MIDI Designer Q&A - Recent questions in Advanced

How to create a colour indicator

Wed, 29 May 2024 14:23:55 +0000

I would like to intercept channel scribble strip colour messages (Sys-Ex) in MD and have the colour somehow indicated for each channel in my 'Mickie' mixer layout.

My first thought is that I could create 8 panels, set to each of the 8 colours, then create show/hide buttons (with 'Radio' Supercontrol) for these panels, then overlay the panels somewhere on my mixer layout and trigger the eight show-hide buttons based on incoming messages.

I've made a quick test of this, and it works, but this gives me 64 buttons (one for each colour, for each channel) and 64 panels to manage - plus 8 Supercontrols. That's quite a task and it's already a mess trying to organise all of these controls on an already heavily-populated Layout.

Sensible idea? Or is there an easier way?

How to deal with toggle/non-toggle CC button?

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 16:33:26 +0000

I have a plug-in with a parameter that responds to a CCxx Value 127 to turn on/off. However it has to receive a Value 0 before it will then respond to the next Value 127.

I'd like my control button in MD to toggle this value on/off. And I'd like this button to light to let me know the current state of the parameter.

I can't find a set of parameters in MD that permit this. I can't use 'Toggle', since then I have to press the button twice, and I can't use momentary, because then the button doesn't toggle.

I'm stuck for a way to do this!

Create Virtual StreamByter "Through" Path

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 05:46:08 +0000

From the help desk files - a user is attempting to use the MD StreamByter rules as they would be in a stand-alone instance of StreamByter - between a hardware keyboard and an iPad music app.

But - the MD architecture supports StreamByter rules for processing MIDI messages going to or from the control surface in support of MD controls, not, for example, to transpose all notes from the keyboard to the music app.

Sending information THROUGH MD requires creating a pair of controls, one for input, one for output, for each individual message to be passed.

This hack uses SB to create a new, virtual SB path for two or three byte messages, enabling StreamByter processing between two external devices under MD control. We still need a single pair of controls to send a stimulus from input rules to output rules when there is data waiting to send.

The hack support most SB processing on the message stream, with a few limits - any dynamic changes (i.e., controlled by the MD surface) must use SB II rules. You can use SB 1 rules in the input processing, but they cannot be modified by control surface actions.

Logic:
Input rules
- Filter input messages (default is all two or three byte types, can tighten filter - such as only notes on CH 5)
- Perform any static transformation (fixed channel change, fixed transform)
- Shove the messages into the global array (queue)
- Activate the trigger message, waking up output rules
Output rules
- locate next unsent ouput message in the G array
- Perform any dynamic transformation - such as transpose by a variable amount set on control surface
- Send the modified message
- Repeat until queue is empty

The example does a transpose of all notes on channel 4 by the amount set on the control surface.

The hack only works for two and three byte messages. It could be rearchitected to handle some short SysEx messages, but that would be much more complex.

The new virtual route is shown via the orange arrows in the diagram. With the hack, all SB message path possibilities are covered: input, output, feedback, and through.

Note - there is a "through" option for many inputs in the connections page. But this is a straight pipe, and does not enable SB processing on that path.

Additional details in the SB comments.

To use in a production layout, you will need the input and output rules, the two stimulus controls, customize the filtering, static, and dynamic rules as desired, and add any controls and code to store the dynamic control values.

This hack is pretty much limited to a two device architecture.
- In typical use, MD would typically be in a star architecture - i.e, at the center, talking to and listening to all devices.
- But flow processing means it now needs to be between two devices, listening to one device, sending to a second device.
- These two architectures are pretty much exclusive, especially as you go beyond two devices.
- This is why the MIDI Fire app remains a much better solution for the general case - letting you drop a SB module as needed specifically between one particular device output and the desired output, and using MD if needed to control the SB modules.

How to deal with MCU messages

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 14:06:22 +0000

This is one that has been bothering me for a long time. I wonder if anyone can offer a solution.

I have a Layout that mimics a Mackie-compatible control surface. All of the controls use standard MCU commands, and in its basic form everything works fine, but I have problems with the Layout's on/off buttons.

Let me take my channel Mute button as an example. This (Momentary/Send On Only) button sends a MIDI Note Velocity 127. The DAW reacts to the Note On to toggle the Mute between active and inactive. The DAW returns a Note On Velocity 127 (e.g. 90 13 7F) or a Note Off Velocity 0 (e.g. 90 13 00), depending on whether the incoming note has toggled the Mute status to on or off.

Muting/un-muting at the DAW makes my button lit/dim in sync, just as it should, but generating the mute/un-mute from my Layout button leaves the button always in its dim state. The DAW reacts as it should, but the button does not react to the incoming feedback message from the DAW, leaving it looking as if the button has done nothing. DAW and Layout are now out of sync.

I can find no combination of button options to solve this. De-activating 'Send On Only' does nothing, since the DAW ignores the Note Off message anyway, and setting the button type to 'Toggle' means having to press the button multiple times, again, since the DAW only responds to the Note On message.

I'm at a loss to sort this one out. Any help gratefully received.

MDP is cutting off background app music from other apps

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 00:36:27 +0000

Original Question from user:

Hey, I’m noticing in the last two updates MDP is cutting off background app music from my Djay Pro app when I call up MDP. This is not happening with any other apps. I happen to use Safari, PDF Expert, and MidiFire and they do not cut out the background sound of Djay Pro. I looked through MDP settings and couldn’t find anything to help. Am I missing something?

