Lekholm DM48 User Manual - User Manual

Download PDF User Manual

Full Text Searchable PDF User Manual

DM48

DIGITAL CHROMATIC HARMONICA

USER MANUAL

Revision J covering firmware version 1.16

Contents

Important general notes .......................................................................................................... 3

Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 4

Overview of the DM48 ........................................................................................................................ 4

Important notes on MIDI and wind instruments .................................................................... 4

Software settings and functions .......................................................................................... 6

Quick start guide ................................................................................................................................... 6

Changing and restoring default settings ................................................................................... 6

Adjustable parameters ...................................................................................................................... 6

Sensitivity .............................................................................................................................................................. 7

Response ............................................................................................................................................................... 7

Trigger level .......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Bend trig level ..................................................................................................................................................... 7

Bend sens .............................................................................................................................................................. 7

Bend direction .................................................................................................................................................... 7

Modltn trig lvl ...................................................................................................................................................... 7

Modltn sens .......................................................................................................................................................... 8

Solo assist .............................................................................................................................................................. 8

Octave transp ...................................................................................................................................................... 8

Key transp ............................................................................................................................................................. 8

Slider interval ...................................................................................................................................................... 8

Slider delay ........................................................................................................................................................... 8

2nd slider intv ..................................................................................................................................................... 8

3rd slider intv ....................................................................................................................................................... 8

2nd/3rd slider ...................................................................................................................................................... 9

Tuning ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Tuning editor ....................................................................................................................................................... 9

MIDI CC no. ........................................................................................................................................................... 9

MIDI velocity ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

MIDI channel ..................................................................................................................................................... 10

MIDI program .................................................................................................................................................... 10

MIDI ctrl keys ..................................................................................................................................................... 10

Double notes ..................................................................................................................................................... 10

Gain skew ............................................................................................................................................................ 10

Global preset ..................................................................................................................................................... 10

Firmware version check ................................................................................................................... 11

Setup examples and guidelines ......................................................................................... 12

GarageBand or Logic .......................................................................................................................... 12

Reason and Acoustic Electro Waves ........................................................................................... 12

Multichannel setup in Reason ........................................................................................................ 13

Yamaha VL70-m and other hardware synthesizers ............................................................. 13

Untethered playing using a smartphone .................................................................................. 14

Lid removal and breathing resistance adjustment .................................................... 15

Important general notes

Please read these notes carefully before using the DM48 chromatic harmonica

MIDI controller.

•

The DM48 it designed to be played in the same pressure range as a fine

acoustic chromatic harmonica. When properly setup, it should respond

swiftly to gentle blowing force. While the pressure sensors are rated to

handle pressures beyond what can be experienced during normal play,

in no way must they be exposed to unnatural excessive air pressure,
such as pressurized air from compressors or “canned air” containers.

•

Do not expose the slider button to unnecessary force.

•

Similar to a normal chromatic harmonica, the DM48 should be handled

with care and not be exposed to falls or strong forces. Store and

transport it in its protective case. Be careful not to scratch the protective

black anodized surface on mouthpiece.

•

The mouthpiece can be cleaned using a damp cloth. We recommend

cleaning it before first use. Cotton swabs can be used for cleaning inside

the channels. The mouthpiece can be detached using a screwdriver,
although this is generally not needed or recommended. When

reattaching the mouthpiece, do not over-tighten the screws. Pull it just
enough to ensure it sits airtight against the chassis (test this by blocking

each hole with a finger on the back of the instrument).

•

The 3D printing process gives the lid and chassis a slightly rough surface,
which  can  be  difficult  to  clean.  Clean  hands  are  thus  recommended
when  playing  to  maintain  a  nice  look.  The  lid  can  be  removed  for
cleaning  (see

Lid removal and breathing resistance

adjustment

below)

using soap and water or in a dishwasher. Ensure it is completely dry
before reattaching it.

•

Do not expose the USB connector to mechanical forces. A hole in the
chassis at the backside of the instrument allows the USB cable to be
secured using a cable tie (supplied) for safer live playing.

