BCR2000 MIDI Controller Tutorial

Controlling the Roland Alpha Juno-1 with the Behringer BCR2000

by The Manitou, 26-01-08

This is by no means a complete tutorial, merely an overview based on my own experience setting up the BCR.  It also assumes that you have the B-Control manual provided with the BCR unit.

Getting started:

In order to interface with the Alpha Juno correctly, the BCR2000 should be set to S-1 (stand-alone mode 1; refer to manual).  

MIDI (DIN-5) cables should be set up as follows:

Juno-1 MIDI out  BCR2000 MIDI in
Juno-1 MIDI in  BCR2000 MIDI out

The controls:

There are 20 buttons and 24 knobs on the BCR plus a further 8 knobs which double as push-encoders (switches, in other words).  The 8 push-encoders are part of a four-step matrix, so you can assign 8 x 2 x 4 parameters to them, for a total of 56 knobs and 52 buttons.  

Data input options:

Although the BCR2000 can be set up manually via the “edit” controls, there are a couple of problems with this.  The Juno-1’s parameters are mapped as sysex data, and there’s no way of inputting sysex manually in the edit dialogue.  Secondly, I found no way to edit “learned” controls once they were auto-mapped by the unit.

The Edit function:

Certain universal Roland (GS) parameters, such as Filter Cutoff, Resonance, Modulation etc… can be edited into the BCR manually (the B-Control manual provides a list of the supported parameters and their corresponding NRPN & CC codes on page 16).

The Learn function:

The easiest way I found to set everything up was via “learn,” which simply primes the control on the BCR you wish to set up, and awaits incoming MIDI data from the corresponding control on the Juno-1.  Again, the manual gives full details on how to use the learn feature so I won’t go into that here.

One thing I encountered often when programming in this way, was the BCR’s reluctance  to recognize the Juno’s signal.  The BCR’s LCD display will report “bAd” when it can’t read the signal, and “GOOd” when it finds it.  In every case with the Juno’s patch-edit controls a good signal was found in the end.  It’s just a matter of patience and turning the alpha dial a little slower if at first you don’t succeed.

Stepped controls:

As you’ll know, there are some controls in the Juno which have 4 to 6 steps, as opposed to the standard 0-127 resolution of the BCR’s knobs.  These include the DCO waveform shapes (Pulse, Sawtooth, Sub, etc…), and envelope shapes.  This doesn’t apply to the three aftertouch controls or the pitch-bend range (stepped at 15 and 12 respectively) which work as normal when mapped to knobs.  Stepped controls work best when mapped to a series of buttons.

Mapping stepped controls to buttons:

There are 20 dedicated buttons on the BCR.  Program these with the parameters you’re going to use most often.  For the rest, the matrix of 32 push-encoders are at your disposal.

To map stepped controls to a row of buttons (or push-encoders) use learn mode as before.  Each step must be mapped to a separate button.  Scroll to the Juno control you wish to map, arm the button on the BCR, and move the alpha dial one step only to record that step.  Repeat with the next button, moving the dial ahead another step each time.

Tip: say you’re programming the four steps of the Pulse waveform.  If you want your first button to register 00 (which turns Pulse off) step forward to 01 via the alpha dial before you press the learn button.  Then press “learn” along with the button you wish to map, and step the alpha dial  backwards to 00.  The display should register “GOOd” and you can continue stepping forward to 01, 02, and 03 for the next three buttons.

Mapping stepped controls to knobs:

This can be done in the same way you map regular knobs, but using the mapped knobs isn’t so easy.  What the BCR does is take the total number of steps on any given stepped control and loop them.  So in the Pulse waveform example, 0 to 4 on the LCD display will correspond to those steps, then they’ll repeat at 5 to 8, 9 to 12 and so-on around the dial until it reaches 127.  

It’s hard to be exact with that kind of nonsense, but if you map your waveforms in this manner you can free up some buttons.  Turning the corresponding knob to zero when you want to turn off Pulse, Sawtooth, Sub, or Noise, the buttons mapped to 00 for each of those parameters then become superfluous.

Mapping on/off toggles:

Chorus on/off and portamento on/off can be mapped to single buttons.  You have to be sure to move the alpha dial back and forth so the BCR can register the on/off messages when it’s learning the controls.  Otherwise you’ll end up with a button that turns on but not off or vice-versa.  Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t work the first time.

Extras:

Portamento time can be input via edit mode, via the CC code “CC5.”  This and other universal Roland CC/NRPN codes can be found on page 16 of the B-Control manual.

The mod and pitch lever can be mapped separately for more accurate control of those two functions.  Bear in mind the pitch lever centers to the correct pitch, therefore the assigned knob will have to be centered to 64 when not in use.

Don’t forget to save all your mapped controls, by pressing “store” twice.

Contact: basicj@garynuman.info
http://www.manitouslair.com/

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