Yamaha SX900 Bluetooth connection to IPAD

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 11:38:24 +0000

Hi there :-)
The Yamaha SX900 has built-in Bluetooth so it shouldn't be necessary to use an adapter for it. Eg. MD-BT01
Unfortunately, I can't get MidiDesigner to find/see the SX900 with Bluetooth.
It works fine if I use adapter MD-BT01, but I guess it shouldn't be necessary.
Is it MidiDesigner that has a problem or Yamaha?

Best regards
JAKIV

Ableton Link Stops Working When I Enable Audio/MIDI Source

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 20:45:09 +0000

Ableton Link is working perfectly. However, when I start flowing MIDI over my Lightning cable (or USB-C cable with my iPad, same thing) Link stops working. How can this be? This is true on one of my routers (the provided one from XFinity) but not happening on my other router (a Netgear Nighthawk). What could possibly explain this?

Note: How to Connect MIDI over USB [ link ]

CC Volume to Keyboard and vice versa

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:38:13 +0000

Hi everyone
Made a completely normal Slider with Control Change 1-7 (Volume)
When I turn the IPAD up to 127, the Keyboard follows fine up to Volume 127
If I instead turn the Keyboard up to Volume 127, the IPAD stops at Volume 100.
Have tried many different settings, but have typically ended up with it just being the other way around.
I have tried to do the same with SysEx instead, but MidiDesigner dosen't recieve any data on the Slider then.
Pretty confused.

/JAKIV

Example - different on and off SysEx commands

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 15:44:31 +0000

Three examples on how to send differing on and off SysEx commands from one button.

-----

Note: If you use "make similar" to make a second instance of the controls, then the super-sub relationships also get copied. You have to clear out the incorrect cross-links and re-establish the correct relationships.

But - there is a shortcut. Instead of using "make similar" on the individual controls, use "make similar" on the page with the complete example. This gives you a new clean instance without incorrect super-sub linkages.

Dynamic knob labels & toggling buttons with single CC values

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 21:29:57 +0000

I have a big update planned for my Mood MKII layout, and have run an issue with tweaking the toggles.

What I want to achieve:

Switching out the sliding mode selectors for toggle buttons. If say reverb is pressed, followed by delay I want the other mode toggles to stop lighting up as I tap through them - so I can see which mode I am on.
Have the dial labels adapt based on which mode is selected. I attempted to do this by layering three labels over each other that are activated as each mode is toggled. Because of issue one above, there ends up being a scenario where more than one label is displayed at the same time

Is there a way to solve this so when I am cycling though modes only the last tapped mode lights? And is there a simpler way to have knob titles change dynamically based on which pedal mode is selected?

In the attached file you'll see the first page of the old layout for main controls on the left. On the right is my attempt to try and get this working. As you'll see the mode selection on the pedal is a toggle switch and there is only an on CC value

Cheers!

One knob to control a time parameter with a mode switch

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 14:41:26 +0000

I’m hoping for an MD-native solution for this, but if I must use StreamByter (also “native” as part of MD) that’s fine.

I am controlling a knob that does different things depending on the state of another parameter.

“Straight Mode”: 1/32, 1/16 etc.
“Dotted Mode”: 1/8., 1/4. Etc.
“Triplet Mode”: 1/16th triplet etc.

And then there’s a mode switch that moves between these three. Ideally, though, I can create a knob/slider that puts the “straight” and “dotted” values together so I can use named tickets that present them all together, e.g.:

1/32
1/16
1/8
1/8.
1/4
1/4.
1/2

[I’ll flesh out this question more in next few hours ;)]

How to trigger a sound in MDP2?

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 18:18:03 +0000

Is there a way to trigger a sound such as a beat display click from an MDP control? I am designing a metronome using MidiFire's Dynamic Clock. Individual beats are displayed on buttons. Haviing a click or similar sound with the start of each beat is highly desirable.

For example, https://mididesigner.com/qa/9401/display-beat?show=9401#q9401.

Send 2 or more sysex in one buttom by Supercontrol

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 13:14:35 +0000

Hello
I would like to send 2 sysex via a button.
I have made a Supercontrol where 2 buttons are assigned.
1 = Change Registration
2 = Change sound
But I have to press the supercontrol button twice for both functions to be performed.
Can it be changed so that it only needs to be pressed once for all Supercontrollers to be executed?

Best regards
JAKIV

I would like to choose the styles of my Tyros via Sysex

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 01:50:36 +0000

Hello,
I would like to be able to choose the styles of my Tyros via Sysex ;
Style : F0 43 73 7C 11 00 16 01 00 F7
F0 43 73 7C 11 00 16 dd dd F7
F0 43 73 7C 11 00 16 (Bank) (N°) F7
I'd like to use one multiple label to change the bank and another to select the style N° in its respective bank.
How can I create a relationship between these two labels via the super controls so that when I choose (for example) Bank 0 I can choose Style N°s from 1 to 50, for Bank 1 > Style N°s from 1 to 50 and so on.
NB: the Style No. must be set to 1 when I change bank.
The screenshots are in the jpg files.

Thank you in advance for all your help.

Besides L and V can we get M or P not to repeat unnecessary pages

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 01:55:17 +0000

I was successful to repurpose the midi channel variable "L" to control one of the 26 individual drums in JD-XI via SysEx , so one set of controls (60-100) with one Super control and two hidden ones can repurpose the 60 controls to one of the 26 drums. Thus having 26x60 controls on ONE PAGE. Well 60 + 1 controls. The same concept can be adapted to partials which rolland has a lot. So you'd need to ceate Layout for ONLY one partial and then have a selector (super control) that will choose with partial to edit.

So I really don't care which letter of alphabet you'd use M or P but we'd have one page for multiple midi channels and multiple partials, Somehow this could be applied to LFOs, ADSRs with more than 2.