Introduction

Overview of the DM48

The DM48 is a MIDI controller without sound synthesis. From the point-of-view

of a music production application or synthesizer, it behaves like a MIDI

controller keyboard. However, rather than having keys, it makes use of twelve

pressure sensors to present the user with a chromatic harmonica-like control

interface. Similar to a MIDI controller keyboard, knowledge of MIDI,
synthesizers, and computer-based sound synthesis/production is needed to

make good use of it.
A single USB cable supplies both communication (using the so called “class-

compliant USB MIDI” standard) and power. The supplied USB cable allows the

DM48 to be connected to a Mac or PC, and using a suitable converter such as
the Apple Lightning to USB adapter, it can also be connected to portable

devices such as iPads/iPhones. A suitable software or hardware synthesizer is

needed for sound synthesis, and examples and affordable suggestions are

given below (see

Setup examples and guidelines

). A smartphone cannot only

be used for sound synthesis, but also to route the MIDI data further over Wi-Fi

to enable untethered playing (see

Untethered playing using a smartphone

Important notes on MIDI and wind instruments

Even if you are familiar with MIDI – and even MIDI wind instruments – we

recommend reading the following notes. There are two main types of MIDI
messages: note on/off events and “Controller Change” (CC) events. A MIDI

controller keyboard can work well using only the former, which is enough to
trigger notes at different velocities (depending on the force applied to the key)
and  stop  notes  when  keys  are  released.  While  a  MIDI  wind  controller  also
sends note on/off messages, rather than relying on velocity values it makes use
of  MIDI  CC  events  to  modulate  the  intensity/volume  of  the  sound.  Such
messages  are  transmitted  continuously  at  a  high  rate  also

after

a note has

been triggered. This allows the intensity of the sound to be modulated during
the  full  duration  of  the  note,  as  the  player  changes  the  applied  air  pressure.
“Pitch bend” messages are transmitted in a similar manner.
An  important  property  of  the  MIDI  standard  is  that  MIDI  CC  and  pitch  bend
messages  affect

all

triggered notes on a given MIDI channel. For a MIDI

saxophone this is not a limitation, since the instrument is monophonic. In the
case of a MIDI harmonica, this means that notes in a chord will be played at
the same intensity, and that bending affects all triggered notes equally. While
“clean playing” is always desirable on a chromatic harmonica, it may therefore
be more important on the DM48. If neighboring holes are triggered by
mistake, these will be played at the same intensity as the target note. There is
advice in the

Quick start guide

below.

The limitation described above applies in a basic setup where the DM48

transmits all data on a single MIDI channel (1 by default) and can be overcome
by instead using multichannel

mode (see

MIDI channel

below). In this

configuration, each hole transmits MIDI data on a separate MIDI channel (1-12).

With proper downstream setup, the holes can then be played completely

independently of each other, as on an acoustic harmonica. This is not

complicated in principle, but does require a more complex setup on the
synthesizer side (see

Multichannel setup in Reason

below). “Reduced”

multichannel configurations are also possible, such that for example four

channels are used (the twelve holes will in this case transmit on channels 1-2-

3-4-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4).

With C solo tuning (and many other tunings), it is possible to trigger two
identical notes (typically “C”) simultaneously – something that cannot be

achieved with a keyboard. Many synths will handle this correctly and will play

double notes, including standard wind instruments in GarageBand or Logic.

However, some, including most monophonic synths, are not prepared for this.
When two notes are triggered and one of them is released, this may cause the

second one to go silent, too. By default, the DM48 is therefore set to block

double triggering of the same note. This is controlled by

Double notes

parameter (see below). However, when using a synthesizer than correctly

handles double notes, or when using a multichannel configuration, it is
appropriate to turn off this filter to allow double note triggering.

Software settings and functions

Quick start guide

By connecting the USB cable, the DM48 should immediately become

selectable as an input MIDI device in your favorite music software without any

special drivers. The default settings on the DM48 give a good starting point

and few changes should be needed for an initial setup. Parameters will return

to default as soon as you turn it off and on again, so there is no need to be
afraid to explore different settings.
The most important parameter that may need to be changed is

MIDI CC no.

which determines what MIDI CC number is used to transmit breath pressure

data to the receiving synthesizer. This parameter defaults to 11 (Expression),

which works for many standard instruments, for example in Logic or

GarageBand. However, some synths may instead expect 2 (Breath Controller) –
this is true in particular for many specialized wind controller synthesizers,

whether software or hardware.

