Hoff Solaire

User Manual

Overview

  • The Hoff Solaire is a programmable MIDI controller in a pedal format.
  • It is based on a Raspberry Pi 2 W micro-controller, which featues two cores, Bluetooth LE and USB connectivity.
  • The user interface features a full colour resistive touch screen and a robust foot switch.
  • Everything is housed in a robust metal enclosure.

Connections

  • MIDI is supported over Bluetooth LE and USB.
  • A 1/8" (3.5mm) TRS socket supports connection of an external expression pedal..
  • Power is supplied through a USB Micro B port, which is also used for firmware updates.

Usage

Preset screen

  • The preset screen consists of five on-screen controllers.
  • Press on the screen to operate a controller (button/expression).
  • Press on the top-left of the screen to enter editing mode.

Foot switch

  • The foot switch (button) can be configured to activate one or more on-screen controllers.
  • When multiple controllers are set to respond to the physical button, they will alternate.
  • The button surround light is linked to the controller colors for released and pressed states.
  • If the button surround light is spinning, it indicates that the pedal is not connected.

Expression input

  • The 1/8" (3.5mm) TRS accepts a standard expression pedal input.
  • Set a controller to use Physical Expression to enable it to use the external input.
  • The response time can be adjusted from slow to fast, depending on how noisy the input is.

Editing

  • The editing screen is accessed by pressing in the top left area of the preset screen.
  • It is recommended to use the stylus, or a plectrum/pick, to use the editing screen.
  • The editing screen shows a smaller version of the preset screen.
  • For each on-screen controller there is an edit button on the right of the preset area.
  • There are four system buttons and two indicators below the preset area.

    • SAVE
      • Saves the current preset and reboots the controller.
      • The first (top) controller's title is used to identify the pedal over USB / BLE.
      • This name change will only take effect if the pedal is rebooted.
    • EXIT
      • Exits the editing screen and returns to the preset screen.
      • No changes are saved, meaning they will be lost if the pedal is powered down.
      • Any name changes will not reflect over USB / BLE.
    • RESET
      • Resets the pedal to factory default, and reboots.
    • FLASH
      • Puts the pedal into USB storage mode so that new firmare can be loaded.
        • Download the latest firmware using the Solaire -> Firmware menu.
        • Connect the pedal with a USB data cable to your computer.
        • Go into editing mode and select FLASH.
        • The pedal will appear as a USB storage device.
        • Copy/move the UF2 file to the pedal.
        • Once the new firmware has been loaded, the pedal will reboot.
    • BLE
      • Indicator to show whether Bluetooth LE is connected (GREEN) or disconnected (RED)
      • If none of the controllers use BLE, this will be black.
    • USB
      • Indicator to show whether USB is connected (GREEN) or disconnected (RED)
      • If none of the controllers use USB, this will be black.
  • Select the button next to a controller to edit that controller.
  • A line will indicate which controller is being edited.
  • Use the on-screen keyboard to change the label.
  • The second button sets up the controller interaction.

    • PHYSICAL
      • Use physical button / expression input (TRS jack)
    • TOUCH
      • Use on-screen touch button / expression
    • BUTTON
      • Use controller as a button.
    • EXPRESSION
      • Use controller to adjust expression value.
    • LATCHING
      • Controller will alternate between pressed / released states with each button press.
      • Only available for BUTTON inputs.
    • MOMENTARY
      • Controller will reflect button state immediately.
      • Only available for BUTTON inputs.
    • FAST
      • Faster expression pedal response.
      • Only available for PHYSICAL EXPRESSION inputs.
    • SLOW
      • Slower expression pedal response (for noisy inputs).
      • Only available for PHYSICAL EXPRESSION inputs.
  • The third button sets up the released state.

    • COLOR
      • Select a color for the released state
    • USB
      • Send MIDI over USB.
    • BLE
      • Send MIDI over BLE.
    • [.] [..] [...]
      • Select 1,2 or 3 MIDI bytes to send.
    • [xx] [xx] [xx]
      • MIDI values to send.
      • Select a nibble to edit its value.
      • For expression messages, the third byte is always overwritten by the expression value.
  • The fourth button sets up the pressed state.

    • COLOR
      • Select a color for the pressed state
    • USB
      • Send MIDI over USB.
    • BLE
      • Send MIDI over BLE.
    • [.] [..] [...]
      • Select 1,2 or 3 MIDI bytes to send.
    • [xx] [xx] [xx]
      • MIDI values to send.
      • Select a nibble to edit its value.
      • For expression messages, the third byte is always overwritten by the expression value.
  • The fifth button sets up the expression state.

    • COLOR
      • Select a color for the expression state
    • USB
      • Send MIDI over USB.
    • BLE
      • Send MIDI over BLE.
    • [.] [..] [...]
      • Select 1,2 or 3 MIDI bytes to send.
    • [xx] [xx] [xx]
      • MIDI values to send.
      • Select a nibble to edit its value.
      • For expression messages, the third byte is always overwritten by the expression value.
  • Select the second controller.
  • Press the same button again to return to the system menu.
  • Select the third controller.
  • Press the same button again to return to the system menu.
  • Select the fourth controller.
  • Press the same button again to return to the system menu.
  • Select the fifth controller.
  • Press the same button again to return to the system menu.