Wave Idea Introduces Bit Stream Pro MIDI Controller
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Bit Stream Pro Controller
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Bit Stream Pro Software
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May 21, 2001Wave Idea, a French company specializing in audio/MIDI instruments and MIDI
controllers for computer software, introduced Bit Stream Pro, a fully programmable hardware MIDI
controller.
Bit Stream Pro is targeted to musicians that need a large number of controls for managing a
home studio, as well as the new generation of software synthesizers that contain many of virtual knobs, sliders, and
buttons.
Bit Stream Pro features 32 knobs, 8 sliders and 8 on/off buttons. All 48 controls
are real-time, fully programmable and can be mapped into 3 different user programs, offering a total of 144 assignable controls accessible via a single
program selection switch. The Bit Stream Pro can be used on a desktop, or mounted in a standard 19" rack with its 4-U metal case.
2 Operating Modes
The Bit Stream's first operating mode is used to cover all 128 MIDI CCs. This mode is pre-programmed and doesn't need to be configured. All
128 CCs are mapped on all 48 controls with the help of the 3 groups. Group 1 sends CC#0 to 47, group 2 sends CC#40 to
87, and group 3 sends CC#80 to 127. This mode matches the requirements of all software synthesizers that respond to MIDI
(Rebirth, Reason, Vaz, FruityLoops, and so on).
Operating mode 2 is the user programmable mode. All 48 controls can be programmed to send specific MIDI events and
messages, defined as Sysex commands, RPNs, NRPNs, or other exotic MIDI strings.
The 3 different groups (or user setups) allow you to assign 3 different MIDI events to each control, as well as 3
different alphanumeric strings that will be displayed on the backlight LCD as soon as the control is tweaked, providing immediate feedback on what instrument and parameter are being controlled.
Each user-defined MIDI event can be programmed via Sysex, or more easily with the
included software. Programming Bit Stream Pro mode 2 with the help of Sysex allows you to dynamically re-configure the unit by simply
inserting programmed Sysex in any sequencer while playing music.
User defined MIDI events (mode 2) can be programmed with the following features:
- Selectable templates to facilitate MIDI event programming
- User-defined alphanumeric string assignagle to each control (to be displayed on LCD)
- Programmable Min and Max value on each control
- Checksum management for Sysex messages
- Programmable delay between MIDI messages
- MIDI channel insertion
- Programmable crossfaders and linked controls (without limit)
All these features are programmable with the help of the intuitive configuration software (for PCs), downloadable for free from
the Wave Idea web site.
Bit Stream Pro also covers all 16 MIDI channels for both operating modes, selectable by 2 pushbuttons (up-down).
Built-in Programmable LFO
In order to "automate" the control of connected software and instruments, Bit Stream Pro features a programmable Low
Frequency Oscillator, able to generate Square, Triangle and Sine waves.
Three additional potentiometers are used to control frequency, offset and amplitude.
These waveforms can be inserted in any user-defined MIDI event, allowing the user to easily create amplitude modulations,
cutoff variations, and so on.
For more information, visit their web site at www.waveidea.com. | 