Sensitivity

determines the pressure sensor gain. Less force is required during

playing when this parameter is increased, but this will also make it easier to

saturate the intensity of the sound, resulting in loss of expressiveness.

Trigger

level

determines the amount of pressure required to trigger a note. Lowering it

makes the DM48 more responsive, but also increases the risk of triggering a

note by mistake. Once a note is triggered,

Solo assist

is a feature that makes it

easier to play clean solo tunes, by actively suppressing triggering of
neighboring holes. Many sounds are more interesting outside of the default
note range – try

Octave transp

to shift down an octave or two.

Changing and restoring default settings

Once you have found settings that you like, you can make these your new
defaults such that they will be loaded every time you power up the controller.
Go to the

Global preset

menu page and hold down the round button for two

seconds. A confirmation message should appear on the screen.
The DM48 can be restored to factory default settings by holding down all
three menu buttons during power-up. Release when a confirmatory message
is seen on the display. Note that custom tunings will still be maintained. A full
restore, including tunings, will be achieved if the three buttons are kept
pressed even longer, until a confirmation about restored tunings is shown.

Adjustable parameters

This section lists all parameters on the DM48, each one accessible through a
separate menu page on the screen.

Sensitivity

Controls dynamics and volume depending on how hard and soft you play.

Specifically, this is the sensitivity/gain for controller (MIDI CC) messages that

determine sound volume/intensity. Controller messages are sent around 100

times per second, such that the volume/intensity can be modulated post

triggering a note based on the applied pressure. When set to a lower (less
sensitive) setting, more pressure needs to be applied to reach maximum

sound intensity. If set too high, the instrument becomes less dynamic as

maximum intensity is quickly reached.

Response

Response curve for volume/intensity MIDI CC messages. A non-linear curve

that reaches higher intensities sooner may provide a more harmonica-like
feel/response. However, it should be noted that this also depends on the

characteristics of the downstream synthesizer.

Sensitivity

(above) may need to

be reduced to compensate for a more aggressive response curve.

Trigger level

Pressure threshold for triggering MIDI “note on” messages. Lower values makes

the instrument more sensitive, but increases involuntary triggering of

neighboring holes.

Bend trig level

The DM48 provides a pressure-activated bending feature: by blowing harder

than a certain threshold value, bending occurs through transmission of MIDI
pitch bend messages. This parameter determines how hard you have to
blow/draw before bending kicks in. Increase it if involuntary bending happens.

Bend sens

Once you reach the bending threshold (see above), this parameter determines
how aggressively the instrument will bend. Bending is pressure controlled in a
continuous way, and this is simply the “gain”. Negative values mean that bends
will happen in the downward direction (as on a regular harmonica), will
positive values will result in upward bending. When values are close to zero,
more pressure is required for bending. Set it to

off

to disable bending.

Bend direction

When this menu page is activated (by pressing the round button), the left
arrow key is transformed into a real-time control button that allows bending
direction to be switched while playing. In contrast to the other menu pages,
this is thus not a parameter. Although undocumented in the menu graphics,
the right arrow will act as an extra slider button (see

3rd slider intv

below)

when this mode is active.

Modltn trig lvl

The DM48 can send “modulation” MIDI CC messages (controller 1), which on

most synths will result in a vibrato effect. This parameter determines how
hard you need to blow/draw before modulation is activated.

Modltn sens

Once you reach the modulation trigger threshold (see above), this parameter

determines how aggressively the instrument will increase the modulation

intensity. When values are close to zero, more pressure is required. Set it to

off

to disable modulation.

Solo assist

When using a standard single MIDI channel setup (the default), the DM48 is

more sensitive to mis-triggering of neighbor holes compared to an acoustic
harmonica. This is due to a limitation in the MIDI standard (see

Important

notes on MIDI and wind instruments

above). This parameter attempts to aid in

playing clean solo tunes by suppressing triggering neighbor holes, once a note

has been triggered. The strength of this feature can be adjusted gradually.

Octave transp

Transposition in whole octave steps.

Key transp

Transposition in semitone steps.

Slider interval

When pressing the slider, all notes will be transposed by this many semitones.

