# NRPNs Bits and Bytes **URL:** \ **Category:** General discussion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319 "2024-10-22T20:01:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kiwigrass](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/kiwigrass/32/4983_2.png) [@kiwigrass](https://forum.electra.one/u/kiwigrass)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/1 "2024-10-22T20:01:15Z")
Hello. I’m a new user and very excited by what I have been able get set up in a very short time using the Electra One app. But I have run into my first snag. I am trying to set up a hardware synth module (Panda Audio’s Future Impact) that only responds to NRPNs. I have been able to set up most of the parameters successfully but a few of them use the same NRPN! Those ones make use of the bit information. For example, I have MSB 5, LSB 89 that controls both the keyboard trigger/gate switch and the portamento mode switch. It does this by assigning bit0:0 to gate, bit0:1 to trigger, bit1:0 to always glide, and bit1:1 to only glide when legato. Is there a way to program the Electra One to use the bit information? Hope my explanation makes sense to someone 🙂 Thanks in advance. John ---
**Author:** ![NewIgnis](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/newignis/32/767_2.png) [@NewIgnis](https://forum.electra.one/u/NewIgnis)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/2 "2024-10-22T20:09:32Z")
Here’s an example 🙂 The first function I got from @oldgearguy . It’s a sendNrpn function, because the usual one is currently broken. So you better set it up yourself. The second function is one I made for the Behringer UB-Xa. Same challenge as yours: I have 4 bits that together make 1 NRPN. So I gave all 4 controls the function bitMask007, which then serves to reconstruct the needed byte and send it off as NRPN. Of course you could have other combinations of the bits. ```auto function sendNrpn(port, channel, parameter, value) local parameterMSB = (parameter >> 7) & 0x7F local parameterLSB = parameter & 0x7F local valueMSB = (value >> 7) & 0x7F local valueLSB = value & 0x7F local messages = { {channel = channel, type = CONTROL_CHANGE, controllerNumber = 99, value = parameterMSB}, {channel = channel, type = CONTROL_CHANGE, controllerNumber = 98, value = parameterLSB}, {channel = channel, type = CONTROL_CHANGE, controllerNumber = 6, value = valueMSB}, {channel = channel, type = CONTROL_CHANGE, controllerNumber = 38, value = valueLSB} } for i, msg in ipairs(messages) do midi.sendMessage(port, msg) end end function bitMask007() -- NRPN 0/7 = 7 ControlPortamentoSettings -- Bitmask: Match (0001) Quantize (0010) Bend (0100) Exponential (1000) local result = parameterMap.get (1, PT_VIRTUAL, 54) * 2^0 + parameterMap.get (1, PT_VIRTUAL, 60) * 2^1 + parameterMap.get (1, PT_VIRTUAL, 59) * 2^2 + parameterMap.get (1, PT_VIRTUAL, 65) * 2^3 sendNrpn(currentPort, currentChannel, 7, result) end ``` ---
**Author:** ![kiwigrass](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/kiwigrass/32/4983_2.png) [@kiwigrass](https://forum.electra.one/u/kiwigrass)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2024, 9:33pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/3 "2024-10-22T21:33:34Z")
> [@NewIgnis](#): > > ```auto > function sendNrpn(port, channel, parameter, value) > local parameterMSB = (parameter >> 7) & 0x7F > local parameterLSB = parameter & 0x7F > local valueMSB = (value >> 7) & 0x7F > local valueLSB = value & 0x7F > local messages = { > {channel = channel, type = CONTROL_CHANGE, controllerNumber = 99, value = parameterMSB}, > {channel = channel, type = CONTROL_CHANGE, controllerNumber = 98, value = parameterLSB}, > {channel = channel, type = CONTROL_CHANGE, controllerNumber = 6, value = valueMSB}, > {channel = channel, type = CONTROL_CHANGE, controllerNumber = 38, value = valueLSB} > } > for i, msg in ipairs(messages) do > midi.sendMessage(port, msg) > end > end > > ``` I can’t believe it. I managed to modify your examples to get it to do what I needed 🙂 Thank you! thank you! thank you! ---
**Author:** ![kiwigrass](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/kiwigrass/32/4983_2.png) [@kiwigrass](https://forum.electra.one/u/kiwigrass)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/4 "2024-10-24T17:32:27Z")
@Newlgnis thanks again for posting the bitmask function. I got it to do what I needed, but without really understanding it. Moving on to a different case and I realize that my lack of understanding is a problem: I’m trying to unmask a NRPN where, according to the synth’s documentation, bit0: 0 1, bit1: 2 3, bit2: 0 1, and bit3: 0 1. Bits 1 and 2 control a parameter, bit 3 and bit 4 each control separate parameters. Any pointers on how to modify the function? Apologies for the high level of ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![NewIgnis](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/newignis/32/767_2.png) [@NewIgnis](https://forum.electra.one/u/NewIgnis)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/5 "2024-10-24T18:39:45Z")
> [@kiwigrass](#): > > bit0: 0 1, bit1: 2 3, bit2: 0 1, and bit3: 0 1 Please be more specific. Absolutely no clue what the above means 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kiwigrass](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/kiwigrass/32/4983_2.png) [@kiwigrass](https://forum.electra.one/u/kiwigrass)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/6 "2024-10-24T19:02:12Z")