Since I sense that Dan might implement SysEx feedback (get state from a device) this could complicate the implementation but the same applies to request as soon as selector changes it would trigger Sysex request state so that controls would set values from device properly.

Volume adjust by %

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 22:40:47 +0000

Hi

I think I once saw a Youtube around the below, but obviously can't find it now.

Challenge.
If I want to turn down the volume with Value "10" on 5 simultaneous channels.
They must of course not all end at the same volume, but only lower independently of each other.
So
Track 1 Volume Value 45 becomes 35
Track 2 Volume Value 95 becomes 85
Track 3 Volume Value 77 becomes 67
Etc..

Anyone know the URL to the video?
Or maby to tell :-)

Best regards
JAKIV

V must start from 34

Mon, 22 May 2023 18:26:21 +0000

Hi all you helpers

Have 2 questions :-)

1. Is it possible to insert a value for V from which it should start rising from, e.g. start at 34.

2. Can you insert a Slider which has the value 0 in the middle and then go +12 and -12?

2 * V scale where one goes up and the other goes down?

Tue, 09 May 2023 23:25:32 +0000

Like everything else, my desires also evolve into MD.
The Q:
Is it possible to have 2 * V scale where one goes up and the other goes down?
F0 43 73 01 51 05 00 03 04 00 00 +V -V F7
+V must scale up from 00
-V must scale down from 7F

Best regards
JAKIV

Working with a 16-bit parameter, and unpacking multiple parameters, etc in SysEx using MDP2

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:22:12 +0000

I'm having a rough time controlling only a few aspects of my Yamaha Motif ES workstation. I think MDP2 can do this. The issues are mutually exclusive, yet both revolve around multi-bit sysex parameters MASTER TUNE, and INDIVIDUAL OUTPUT GAIN.

MASTER TUNE is a 16-bit parameter, which Yamaha splits the bytes into 4-4-4-4 to get 16.

The other, INDIV OUTPUT GAIN requires the slider in MDP2 to know about the other parameter values. To change the value pair for output 3&4 the parameter has to know 1&2, 5&6, 7&8 too in order to incorporate it into the sysex message.

MASTER TUNE
F0 43 10 7F 00 00 00 02 then what?? 7F
-102.4 – +102.3 [cent] 
1st bit3-0 → bit15-12 
2nd bit3-0 → bit11-8 
3rd bit3-0 → bit7-4 
4th bit3-0 → bit3-0
-------

INDIVIDUAL OUTPUT GAIN
F0 43 10 7F 00 00 00 10 then what?? 7F
bit0: 0/+6dB 1 & 2
bit1: 0/+6dB 3 & 4
bit2: 0/+6dB 5 & 6
bit3: 0/+6dB 7 & 8
bit4: 0/+6dB 9 & 10
bit5: 0/+6dB 11 & 12
bit6: 0/+6dB 13 & 14

The originally-formatted data sheet is attached below.

I have two scenarios that I was initially working on in Logic Pro, but it's too limited. The forum post and discussion is here (will open in a new window) if anyone wants context to what I'm asking AND some rather informed answers. I paraphrased the discussion prior to the link I posted. Any advice is appreciated. I'd like to understand how to deal with this in MDP2 but I don't even have a starting point right now.

Read a text string in a SysEx message and take action in MDP2 based on a text match

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 04:47:40 +0000

Recent user question - is it possible to read a text string in a SysEx message and take action in MDP2 based on a text match?

Yes, MDP2 (with StreamByter) can:

Query hardware for the SysEx message
Read an inbound SysEx for a text string
Test if that matches a stored text string, returning the string number if there is a match
Take action in MD based on the matched string number, such as jumping to a specific page

This layout provides the necessary code, configured in a demo mode. See the demo layout for further information.

ChordPlayer receives CC50-CC60 from pedal->button that will transpose the same pedal signals to ChordPlayer (CC63-CC73)?

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 00:18:18 +0000

My first post and a newbie so please ignore my ignorance.

Stack:

Pedalboard Roland FC-300
- Out to Yamaha Motif Rack XS (5 pin din)
- In from Edirol PC-50 (5 pin din)
Roland GI-20
- To iPad MDP2 (USB)
Yamaha Motif
- To Ipad MDP2 (USB)

I also have the StramByter and the MidiFire App

And more..(Infinity looper, Boss FS-6 and FS-5u)

I got this stack working fine playing both the midi guitar and the Edirol Keyboard sending midi msg to the Yamaha Motif.

I have created a layout for some Motif specific tasks that works fine.

I have added the Cord Player layout to my Motif layout

https://mididesigner.com/qa//3015/free-keyboard-mapping-with-chord?show=3015#q3015

My Roland FC-300 is sending CC50 to CC60 triggers the chords in that Chord Player

What I would need is a button (hopefully receiving CC60) that will transpose the input from the Roland FC-300 from CC50 to CC63, CC51 to CC64, CC52 to CC64 and so on

I have tested the approach described in this article but I have not succeeded due to my lack of understanding how this really works.

https://mididesigner.com/qa//9240/advanced-control-relationships-with-mdp2-and-streambyter?show=9240#q9240

Any input on such a transpose incoming CC from the Roland FC-300 button is much oblige

Thank you

How does "MIDI Feedback" work in MIDI Designer Pro 2 3.3300?

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 22:58:36 +0000

[NOTE: this feature is not released yet to the Production Version of MIDI Designer Pro 2]

What's the point of MIDI Feedback (are there some simple use cases)?
How can I use it?

Thanks.