With the default tuning (

Solo

), this transposition is already built into the

tuning scheme, so it should therefore normally be set to 0. With Richter
tuning, for example, this setting allows the slider to be used for instant
transposition: a setting of +5 would make it possible to shift from C to F at any
time.

Slider delay

Introduces a time delay when releasing the main slider button. For players not
yet adapted to the short stroke-length of the DM48 slider, this parameter may
help in compensating for the quicker response time compared to a
mechanical slider.

2nd slider intv

On the DM48, it is possible to use to use the arrow keys as a extra slider
buttons (see

2nd/3rd slider

below). This setting determines the interval, in

semitones, by which the second slider (left arrow) will shift the current tuning.

3rd slider intv

On the DM48, it is possible to use to use the arrow keys as a extra slider
buttons (see

2nd/3rd slider

below). This setting determines the interval, in

semitones, by which the third slider (right arrow) will shift the current tuning.

2nd/3rd slider

When this menu page is activated (by pressing the round button), the left and

right arrows are transformed into real-time control buttons that acts as extra

sliders (see above). In contrast to the other menu pages, this is thus not a

parameter.
A shortcut key combination is available to quickly reach this page as well as

Global preset

: Hold both arrow keys and press the round button (make sure to

first exit parameter adjustment mode, indicated by a square with arrows on

the screen, to avoid unintentional parameter changes). Keep holding all three

buttons to toggle be the two pages.

Tuning

Shows the current tuning scheme. Twelve “slots” are available, all of them
customizable using the tuning editor (see below). The names of the slots

cannot be changed and first two slots are always named

Solo

and

Richter

, but

all of them can be edited.

Tuning editor

Use this to modify the current tuning. Simply use the arrows to select hole,

blow/draw and slider position, and press the round button to edit the selected
note. The next screen, after stepping past hole 12, allows the current tuning to
be saved. Select

EXIT

to step out of the editor by using the arrows. All changes

are effective immediately and can be played without saving anything, while
still editing. By stepping past the save options, a screen will appear with

options for transposing the current tuning up or down.
Additionally, functions for exporting and importing tunings is available on this
screen:

Send tuning

will send the current tuning as MIDI notes, to be recorded

and saved for example as a MIDI file that can be shared with others. After
selecting

Receive tuning

, the DM48 is ready to receive a tuning which will

replace the current one. Simply choose

DM48

as your output MIDI device in

your sequencer and then play back a previously recorded tuning. Remember
to save it if you want to keep it permanently in your DM48.

MIDI CC no.

This is a critical parameter that determines what type of controller message is
used  to  modulate  sound  intensity.  By  default  this  parameter  is  set  to  11
(Expression),  and  many  synthesizers  will  respond  to  this  controller  message
and  adjust  the  volume/intensity  accordingly.  However,  some  synths  instead
expect it to be set to 2 (Breath). A last resort is to use 7 (Volume). This is usually
not  desirable,  as  this  can  also  affect  the  volume  of  added  effects  such  as
reverb, but it is still better than no volume modulation.

MIDI velocity

A static velocity value transmitted with all “note on” messages. The most

important means for modulating sound intensity on a wind instrument is MIDI
CC messages messages (see above).

MIDI channel

Channel used for sending MIDI messages (normally

). This setting also allows

the DM48 to be set to multichannel mode

In this configuration, the holes will

transmit MIDI data on different channels. The number of channels can be

selected, with for example

Multich. 1-12

indicating that twelve separate

channels will be used, one for each hole.

Multich. 1-4

indicates that four

channels will be used, such that the holes will transmit MIDI data on channels

1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4. Note that

Double notes

(see below) should typically be

set to

Allow

in multichannel mode. This allows, for example, double C notes to

be played when using Solo tuning.

MIDI program

Can be used to remotely select patch (sound) on the downstream synthesizer.

Note that not all synths will respond to MIDI program change messages.

MIDI ctrl keys

When this feature is activated, the slider button will transmit MIDI data when
pressed (MIDI CC 24 will toggle from 0 to 127). Similarly, when any of the real-

time control modes are active (

Bend direction

2nd/3rd slider

, see above),

the left and right arrow keys will send MIDI messages (22 and 23, respectively).
Setting any of the slider intervals to zero allows the corresponding button to

be used purely as a MIDI controller. This feature allows more flexibility in
controlling downstream MIDI devices, for example by assigning these
controller numbers to specific parameters in your music production software.

