 20 6B	Arturia manufacturer ID
02 00 04 02 aa bb cc dd	Minilab mk ii Model ID
	aa bb cc dd = 53 09 00 01 => firmware version 1.0.9.83
	aa bb cc dd = 0e 02 01 01 => firmware version 1.1.2.1166

Specific SYSEX commands

Specific SYSEX commands are always prefixed by the following byte sequence: 00 20 6B 7F 42

The byte following this sequence is the command to execute.

01 - Read a value

This command asks the device to output part of its internal state.

The general form of a read value command is (prefix ommited):

Value	Description
01	Read value
00
pp	Parameter pp
bb	Button ID bb

The "button" ID bb refers to which knob or pad a parameter is to be retrieved.

02 - write a value

This command updates the internal state by changing a parameter value of a knob or pad.

The general form of a write value command is (prefix ommited):

Value	Description
02	Write value
00
pp	Parameter pp
bb	Button ID bb
vv	Value vv

Regular knobs

Knobs 2 to 8 and 10 to 16 are regular knobs, or rotary encoders. Their main purpose is to send a CC midi message when they are rotated.

bb = "Button" ID	Designation
01	Knob 2
02	Knob 3
03	Knob 4
04	Knob 5
05	Knob 6
06	Knob 7
07	Knob 8
08	Knob 10
09	Knob 11
0A	Knob 12
0B	Knob 13
0C	Knob 14
0D	Knob 15
0E	Knob 16
30	Knob 1
32	Knob 1 + shift
33	Knob 9
35	Knob 9 + shift

Available parameters for regular knobs:

pp = Parameter	Description	Possible values	RW
00	Current CC value	0 - 127	RW
01	Mode	00 = OFF	RW
		01 = Control (default)
		04 = NRPN
02	Channel	MIDI channel	RW
03	CC number / NRPN data entry	If mode = Control	RW
		0-127: CC number
		If mode = NRPN
		00 = 1:128
		01 = 1:64
		02 = 1:32
		03 = 1:16
		04 = 1:8
		05 = 1:4
		06 = 1:2
		07 = 1:1
04	If mode = NRPN, LSB	0-127	RW
05	If mode = NRPN, MSB	0-127	RW
06	Option	If mode = Control	RW
		00 = Absolute
		01 = Relative 1
		02 = Relative 2
		03 = Relative 3

Buttons

bb = "Button" ID	Designation
10	Oct -
11	Oct +
2E	Shift
2F	Button "Pad 1-8/9-16"

Buttons send their state when they are pressed / released.

Available parameters for buttons:

pp = Parameter	Description	Possible values	RW
00	Current state	00 = released	R
		7F = pressed

The Shift button is a simple button with two states: released or pressed.

"Oct -" and "Oct +" buttons allow us to change the current octave of the piano keyboard. Open question: is there a way to get the current selected octave ? to set it ?

The last button allows to switch between pads 1-8 and pads 9-16. Open question: is there a way to get the current pads selection ? to set it ?

Pitch bend

bb = "Button" ID	Designation
41	Pitch bend

pp = Parameter	Description	Possible values	RW
00	Current state	0-127	RW
01	Mode	00 = OFF	RW
		10 = Picth bend
06	Option	00 - Default	RW
		01 - Hold

Modulation (slider)

??

Knob buttons

bb = "Button" ID	Designation
31	Knob 1 button
34	Knob 9 button

Pads

bb = "Button" ID	Designation
70	Pad 1
71	Pad 2
72	Pad 3
73	Pad 4
74	Pad 5
75	Pad 6
76	Pad 7
77	Pad 8
78	Pad 9
79	Pad 10
7A	Pad 11
7B	Pad 12
7C	Pad 13
7D	Pad 14
7E	Pad 15
7F	Pad 16

pp = Parameter	Description	Possible values	RW
00	Current state	0-127	RW
01	Mode	00 = OFF	RW
		07 = MMC
		08 = Switched
		09 = MIDI note
		0B = Patch change
02	Channel	0X = Channel X	RW
		0x41 = Channel "Keyboard" (?)
03	CC / Note	If mode in [08,09] => note	RW
		Else => CC
04	Off value	0-127	RW
05	On value	0-127	RW
06	Option	00 = Toggle	RW
		01 = Gate
		If mode = MMC
		01 = Stop
		02 = Play
		03 = Deferred play
		04 = Fast forward
		05 = Rewind
		06 = Record Strobe
		07 = Record Exit
		08 = Record Ready
		09 = Pause
		0A = Eject
		0B = Chase
		0C = InList Reset
10	Set color	00 = Black / None	W
		01 = Red
		04 = Green
		05 = Yellow
		10 = Blue
		11 = Purple
		14 = Cyan
		7F = White
10	Set toggle color	00 = Black / None	W
		01 = Red
		04 = Green
		05 = Yellow
		10 = Blue
		11 = Purple
		14 = Cyan
		7F = White

Global settings

FIXME: also modulation ? (slider)

bb = ID	Designation
40	Special ID for global settings

pp = Parameter	Description	Possible values	RW
02	Modulation channel	?	RW
06	Keyboard channel	?	RW
19	Key velocity curve	00 = Linear	RW
		01 = Logarithmic
		02 = Exponential
		03 = Full (?)
1A	Pad velocity curve	00 = Linear	RW
		01 = Logarithmic
		02 = Exponential
		03 = Full (?)
1B	Knob acceleration	00 = Slow	RW
		01 = Medium
		02 = Fast
1D (new in 1.1.2)	Octave button blink	00 = OFF	RW
		7F = ON
1E (new in 1.1.2)	Pad off backlight	00 = OFF	RW
		7F = ON