🙂 Apologies. Part of my problem is the documentation has scant details. Let me give you what I have: NRPN 624 contains 4 midi sync options, turns osc2 hard sync off/on, and turns delay off/on. The values for the NRPN are 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7. It then says bit 0: 0: midi sync off, 1: midi sync lfo4, bit 1: 2: midi sync delay1, 3: midi sync delay1+2 bit 2: 0: OSC2 sync off, 1: OSC2 sync on bit 3: 0: Delay off, 1: Delay on I created this monstrosity trying to extend your logic: function bitMask764() – NRPN 5/124 = 764 Sync&PrioritySettings – Bitmask: Sync off (000) LFO4 (001) Delay 1 (010) Delay1+2 (011) OscSync off (100) OscSync on (101) Delay off (110) Delay on (111) local result = parameterMap.get (1, PT\_VIRTUAL, 54) \* 2^0 + parameterMap.get (1, PT\_VIRTUAL, 60) \* 2^1 + parameterMap.get (1, PT\_VIRTUAL, 59) \* 2^2 + parameterMap.get (1, PT\_VIRTUAL, 65) \* 2^3 + parameterMap.get (1, PT\_VIRTUAL, 64) \* 2^4 + parameterMap.get (1, PT\_VIRTUAL, 70) \* 2^5 + parameterMap.get (1, PT\_VIRTUAL, 69) \* 2^6 + parameterMap.get (1, PT\_VIRTUAL, 75) \* 2^7 sendNrpn(currentPort, currentChannel, 764, result) end My interest is really in control of the hard sync function and I found that choosing values 0 and 5 turned osc2 sync off and on, respectively. I could just leave it at that and have a beer. But I want to know what it is I’m actually doing or should be doing 🙂 Does that help? Cheers John ---
**Author:** ![kiwigrass](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/kiwigrass/32/4983_2.png) [@kiwigrass](https://forum.electra.one/u/kiwigrass)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/7 "2024-10-24T19:22:20Z")
Not sure if this is relevant, but FYI I have to select “LSB first” in the preset editor for any of my NRPNs to work. Here is the link to the preset [Electra One App](https://app.electra.one/preset/TE4vO8yC4pVv0FlKN5SU) ---
**Author:** ![NewIgnis](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/newignis/32/767_2.png) [@NewIgnis](https://forum.electra.one/u/NewIgnis)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/8 "2024-10-24T19:41:41Z")
It helps … a bit… but I think I got it. There are contradictions however in the info: If a NRPN uses 4 bits, it should have at least one value above 7, but no values above 15. In your case it state the values are 0 to 7, which implies it only uses 3 bits. That’s a contradiction you need to figure out. I believe in reality the NRPN will have values 0 to 15 and thus need 4 bits. The bitmask will be as follows: - Midi Sync: off (00xx) LFO4 (10xx) Delay 1 (10xx) Delay1+2 (11xx) - OscSync off/on (xx0x)/(xx1x) - Delay off /on (xxx0)/(xxx1) You then need one control “Midi Sync” with 4 options, and twon switches. The first control however will control 2 bits and therefor should be able to set values 0-3: ```auto local result = parameterMap.get (1, PT_VIRTUAL, 1) * 2^0 + parameterMap.get (1, PT_VIRTUAL, 2) * 2^2 + parameterMap.get (1, PT_VIRTUAL, 3) * 2^3 ``` Be aware control 2 is thus not multiplied by **2^1** but by **2^2** in order to set the third instead of the second bit. If it all sounds too gibberish to you, familiarize yoursvelf with transforming bits and bytes into values and a new world will open up to you 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kiwigrass](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/kiwigrass/32/4983_2.png) [@kiwigrass](https://forum.electra.one/u/kiwigrass)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/9 "2024-10-24T20:50:47Z")
Your explanation helps a lot. Thanks! I followed your logic. I had assumed it was 3 bits since 2^3=8 options. But your logic makes sense if an NRPN is 4 bits. Interestingly, when I implemented your code I found the following for OSC sync (which really the only parameter I’m interested in). Values 0-3 were off, values 4-7 were on, values 8-11 were off, and 12-15 were on. But that doesn’t seem to fit with the logic. I will take your advice and do some reading. ---
**Author:** ![NewIgnis](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/newignis/32/767_2.png) [@NewIgnis](https://forum.electra.one/u/NewIgnis)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/10 "2024-10-24T21:35:09Z")
The behaviour for osc sync is correct… ---
**Author:** ![kiwigrass](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/kiwigrass/32/4983_2.png) [@kiwigrass](https://forum.electra.one/u/kiwigrass)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 9:46pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/11 "2024-10-24T21:46:40Z")
You’re right. I did some reading. I see now that the parameters are 0=(0000), 1=(0001), 2=(0010), 3=(0011), 4=(0100), 5=(0101), 6=(0110), 7=(0111) But the bit mask (or whatever it should be called) is this: Sync off: (xxx0), LFO4: (xxx1), Delay 1 (xx0x) Delay1+2 (xx1x) OscSync off: (x0xx) OscSync on: (x1xx) Delay off: (0xxx) Delay on: 1=(1xxx) So, OscSync is off for parameter values 0-3, and on for 4-7, etc. New world opened. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NewIgnis](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/newignis/32/767_2.png) [@NewIgnis](https://forum.electra.one/u/NewIgnis)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/12 "2024-10-24T21:49:16Z")
Yes, I just realised I’ve set my bitmask in the wrong order . Sorry to create confusion, and splendid you worked it out 😁 ---
**Author:** ![kiwigrass](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/kiwigrass/32/4983_2.png) [@kiwigrass](https://forum.electra.one/u/kiwigrass)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/nrpns-bits-and-bytes/3319/13 "2024-10-24T21:52:47Z")
Wrong order? [Edit: NM. I see what you did.]