Questions About My iPhone Layout in MIDI Designer on macOS

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 05:30:49 +0000

I am finishing up my PodXT layout on my phone (the most up to date Apple device I had in a while). I now have a Mac mini M2 and was going to port it to iPad / MacOS. It seems there is a bug importing iPhone layouts that duplicates the layout on each half of the page. They are inextricably linked together, the left and right half. Here are pics. I had captured video 375k and 373k, respectively, but can't upload. Here are screen captures from them.

Can undefined CC 106 and 107 access 14-Bit option in order to implement BeatBuddy Tempo?

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 10:39:36 +0000

Tempo ranges from 40 to 300 by delivering two consecutive CC commands

CC 106 (MSB) value range 0 to 2

CC 107 (LSB) value range 0 to 127

According to other posts, this could be achieved if those two CC had access to 14-Bit setup

Help For SysEx ReMapping And Interrogation For Lexicon PCM80 Remote?

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 15:41:05 +0000

OK, so after reading the Mididesigner March, 15 2022 blog post on SysEx here:

https://mididesigner.com/sysex/
I wonder if I can get some help with my plans to make a
MDP2 remote for Lexicon PCM80/81?

The issue with the PCM80/81 is the parameters' IDs are different
for every algorithm; there are 43 algorithms in total;
I will just start with the 10 native PCM80 algos.

Ideally, the remote would be able to chase algorithm loads;
then> automatically open an image of the current algo diagram in MDP2;

the diagrams are full screen MDP2 except the MDP2 header nav elements
MDP2 buttons on the the image to open/close hidden panels of parameter controls.

More info for context:
I've got the named ticks already done;
6 diagrams of 4voice algos made- so my design format is established

My plan at this stage is to use a lot of hidden panels on One Big Page
because the split page is detrimental to my image diagrams.

A clone of the display would be nice, too.
The PCM8x hardware display does not chase
and I can see the display clone idea possibly being moot.

Bandwidth could be limited if calls to the hardware
by the remote only request parameter sync
once a hidden parameter panel is called
rather than request a Bulk Dump on algo sync.

I'm assuming massive stacks of hidden panels to be
a cumbersome stumbling block for building layouts.

50+ images are probably going to make it very heavy;
I could conceivably make 3 different remotes to lighten the load;
one for PCM80 native, on for PitchFX and one for DualFX.
I would certainly start with PCM80 native only and test how heavy
just that one is.

Any help with StreamByter coding greatly appreciated

Thanks,

_todd

Received SysEx and Send SysEx is not the same.

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 22:56:49 +0000

Hi, I'm a new user of MIDI Designer and find it very useful :-)
But can someone explain to me why a recorded SysEx message to PC from my Yamaha PSR-SX700 cannot also be used to send back to the SX700.
Example.
Dump to PC Regi.Mem.(1) = F0 43 73 01 52 25 00 01 01 00 01 00 F7
If I want to send the same SysEx message back to the SX700, the SysEx must be called: F0 43 73 01 52 25 11 00 01 00 00 F7
As you can see, there are some HEX codes that are not the same.
Rec.: F0 43 73 01 52 25 00 01 01 00 01 00 F7
Send: F0 43 73 01 52 25 11 00 01 00 00 F7

Best regards

JAKIV :-)

Display Beat

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 00:34:33 +0000

From the help desk files - user asked how to display the beat in a layout.

Best is when the target hardware supports Ableton LINK. In that case, use the Ableton Link Beat knob.

If the hardware does not support Ableton Link, but transmits MIDI Clock and MIDI Start / Stop, we can sync with Start then divide by 24 then 4 to get the beat. But, MDP2 does not monitor MIDI Clock, so we have to do the processing in an external StreamByter or MIDI Fire module, then input the result to MDP2 to process.

If the target does not send Start / Stop, we don't know where to start the count.

MIDI Flow:
External device -> StreamByter Module -> MIDI Designer Pro

https://youtu.be/Ys0cSVdbWEo

Technique - RPNs & differing controls for positive and negative values

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 04:36:54 +0000

From the help desk files

Situation: to control tuning per note, the target uses two RPNs, one for positive adjustment, one higher for negative adjustment
C is RPNs 4 (+) / 5 (-)
C# is 6 (+) / 7(-)
… up to
B is 26 (+) / 27 (-)

Data is in CC6, up to 100 cents

Tuning visualization
- 100 --- -1 | 0 1 --- 100
<- Rpn 05 | Rpn 04 ->
Data (Cc 06)
100 --- 1 | 0 1 --- 100

Since they use Ccs, and need a range of +/- 100, or 201 total values, a single Cc will not cover the range.

RPNs RPN is a sequence of three or four Cc messages
Cc 101 - RPN MSB
Cc 100 - RPN LSB
Cc 006 - Data MSB
Cc 038 - Data LSB (not used in this case)

MDP2 does not have an explicit RPN format, but it can be built from individual Cc messages

Note The manufacturer should have used NRPNs. RPNs are defined by MIDI Mfg. RPN 4 is tuning bank request, RPN 5 is Modulation Depth Range, RPN 6 is MPE Configuration Message. So it is possible this non-standard use could cause issues with other hardware in a setup. Regardless, this solution will work with RPNs or NRPNs.

The usual MDP solution would be to build three controls, one for MSB, one for LSB, one for data, configure the MIDI values appropriately, (maybe using named ticks), then tie them together with a supercontrol. The complicator here is the different NRPN number for negative values. There is no elegant way to build this directly in MDP2.

But this is simple to implement with StreamByter.

Approach

We will use a synthetic SysEx control to send the value to StreamByter. Since the control range is 201 values (> 128), it must be a two byte control.

