Configuring SurfaceReader with LoopMIDI

Dealing with virtual MIDI routing can be confusing and has generated a lot of support email traffic, so a worked example of how to configure a typical setup is provided here to try and clarify things. The following instructions should help get SurfaceReader going with a Behringer BCF2000, the LoopMIDI virtual MIDI package and Sonar. The same principles should apply for any other control surface, virtual MIDI package and any other DAW application:

LoopMIDI configuration.

1. Download LoopMIDI from The LoopMIDI page.
2. Install LoopMIDI. The installation doesn't prompt for a reboot, butI think it's probably a good idea.
3. Once installed, open the LoopMIDI item that should now be on your Desktop.
4. You should now be in the Setup panel, so Tab to the "New port-name" entry and edit it to say "LoopMIDI 1" (without the quotes).
5. Tab to the Plus button and press Enter.
6. Tab to the "New port-name" entry again and edit it to say "LoopMIDI 2" (without the quotes).
7. Tab to the Plus button and press Enter.
8. Press Alt+F4 to close the LoopMIDI interface. Again, I'd reboot for safety's sake.
9. Once you've rebooted, go to the System Tray (Insert+F11 for Jaws users) and select LoopMIDI. Arrow down to the option to Start Minimized and press Enter - this will stop the interface from getting in the way in the future.
10. Go to the System Tray again and select LoopMIDI. Arrow down to the option to Autostart LoopMIDI and press Enter - this will make sure that the ports that you've set up will be available every time you boot your machine without you having to manually run LoopMIDI from the Desktop.
11. Reboot again.

Configuring SurfaceReader with LoopMIDI

1. Load SurfaceReader.
2. Choose Add from the Surfaces menu to add a new control surface.
3. Give your surface a name and pick a protocol from the list. For the purposes of this example I'll call the surface BCF2k and choose the Mackie Control protocol.
4. Press Enter on the Setup MIDI Hardware button.
5. In the dialog that appears, choose the input port that your control surface is physically connected to (e.g. BCF2000 port 1 for a Behringer BCF2000 connected by USB).
6. Tab to the output list and choose the virtual port that will send data to your DAW software. In this example we'll use LoopMIDI 1. Tab to the OK button and press Enter.
7. Tab to the Setup MIDI Display button and press Enter.
8. In the dialog that appears, choose the virtual input port that will receive display data from your DAW software. In this example it'll be LoopMIDI 2.
9. Tab to the output list and choose the physical port that will send data back to your actual control surface (e.g. BCF 2000 Port 1 for our Behringer unit). Tab to the OK button and press Enter.
10. Tab to the Finish button and press Enter and your new surface definition should be added to the list.

Configuring Sonar.

Load Sonar.

Go to the Options menu and choose MIDI Devices.

Make sure that your new virtual ports are configured correctly in the input and output lists and that the physical ports being used by your control surface are unchecked. In this example, the setup should be:

Input list.

• LoopMIDI 1 checked.
• LoopMIDI 2 unchecked.
• BCF2000 Port 1 unchecked.

Output list.

• LoopMIDI 1 unchecked.
• LoopMIDI 2 checked.
• BCF2000 Port 1 unchecked.

Go to the Options menu and choose Control Surfaces.

Add a new Mackie Control definition with its input port set to LoopMIDI 1 and its output set to LoopMIDI 2.