Double notes

Many tuning schemes allow double simultaneous triggering of the same note
(e.g. C in Solo tuning), but not all synthesizers can handle this (see

Important

notes on MIDI and wind instruments

above). This setting controls whether

double triggering of the same note is allowed (

Allow

) or blocked (

Block

Gain skew

By opening the DM48, it is possible to adjust the breathing resistance such
that lower holes have less resistance, similar to an acoustic harmonica (see

Lid

removal and breathing resistance

adjustment

below). This will however

reduce the pressure in the lower chambers (or vice versa should the resistance
be increased on higher notes). This parameter makes it is possible to
compensate for the effect, by applying a higher gain to lower notes and vice
versa. Should normally be in the neutral position as indicated by a horizontal
line.

Global preset

The DM48 provides twelve “slots” for storing global settings. Hold the round

button for two seconds to store the current settings as a preset in the
currently selected slot. Note that Settings

A/std

is always loaded at startup.

Stored settings are recalled immediately when selected on this menu page,

and corresponding tunings will also be loaded. Additionally, MIDI program

change messages will be sent in cases when loading a preset causes this

parameter to change.
A shortcut key combination is available to quickly reach this page as well as

2nd/3rd slider

: Hold both arrow keys and press the round button (make sure to

first exit parameter adjustment mode, indicated by a square with arrows on

the screen, to avoid unintentional parameter changes). Keep holding all three

buttons to toggle be the two pages.

Firmware version check

By holding down the slider during power-up, the version of the currently

installed firmware will be shown on the screen.

Setup examples and guidelines

The DM48 does not synthesize sounds and is thus not a musical instrument,

but rather an instrument controller. The synthesizer to which it is connected is

therefor a critical part of the setup. This section contains a few examples and
step-by-step guides to complete setups, including affordable software

synthesizers that are suitable for a wind controller like the DM48.

GarageBand or Logic

The DM48 will likely become usable as an input device directly after

connecting it – if not check the settings in

Preferences

Audio/MIDI

. Some of

the sampled wind instruments in Garageband or Logic on MacOS are decent,

and there are plenty of synthesizers and patches that can be adapted to work

with a wind controller. GarageBand on iOS works too, but offers a less
impressive selection of instruments. GarageBand instruments expect

MIDI CC

no.

on the DM48 to be set to 11 (Expression). They can also correctly handle

double triggering of the same note, meaning that

Double notes

should

preferably be set to

Allow

(see

General notes in MIDI and wind instruments

above).
Remember that there is no “decay”, as on a piano tone, on blown instruments –

the tone can be kept alive as long as there is still air in the lungs. When

adapting non-wind instrument patches for playing with the DM48, try thus to

change the “decay” parameter that is available on most software synthesizers.
The Sculpture modeling synth, included in Logic, is good for wind instruments.

To enable polyphonic playing (chords), increase the polyphony parameter on
the upper part of the Sculpture panel.

Reason and Acoustic Electro Waves

EWI Reason Sounds provides an excellent set of software synthesizers for wind
controllers  in  the  form  of  plugins  (refills)  for  Reason,  including  one  called
Acoustic  Electro  Waves.  We  found  these  to  be  excellent  together  with  the
DM48,  on  both  MacOS  and  Windows  machines.  Together  with  Reason  in
demo mode (song loading disabled, but otherwise full functionality at no cost)
it is a bargain at $13. These instruments expect

MIDI CC no.

on the DM48 to be

set to 2 (Breath). They do

not

correctly handle double triggering of the same

note, meaning that

Double notes

should be set to

Block

(see

General notes in

MIDI and wind instruments

above).

Download

the

full

version

Reason

https://www.propellerheads.se/download/

Connect the DM48 if disconnected.

Set

Midi CC no.

to 2 on the DM48.

Follow Reason installation instructions closely and start Reason. Select

Demo mode

When asked about attached control surfaces, select

Manufacturer:

Other,

Model: MIDI Keyboard (No controls)

In Port: DM48

. For audio

output, the default settings should work fine.