Where to set the zero point on the control?
1. At 0, using synthetic negative values (i.e., 7F7F = -1, etc). But this requires named ticks to build the negative values
2. At 101, so 0 = - 100. This is not bad, but
3. Set zero at a multiple of 128, in this case 01 00h. This simplifies the StreamByter logic. Roland uses this in many boards. In this case, 0 will be at 128, and the control range is 28 to 228

The synthetic Sysex format will be
F0 58 nn pp qq F7
m0 m1 m2 m3 m4 m5
nn identifies the note from 0 = C to 0A = B
pp qq is the two byte value, if pp = 1 it is positive.

Build the controls

Make a knob:
Label C
Message Type SysEx
SysEx Bytes: 58 00 V, two bytes in Value, no checksum
Display -99 to +99 (it should be -100 to +100, but default only goes to -99)
201 ticks
Display Zero 128
Midi Min 28
Midi Max 228 (must select two byte V first)

MAKE SIMILAR 10 times, then edit Labels and SysEx as follows:
C# is 58 01 V,
D is 58 02 V,
etc, up to
B is 58 0A V

StreamByter Code

# StreamByter code for separate Ccs for positive and negative tuning
# Jan 18, 2023
# Red Heron Music

If Load

Alias J0 Temp1
Alias J1 Temp2

Define Chan B0
# B0 = Channel 1, B1 = channel 2, to BF for channel 16
# We can build a control to change channel from the MDP2 layout if needed.

End

If M0 == F0 58
If M2 >= 0
    iF M2 <= 0A
       Mat Temp1 = M02 * 2
       If M3 == 1 # Positive value
          Mat Temp1 = Temp1 + 4 # offset for positive Ccs
          Snd Chan $101 0 # RPN MSB
          Snd Chan $100 Temp1 # RPN LSB
          Snd Chan $06 M4 # RPN Data
       Else # negative value
          Mat Temp1 = Temp1 + 5 # offset for negative Ccs
          Mat Temp2 = 80 - M4
          Snd Chan $101 0
          Snd Chan $100 Temp1
          Snd Chan $06 Temp2
       End
    Block
    End
End
End

# End StreamByter code

One knob to change the CC from 51 to two sequential CC values 61, and 29 at a certain threshold.

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 19:59:36 +0000

In modulations like chorus, flanger, my PodXT parameter-adjust dial starts with 12 selectable note values (such as quarter note, dotted half note, etc) using CC 51 with MIDI values of 001-013, then changes over to Hz by first sending CC 51 as MIDI value 000.

Upon this transition from sending note values to Hz for speed, it sends CC 61 LSB followed by CC 29.

1) Is it possible for a CC knob in MIDI Designer to initially send CC51 to select the 12 note values (MIDI 012 - MIDI 001, and then upon a threshold being reached (MIDI 000), have that same knob in MIDI Designer send CC 61, and CC 29?

2) Assuming there IS a way to do this, the next problem is CC 29 sends 0 while CC 61 iterates 11 steps. Once CC 61 reaches, for example, 124, the CC 29 iterates to a 1 and CC 61 starts all over again adding 11 to the previous number. This goes all the way up to CC 61 127, and CC 29 127

I attached an image of the midi log for an example. If I can cross this hurdle, I should have a pretty decent Line 6 Pod XT controller to share. In the photo, all the preceding values are CC 51 for note values. As I stated before, once CC 51 hits Zero, it requires to sequential CC values with one offset by 11.

** edit April 13 **

It works. It works!!! I thought I'd show the underbelly of the Midi control data. I just snapped to max value and hit record in Logic Pro and made the snap time 16 seconds. I made an animated GIF ~600Kb. Maybe it will come across as such.

A Beatbuddy Premium Library song selector?

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 04:52:32 +0000

I'd like to build a set of controls that select the bank and songs of the BeatBuddy Premium song library. The only design I've found provides separate controls for each bank; at the time it was made, the default songs came in 22 banks, so there are 22 controls in a page named "factory songs". But the BeatBuddy has a huge premium library. So the challenge is an efficient layout that can select and display all those song-sets and songs.

I'd like to have a supercontrol that selects the bank (MSB & LSB) using named ticks (e.g. the song sets, like "Ballad-mini", "Blues", "Brazilian", etc.). Next to that supercontrol should be a single control to select a song from that song set, sending PC.

Where I'm stuck is that I don't know how to design the song selector. I'd like to simply have it dynamically load the named ticks for that song set; that way I'd have just one control for which the contents are dynamically set based on the selected bank. But I don't see this capability in MD.

Any idea how I would go about this?

MDP2 (MIDI IN) & Kontakt 7

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 03:15:46 +0000

Hola, soy Nicolas de Argentina.
Les comento, tengo MidiDesignerPro2 en mi Ipad y en el diseño 2
páginas con solamente botones CC. Lo utilizo conectado a mi Macbook
con Kontakt 7.
Kontakt tiene abierto diferentes sonidos en donde tienen un Script de
un boton que activa y desactiva la información MIDI del teclado para
así hacer combinaciones de sonido en tiempo real.
Lo que sucede es que Kontakt recibe perfectamente los mensajes midi de
MDP2, pero la App no recibe de Kontakt.
Por ejemplo: Activo un sonido desde la App y en Kontakt se habilita,
ahora si lo activo o desactivo desde Kontakt, en la App no pasa nada.
Que podrá ser? Ayuda y muchas gracias.

