Fig. 8.4: Headphones connector
8.3 MIDI connections
The MIDI standard (Musical Instruments Digital Interface) was developed in the early ’80s to enable different makes of electronic instruments to communicate with each other. Over the years the range of MIDI applications has constantly expanded, and today it is standard practice to network entire recording studios using the MIDI standard.
The heart of such a network is a computer with sequencer software that controls not only all the keyboards but also effects other peripheral devices. In such a studio set-up you can control the V-AMPIRE/V-AMP PRO/V-AMP 2 in real time from a computer. For live performances in particular, you can also use a MIDI foot controller to control both effect parameters and preset changes.
The MIDI connectors are international-standard 5-pin DIN connectors. To connect your device to other MIDI equipment you will need dedicated MIDI cables. They are commercially available in various standard lengths.
MIDI IN: receives MIDI controller data. The receiving channel can be adjusted in EDIT mode by pressing the A button and then using the arrow keys.
MIDI OUT/THRU: used for sending data to a computer or any other devices. You can transmit both preset data and parameter changes. If set to MIDI THRU, the V-AMPIRE/V-AMP PRO/ V-AMP 2 does not send its own MIDI information, but passes on the signal received at the MIDI IN connector (see chapter 2.1, 
A).
8.3.1 Sending/receiving MIDI-SysEx data
All V-AMP models can receive system-exclusive data from other MIDI devices provided that the MIDI function (button A) has been activated in EDIT mode. However, this means that all presets on your device will be overwritten automatically. You can also transmit MIDI data from your V-AMPIRE/V-AMP PRO/V-AMP 2 to other devices (total dump) by switching to EDIT mode and pressing the MIDI button until the display reads “d”. The total dump function can be useful for transferring all the stored data from your device to a MIDI sequencer and storing it there.
To send individual presets to other devices: switch to EDIT mode by pressing both arrow keys on the transmitting unit simultaneously, activate the MIDI function and briefly tap the MIDI button. The preset data are first filed in the temporary buffer and can be stored in the preset position of your choice using the store function.
8.4 AES/EBU and S/PDIF standards
In principle, there are two standards for digital signal processing. AES/EBU is the professional, balanced connection via XLR connectors. This interface is based on two identical protocols published in November 1985 (EBU Tech. 3250-E) by the European Broadcast Union and in December 1985 by the Audio Engineering Society (AES3-1985). Sony and Philips oriented themselves to this standard and developed a further interface with unbalanced signal routing and a few other major differences, predominantly related to the assignment of the channel status bits. This interface, named after the two com- panies and known as S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface), uses either RCA connectors or optical connections with optical fiber cables. The procedure, standardized in IEC 958, made a name for itself mainly due to efforts to introduce a copy-protect technique. This standard also describes the revised AES/EBU interface, which was adapted to the S/PDIF format and named IEC 958 Type I (professional). The name of the S/PDIF interface is then IEC 958 Type II (consumer).
