How to control the clock in your Morningstar Controller using external MIDI input

There are some cases where you want to send the Morningstar controller the tempo from another device. There are three main ways to do it:

1. Send in a MIDI clock. The Morningstar controller will automatically sync to it.

2. Send a MIDI clock tap on CC#8 (any value). This simulates pressing a tap tempo switch.

3. Send a BPM value defined across CC#5 (MSB) and CC#6 (LSB). Morningstar controllers accept a 9-bit value (equivalent to 0 -> 511). CC#6 represents the 7 lower bits, while CC#5 represents the 2 higher bits. If you don't understand binary, you can also think of it this way:

• For BPM 0-127 : Set CC#5 = 0, and set CC#6 to desired BPM
• For BPM 128-255 : Set CC#5 = 1, and set CC#6 to [desired BPM - 128]
• For BPM 256 - 383 : Set CC#5 = 2, and set CC#6 to [desired BPM - 256]
• ​For BPM 384 - 511 : Set CC#5 = 3, and set CC#6 to [desired BPM - 384]

For more info on method 3, see this forum discussion: https://forum.morningstar.io/t/how-to-use-the-set-midi-bpm-on-midi-input/384

Updated on: 27/06/2025