Problem with bit changers in control presets

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 18:16:41 +0000

I've got the following simple layout

Super A - button - bit changer, change bits 1

Super B - button - bit changer, change bits 2

These are both super controls of:

Sub - Knob, values 0-3, MIDI cc

In play mode this all works fine, and I can see the correct MIDI messages in the log

I can't get these to work correctly with a preset control, ie. I set up a simple preset control with store/recall buttons

Visually, everything works ok when recalling presets in this simple setup but the MIDI messages are all wrong.

For example, with both buttons off, if I recall a preset with both buttons on, I get two messages, first with Data2=001 and second with Data2=000

Even if by some chance the first message has the correct data its always followed by a second message with Data2=000

I've tried various things like using sysex instead of cc in the sub control, re-ordering subcontrols in the preset control, etc but can't get this to work... help!

How do I get bit changer controls working?

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 01:03:05 +0000

Hi! Having some issues with bit changer controls, just can't get them working. I can set up a button as a supercontrol just fine, but as soon as I convert it to a bit changer it stops sending changes to the sub control.

To see if I'd missed anything, I loaded up the DX7 layout, as that uses these controls and that doesn't seem to be working either. Changing the "operators" buttons (bit changers) doesn't affect the "operators" sub control knob

Is this feature broken or am I missing something in my config/setup?

Thanks!

Convert midi note to midi cc

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 18:13:11 +0000

Hi!

Is there a way I can convert midi notes to midi cc? I have a Roland SPD sx drumpad. This can only send midi notes when I hit it. I also have a TC helicon Voicelive 2 that I would like to send midi cc to when i hit a the Roland SPD sx. For this to be possible, I need to convert the midi note from the SPD sx to midi cc. I use an ipad where I run Onsong that is connected to both the Roland SPD sx and the TC helicon Voicelive 2.

MDP2 control of MIDI Fire / StreamByter to clone or remap MIDI channels

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 19:20:04 +0000

StreamByter provides easy MIDI channel remapping and cloning.

But what if you want to quickly change the remapping or cloning on the fly? You could edit the SB code, have multiple SB profiles saved, or use MDP2 to control the code.

This version provides ability to remap any channel to another, or clone any channel to one other channel.

First figure shows the MIDI architecture. Second shows it implemented in MIDI Fire on a Mac, with both Mac and iPad MDP2 connections.

The SB code goes in MIDI Fire or stand alone StreamByter, so there is not a layout with this code included.

A page of sample controls is provided. You can save preset configurations, could even control changing remotely via MIDI if desired.

This version only clones to one channel. I am working a version that can clone to multiple (sequential) channels. The remap code is an extension of this code - the challenge is simply handling which channels require all notes off when the cloning is changed.

SB code:

## Clone / Remap Midi Channels

## Aug 25 2022
## Red Heron Music, redheronmusic.com

# Control Message
# Header F0 00 01 7E (Confusion Studios SysEx ID)
# M04 = 12 (Type ID - Remap)
# M05 = Channel (00- 0F)
# M06 = Remap Value (00 - 1F)
# F7

# Remap -
# Set to channel value = off
# Set to other channel value 00 -0F, remap to that channel
# Set to 10-1F, clone to specified channel
# Applies to all channelized messages

# When do hanging notes have to be cleared?
# Was       Now
# Off       Off       No action - captured by check for no change
# Off       Cloned   No action
# Off       Mapped   ANO prior
# Mapped   Mapped   ANO prrior
# Mapped    Cloned   ANO prior
# Mapped   Off       ANO prior
# Cloned       Cloned   ANO prior
# Cloned       Mapped   ANO prior
# Cloned       Off       ANO prior

# Variables
# L00 - L0F, channel remap status
# L10 Temp

If Load
   Define Header F0 00 01 7E
   Alias L10 Temp
   Ass L00 = 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F
End

# Process channelized messages
If MC < F0 # Channelized message detected
   If LMC == MC
       # Do nothing
   Else
       If LMC < 10 # Remap
           Math M00 = MT + LMC # Replace M00 with updated type and channel
       Else # Clone
           Math Temp = LMC - 10 # first remove the 10
           Math Temp = Temp + MT # add the message type
           Snd Temp M01 M02 # Send cloned message
       End
   End
End

# Process control messages
If M00 == Header
   If M04 == 12 # Store Remap Value detected
       If M05 < 10 # valid channel 00 - 0F
           If M06 < 20 # valid remap value 00 - 1F
               If LM05 == M06 # Check for no-change case
                   # Do nothing
               Else
                   If LM05 == M05 # Previously Off
                       If LM06 < 10 # Remap case
                           Math Temp = LM05 + B0
                           Snd Temp 7B 00 # All notes off
                       End
                   Else
                       If LM05 > 0F # Previous clone case
                           Math Temp = LM05 + A0 (B0 - 10)
                           Snd Temp 7B 00 # All notes off
                       Else # Prior Map Case
                           Math Temp = LM05 + B0
                           Snd Temp 7B 00 # All notes off
                       End
                   End
                   Ass LM05 = M06 # Store new value
               End
           End
       End
      Block # Finished with this message
   End
End

Using a wireless expression pedal to control multiple pedals

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 13:46:44 +0000

I have a question regarding using a boss wireless expression pedal to control the expression pedal function on two pedals.

I only have space for one expression pedal on my board, but I want to be able to control different pedals.

I have set up a Boss Wireless Midi Expression Pedal (EV 1 WL) on a midi designer page to control the expression pedal functions of an Eventide H9 and a Meris Mercury 7.

So far it is working really well; I set up the boss as a super controller and the two pedals as sub-controls. However, I would like to be able to switch each sub-control on and off, so the expression pedal is not always controlling all of them at the same time. Is there a way I can do this?