Purchase and download the Acoustic Electric Waves synth plugin at

http://www.ewireasonsounds.com/reason-refills.html

In Reason, there is a

Browser

window to the left. Navigate to the

Acoustic Electro Waves file you just downloaded. Clicking it should give

you a selection of patches ending in “.cmb”. Double-click one of these to

add it to the rack.

Multichannel setup in Reason

For best playability, the DM48 should be set to multichannel

mode (see

MIDI

channel

and

General notes on MIDI and wind instruments

above), and the

downstream synthesizer(s) should be setup to receive MIDI data on several

separate MIDI channels. This requires some more advanced MIDI skills and

knowledge, and there is no universal fix as the solution will be specific to your
downstream synthesizer setup. We provide one example here on how to

achieve this in Reason, using four synths. In theory, twelve synths/channels is

optimal, as this will make the holes completely independent of each other,
similar to an acoustic harmonica. However, this may put a lot of load on the

computer, in addition to being more time consuming to set up.

Set

MIDI channel

on the DM48 to

Multich. 1-4

The holes will now

transmit data on four different MIDI channels.

For best playability, also set

Double notes

Allow

(see

General notes in

MIDI and wind instruments

above) and set

Solo assist

Off

In Reason, go to

Preferences

Control surfaces

and remove the single

control surface (input device) that is probably installed already (the
DM48). Go to

Sync

and set

Bus A

DM48

Add four synthesizers to the rack by dragging from the browser window.
Note that these should be wind-controller-adapted synths such as
Acoustic

Electro Waves

(see above).

On the top rack unit (

Hardware interface

), click

Advanced MIDI

. Assign

Channel 1

to the first synth (if using Acoustic Electro Waves, pick the first

Combinator > In

in the list). Assign

Channel 2

to the next synth, etc.

Note that changing patch now involves changing it on four separate
synthesizers in the rack.

Yamaha VL70-m and other hardware synthesizers

Due to the DM48 being a class-compliant USB MIDI device, it cannot directly
control a hardware synthesizer with a typical 5-pin MIDI connector. However,

most music production software can be used to route the DM48 MIDI signals

to an external synthesizer. A USB MIDI interface will be required, but these are
available at low cost. Additionally, using a so called “USB host to MIDI” device,

manufactured for example by Kenton (MIDI USB Host MkII) or Mode Machines

(Cerebel USB), it is possible to eliminate the PC altogether. We have tested the

DM48 together with the Kenton device and the acclaimed Yamaha VL70-m

hardware modeling synthesizer, which sounds great, but one should keep in
mind that this is a monophonic synth and chords are thus not possible.

MIDI

CC no

needs to be set to 2 (Breath Controller) for the VL70-m and many other

hardware modeling synthesizers. The VL70-m will not correctly handle double

triggering of the same note, meaning that

Double notes

should be set to

Block

(see

General notes in MIDI and wind instruments

above).

Untethered playing using a smartphone

Although the DM48 is supplied with a long (5 m) USB cable to enable live

performances, there is a simple way to become even more mobile. Built into

Apple’s ecosystem is support for network MIDI, which means you can connect
the DM48 to an iOS device (iPhone or iPad) using the Apple Lightning-to-USB

adapter, and then route the MIDI signals over Wi-Fi to other devices. As a

bonus, the iOS device acts as a mobile power source for the DM48. Windows-

based machines should also be able to receive these signals if the correct
driver is installed (see

https://www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/rtpmidi.html

The approach described here is thus not a feature of the DM48

per se

, but it

becomes very useful with a small handheld instrument.
We used an iOS app called MIDIflow to control Reason running on MacOS
from a DM48 connected to an iPhone with excellent results. The setup is
relatively easy.

On your Mac, create a computer-to-computer network (click network
icon in top status bar and select

Create network…

). Join this network on

your iOS device.

In MIDIflow, select

DM48

as input device (top

icon) and

Network

Session 1

as destination device (bottom

icon).

On the Mac, start Audio MIDI Setup (use Spotlight search to find this
application), click

Window

Show MIDI window

and click

Network

. Add

a new session (

) and tick the box for this session. In the