Behringer BCF2000 by Feel

Behringer BCF2000 by Feel

Notes for the Blind User

By Neil J Graham, with Contributions and Editing by Chris Smart

0.1: Introduction

The following notes are intended for use by the blind or visually-impaired user, or by those who want to get around the unit without relying on the LCD display. They are in no way a substitute for reading the BCF2000 User’s Manual, but are intended as a useful supplement. If you can accomplish things not mentioned in this document, please let me know so I can include your processes in future revisions.

0.2: Back Panel

The back panel is straight-forward and needs little explanation. With the unit in standard operating positionwith faders near the bottom and back panel away from you, the power switch is on the far right. Immediately underneath it is the socket for the included standard AC power cord.

To the left of the power button and inlet, we have the USB jack that accepts one end of the included USB cable. Further to the left is a standard compliment of MIDI jacks, out-B/thru, out-A, and in. Last are two footswitch jacks. One is configured for a continuous rocker type expression pedal, and the second accepts a standard footswitch.

1.0: Layout and Controls

In the rest of this document, all assignable controls of the BCF2000 are labeled with alphanumeric designations in the form letter plus number, where the letter specifies the type of control being discussed and the number identifies which specific control of that type. For example, F1 through F8 refer to the eight vertical faders, , and K1 through K8 refer to the row of knobs, moving across the unit from left to right.

The control surface is organized into two sections, one which fills most of the unit’s surface area, and the other which occupies the far right-hand side. The first larger area contains eight strips, similar to those found on a mixing board. Starting at the top, furthest away from you and moving down, each strip has an endless rotary encoderknob (K) surrounded by LED’sand with an additional push function (P), two buttons arranged vertically (A above B), and a 100mm motorized fader (F).

The second section is on the right side of the unit and contains the four-digit visual display area and fourteenbuttons arranged into four groups.

Immediately below the display are four buttons labelled “Encoder Groups”, G1 and G2 in the top row, G3 and G4 below. These switch the knobpush assignments (P), so there are actually thirty-twoavailable per preset, in four banks of eight. Additionally, G1 and G3 act as shift modifiers when pressed in conjunction with other buttons. (See 2.1: Shift Modifiers)

Below the encoder group buttons, you should feel a horizontal row of six holes. These are status LED’s which show whether or not you are using the USB, MIDI, or footswitch connections.

Closer to you and down slightlyare a group of four non-assignable system buttons; Storeand Learn in the top row, Edit and Exit on the bottom. Store saves an edited preset, Edit puts the unit in edit mode, pressing Store and Edit together puts the unit in Global mode, and Exit takes the unit out of edit or global modes. Pressing the Learn button causes the unit to take note of whatever control you next move on the screen.

Below the system buttons are two preset selection buttons (R), with R1 on the left and R2 on the right.

Last, and closest to you, are four buttons you can assign to whatever you wish. Often, these are assigned to DAW transport functions (T), so we will call these T1 and T2 in the top row, T3 and T4 below. You might want to assign these to commonfunctions such as record, play, stop, or rewind.

2.0: BCF2000 and Sonar

This section assumes you are using the BCF2000 in conjunction with Cakewalk Sonar software.

2.1: Shift Modifiers

Each assignable button can have three functions by adding shift modifier keys,G1 and G3, the left column of the encoder group selector buttons. For example, pressing G2 while in Sonarswitches to the track view, while pressing G1 and G2 together switches to the bus view.

2.2: Strip Buttons

The two buttons in each strip are assigned as follows:

A: Mute

Upper-shift+A: Solo

B: Select (

Upper-shift+B: Record Enable/Disable

Lower-shift+A1-A8: undefined (Go to Mackie Control on the Tools Menu to define these to your liking.)

Lower-shift+B1-B8 are configured as follows:

B1: Insert Audio Track

B2: Insert Midi Track

B3: Fit Track to Project

B4: Fit Project to Window

B5: OK button

B6: Cancel button

B7: Move to next open window

B8: Close current window

2.3: Mode Buttons

*There are a set of mode buttons which select parameters such as Track, Pan,EQ or plug-ins. There are two modes for each parameter, for example the track button has Tr mode as well as Tr. mode which is multi or single. Thedifference is the parameters that are assigned to the encoders. In multi mode allthe encoders would be pan where as in single mode each encoder willrepresent the selected track parameters. For the blind using the BCF2000 it isimportant to note that when moving from a multi mode to another mode forinstance Track single to Plugin, the mode remembers it is in single mode. Or Track multi to plugin would go to multi. The EQ mode has three differentEQ modes and the latter two behave as single modes moving into single fromeither. The modes are as follows:

T1 = EQ Modes 1,2 and 3

T2 = Track Multi and Single (The default mode when Sonar runs is Track mode)

T3 = Pan Multi and Single

T4 = Send Multi and Single

Lower-shift+T1 = Dyn Ins Multi and Single

Lower-shift+T2 = PlugIn Multi and Single

2.4: Bank Up and Channel Movements

To assign your strips to the next or previous group of eight tracks in your project, use theR1 and R2 buttons. To move a track at a time add the Upper-shift modifier.

2.5: Plug-ins

To get to a plug-in select the track where it is inserted using B1-B8. Next go to the plug-in single mode using Upper-shift+T2. If you are in track multimode (default) then pressing this combination twice will get you into Plug-in single mode.

The first plug-in assigned to the rotary knobs is always the Per Track EQ. *To traverse the plug-ins we need to change the layer we arelooking at.

First make sure we are in edit mode by pressing Upper-shift+G4: Toggle Edit Mode

**Next we need to hold the M1 function key and press channel up to the layer we need:

*F4 = M1 function key

*holding G4+G1 + B1 or B2 we go up the plug-in layers.

*P0 is track EQ

*P1 is the first effect in all of the effect bins.

IMPORTANT: the surface will remember which plug-in layer you are at. I always move the plug-in layer back to P0 before turning off the edit mode and returning to track multi. Also remember that edit mode is used to moveup track layers and the bank buttons and channel buttons R1 and R2 willreact differently if you don't turn off this mode.

Send Single mode

The rotarys are assignedas follows:

R1: Enable/Disable

R2: Send Level

R3: Send Pan

R4: Pre/Post

This will repeat for subsequent sends and bank up and down will give accessto them.

*numbers correspond from left to right, top to bottom on the right hand setof 14 buttons.

Button functions are listed in the order Lower-shift, Upper-shift or pressed withouta shift modifier.

G1: upper shift

G2: main, aux, track

G3: Lower-shift

G4: flip, edit, m1

5. snap, dyn, eq

6. ofset, plugin, track

7. ready/q, nill, pan

8. disarm, nill, send

9. undo, chan <, bank <

10. redo, chan >, bank >

11. select, home, <

12. marker, jog p, >

13. loop >, loop, stop

14. punch, rec, play