How do I switch pages using a button group

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 02:15:40 +0000

I have a problem understanding the apparent dual behavior of buttons in a Button Group. Also why do I get a loop error?

The actual use case is to have 2 banks each with 3 pages connected in One Big Page. Each page has 32 buttons for a total of 96 buttons. Buttons are labeled 1 to 96, with 0 being hidden representing all off. The buttons are in one (or more) Button Groups controlled by one (or more) Knobs. The Knob is controlled by a Down (-) button and an Up (+) button to cycle through the buttons one at a time. When going from 32 to 33, the page needs to be switched to make buttons 33 to 64 visible and manually selectable. When going from 33 to 32, the page needs to switch to make buttons 1 to 32 visible. Similarly a page switch is required when going from 64 to 65 and vice versa.

Is there a way to achieve my goal? I have a working solution where each page is independent and am able to switch pages. But not using the +/- buttons to provide a continuous flow with pages switching appropriately.

To simplify trial and error testing, I created a layout with 4 buttons per page and have tried several approaches that don’t work. They are described in the attached layout. I initially want to get the numbered buttons to activate sequentially both up and down. If I can achieve that, I will attempt to switch pages. The approaches I tried are:

N’ ==> N: Bank 1, Page 1 is configured to trigger a page switch by triggering the first button on the next page. Knobs have no inputs. When Page 1 goes to 5’, it should trigger button 5 on the next page.
N’ ==> Sub: Bank 2 Page 1 is configured to trigger a page switch by inputting the appropriate Midi data value to the Knob on the next page to set it to the next step. When Page 1 goes to 5’ Page 2 Knob should go to step 5.
Sequential 0 to 12: Bank 3, Pages 1 and 2 uses one knob to cycle continuously from 0 to 12. I cannot find a solution to detect when a page should switch.

Is there a way to loop a sequence of CC#s so a slider acts “animated”

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 08:04:22 +0000

I have been using MidiLFOs as the CC# “motion” to control the virtual Wah pedal position in a Line 6 Helix. MIDI Designer sends a note to start/stop MidiLFOs. I saw there is a panning “motion engine” but I would like more variety than sweeping between two values.

Auto Build StreamByter SysEx Bulk Data Message Decode

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 23:27:25 +0000

MDP2 layout functionality is improved when controls can be preset to match the hardware settings. For hardware using SysEx control, you can build a SysEx scanner that queries individual parameter values or request a bulk dump. In either case, there is detailed work to code either the scanner values or the individual StreamByter decode messages.

midiDr.com/qa/6964 discusses how to build a scanner to query the individual parameters.

This spreadsheet auto-builds the necessary StreamByter code to decode a bulk message, hopefully simplifying use of the bulk dump approach.

Instructions are in the spreadsheet, including sample wrapper StreamByter code necessary to implement.

This is in Numbers format, as I develop on a Mac. I have no way to ensure that converting to Excel produces the same results.

MDP2 Supporting Hardware Beta Test

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 16:06:59 +0000

During a recent hardware beta test, production documentation was not available to the testers, such as the details of the patches and multis/programs and associated settings. The beta testers could go individually through all patches and multis/programs to see what is of interest to test, but with a SysEx enabled synth, why not automate the process?

In this case, MDP2 provides the “macros” to send the SysEx queries to the synth, a midi monitor captures the output, which is processed in a Numbers spreadsheet to provide the desired output.

Previously, we used “snap to grid” to provide a control that can send a measure string of multiple command. Now we have the Ableton Link, which we are mis-using as a driver for a measured number of commands.

What we need to do is scan through a number of presets (patches, multis, etc) and extract specific data. We could use named ticks with Bank and PC to get to the specific memories needed, but this changed from a low of 35 to a high of 158. For flexibility (and since this is just data collection), we set it up for a maximum of 128 values at one time (one program bank). Bank (MSB, LSB) is preselected on the target hardware. If we need to scan over a Bank change, we stop, manually change the Bank, then restart.

We have different queries set up, depending on what parameters are being examined.

The Link drive goes via the pedalboard, so only the current shown query is operative. For queries with fewer values, we use the Link beat buttons directly to drive the query. One query with more values we use the beat buttons to drive a second knob, with more buttons.

Accuracy is more important than speed, most important is that the responses from the board are always in the same order, so no manual intervention is required in data analysis.

Finally, we have a stepper where the desired number of programs is entered.

The query responses are captured in a MIDI Monitor. (I like the one from Snoise, works well, and price is good.)

From the monitor, the data is pasted directly in a spreadsheet.

Each query gets two tabs in the spreadsheet. The first processes the data (pulling out patch or program name, looking up a specific control value text.). The second formats the data for display and printing. Another tab contains all the lookups, to translate a numerical value into the display value. For example, we know all the prior factory patch names, so we just look them up by Bank & PC.

In this board, some setting displays can depend on up to six different patch and program values. In this case, it is easier to repeat the program value query multiple times, so each patch data lookup has the same configuration.

Once set up, is easy to run multiple queries, reformat output, etc. Choose query, configure board, start Midi Monitor, start query, cut and paste data from Midi Monitor to spreadsheet input tab, see formatted results on output tab.

This shows the flexibility of MDP2.

I guess this could be deployed for this specific hardware if owners want to print a list of their custom patches and programs. (No need to print the factory patches and programs, since those are now fixed.). If there is interest, I may do this.

Is it possible to create a supercontrol that controls multiple controls but adds / subtracts from their current values?

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 20:01:34 +0000

New user struggling with super / sub controls. I am confusing to control a Ketron arranger. I have sliders configured to control volume of Bass, Drums, etc.. I want to create an additional slider that controls all of these individual sliders. I have successfully done this but it sets them all to the same values, I want the super control to move all the other individual controls equally bu from their current value. Basically for this example, I want it to be a master volume but leave the mix as it is. Is this possible?

