# The Midi & Lua "book"

**URL:** <https://forum.electra.one/t/the-midi-lua-book/4272>\
**Category:** General discussion\
**Created:** [February 24, 2026, 9:23am UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/the-midi-lua-book/4272 "2026-02-24T09:23:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![martin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/martin/32/145_2.png) [@martin](https://forum.electra.one/u/martin)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 9:23am UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/the-midi-lua-book/4272/1 "2026-02-24T09:23:58Z")

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Hi,

I have been struggling with COVID for over a week now, which makes it difficult for me to sit in front of my work computer.

I have tried to use some of the bed time to make progress on the companion book for the Electra One MIDI controllers. I have been focusing on the chapters that do not require taking many screenshots or hands-on work with the controller, ie. boring but necessary parts. Still, if anyone would like to take a look, feel free to visit: [Electra One MIDI & Lua Crash Course | Electra One Documentation](https://docs.electra.one/luacourse/), I publish the updates as I go.

The book has three sections:

1. MIDI
2. Lua
3. Projects that demonstrate how to apply what’s covered in the first two parts

I have quite a few ideas for projects to include: from simple uses of formatters, to efficient use of the parameterMap, and more advanced graphics and custom controls. That said, please feel free to share your wishes or suggestions here. I will do my best to take them into account.

Martin

EDIT: Some chapters are fully complete, while others still contain merely notes on what I want to elaborate there in more detail.

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**Author:** ![Phommed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce73a5/32.png) [@Phommed](https://forum.electra.one/u/Phommed)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/the-midi-lua-book/4272/2 "2026-02-25T21:25:52Z")

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Hi @martin ,

It might be useful to give more info here about the `number` precision supported in the specific lua implementation on the E1 hardware. Such as:

- Is it double precision floating point (ie 64 bits) ?
- What is the largest integer number that can be represented in a E1 lua script?

> **[Numbers ​ - What Is a Value? | Electra One Documentation](https://docs.electra.one/luacourse/chapters/2-lua/1-values-and-variables.html#numbers)**
>
> A value is a piece of data that a program works with. In Lua, everything you store or manipulate is a value. | Discover how to master Electra One.

Related info (though not sure where this info would go), what is the maximum value range technically possible in a E1 control (aside from 7 bit / 14-bit MIDI, what about a “Virtual” control?) .. what is the largest range of min / max values supported for a E1 fader or dial? Does it go beyond 14 bit precision (16385) ?

Good to see some of this content being written, will be a big help for some preset authors (and to be fed into LLLMs too, no doubt).

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**Author:** ![Songsta](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/songsta/32/3442_2.png) [@Songsta](https://forum.electra.one/u/Songsta)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/the-midi-lua-book/4272/3 "2026-03-01T16:39:44Z")

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Hope you’re feeling better Martin.

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**Author:** ![Quelectra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f475e1/32.png) [@Quelectra](https://forum.electra.one/u/Quelectra)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 1:04am UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/the-midi-lua-book/4272/4 "2026-03-02T01:04:46Z")

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Pretty nice content based upon a quick read. Hoping you used an ai to help.

Fell better soon!

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**Author:** ![martin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/martin/32/145_2.png) [@martin](https://forum.electra.one/u/martin)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2026, 7:04am UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/the-midi-lua-book/4272/5 "2026-03-02T07:04:05Z")

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@Songsta @Quelectra thanks! I tried working on Friday, it did not go well. But now, I am at the workshop and I hope it is behind me. It was quite unpleasant thought.

> [@Quelectra](#):
>
> Pretty nice content based upon a quick read. Hoping you used an ai to help.

I use it to correct the language but I am trying to write as much of the text by myself as I can - I do not like the wording the AI generates.

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**Author:** ![BertFerguson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@BertFerguson](https://forum.electra.one/u/BertFerguson)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/the-midi-lua-book/4272/6 "2026-03-07T16:59:09Z")

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I started getting into the updated book over the past week and I’m really impressed by how well-written it is… I was not expecting to actually enjoy the read. It’s definitely some of the best technical writing I’ve come across recently, and one of the better midi primers I’ve come across.

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**Author:** ![martin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/martin/32/145_2.png) [@martin](https://forum.electra.one/u/martin)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 6:09am UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/the-midi-lua-book/4272/7 "2026-03-10T06:09:41Z")

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Thank you for your kind words. I am trying to reflect on what I have learned over 25 years of messing around with MIDI. Of course, it is not for everyone. The goal is to be right on the edge of being technical enough to use it on the E1 while not becoming too technical.

The next chunk, which will complete the MIDI part, is coming next week. Then I will move on to Lua. That will be exciting 🙂