Thanks

Control Button label colors

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 17:15:44 +0000

I am designing a layout to control Hauptwerk (HW) Master Generals from MDP and have several issues. The attached layout on Page 2 of both Bank1 and 2 show the current implementation and explains the desired functionality. The application is for using HW in an orchestra situation with low lighting. See the following Facebook Comments. https://www.facebook.com/groups/42378139859/permalink/10159811019224860/

The first issue is the color of a button label is dependent on the page texture and color. The desired colors and texture seem to always have Off buttons with white labels and On buttons with black labels. Is there some way to use dark page and panel colors, such as blue, and have the button label be black for Off and white for On? Or really, blue for On?

I added a second set of buttons to invert the On/Off state of the first set of buttons, but their state is now reversed. All buttons are On except the button intended to be On is Off. This messes up the intended midi output. So I added a third set of buttons to output the correct on-only midi with data =127 when a button (1-32] is depressed.

Is there some way to achieve the desired function without having to add 2 extra sets of 32 buttons?

Page up/Bank up Buttons as Subcontrols?

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 18:16:23 +0000

I am using MD with Midiflow to control patch changes as a keyboard player in a show. The Keyboard book has about 300 changes and I figured out how to use MD to send program changes to my synth and scene changes for the various routings to Midiflow using a picker that is controlled by a foot switch. I can easily change patches while playing and the next patch on the page highlights as I step through them. Very cool, I am psyched!

With ~300 patch changes, I used 3 banks with about 4 pages per bank. At the end of each page the picker will call up the first patch on the next page. I tried using a page up button as a sub control in the first patch on the next page to automatically change pages when the first patch on that page is triggered, but it doesn’t work. The foot switch continues to step through the patches, but the page with the button that super controls the page up button acts strangely in that any button on that page causes the page to jump forward when tapped manually.

How do I configure a page/bank up button as a subcontrol? Is this even possible or do page/bank buttons have to be tapped manually? Thank you.

Details of new features in Beta?

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 17:22:22 +0000

I'm happy to test some of the new Beta features, but I don't know what they all are!

Can someone please enlighten me, either here, or by PM?

Maintain the different volume levels whilst still raising and lowering both simultaneously with a supercontrol

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 06:51:15 +0000

Question from support e-mail today:

Message:
Hi, I have MidiDesigner 2 running on an iPad. I'm using a supercontrol
slider to control two subcontrol sliders to raise and lower volume
levels of two channels on a mixer simultaneously. The channels need to
have different relative volumes but the supercontrol brings them into
alignment. Is there a way to maintain the different volume levels
whilst still raising and lowering both simultaneously with a
supercontrol? Many thanks, Phil

-----

MDP2 supercontrols maintain a fixed relationship to subcontrol. The relationship can be scaled or ranged with named ticks. But we cannot dynamically change the scaling or starting points. When the supercontrol is moved - all subcontrols will jump to the current position commanded by the super.

I originally though this would be a great use for StreamByter. Adjust the individual controls and capture current values in SB variables. When you push the “master” control up or down, measure the changed value, and add or subtract from the stored individual control values, then transmit that adjusted value.

But - two problems

We don’t have feedback from the SB output to the individual controls on the layout, so we don’t see the current value, and touching the control will cause a jump back to the prior value.
What about the case where the master control is at the top of its range, you pull the individuals down to the bottom, and now want to increase with the master?

A hardware device may have a continuous control for the master. But we don’t have this type control in MDP2.

There is a solution - sort of a kludge, but it works.

Stepper controls are like a single increment continuous controller. So we just need to gang several together to get values larger than 1. The example shows +/- 10 and +/- 2 buttons. (Multiples of 2 are most efficient to code - we can get two steps from each individual stepper.)

Instructions to build the controls follow, or just import the sample page and edit Control 1, 2, 3 as necessary. Do not delete Control 1, 2, 3, and replace with existing controls, or you will have a LOT of supercontrol relationships to rebuild.

The controls:

Build one of the individual controls - Control 1. Do not build the others yet - once the +/- controls work with one control, just “make similar” as many additional instances as needed - this saves lots of hooking up subcontrol relationships.
For all controls below, select midi receive off.

Build one up stepper group

Individual up stepper - momentary, supercontrol of Control 1, Options as super - stepper, no wrap around
Make similar desired number of instances (+2 needs 1 + 1, +10 needs 5 + 1, etc)
Make a knob to group the up steppers, supercontrol, assign the 2, 6, … up steppers, set number of ticks = number of subcontrols (see hint)
Make a relay button, toggle, supercontrol of the group knob, options as super - snap to value 25 ms (not needed for +2, but needed for higher numbers - this ensures the super activates each individual stepper as it goes up or down, instead of just jumping to the max/min value)
Put all above on a panel and select hide in play mode
Finally - the button that gets pressed - momentary, supercontrol of the relay button, labeled as desired.

For the down groups, same as above, but the individual down steppers also have “inverted” in options as supercontrol.

Hint - To automatically update ticks to match number of subcontols, on the properties tab showing the subconrols, tap edit, then just tap one of the hamburger icons to the right.

The snap to value time can be increased if the control movement is too fast.

There is another similar kludge that provides arbitrary amounts of increase on one control, decrease on a separate control, but it is fairly touchy, and sort of unintuitive. Will keep noodling with it.

See in action at: https://youtu.be/7sH0e4TOVJk

[Manual] Ableton Link and Control Loopers

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 23:04:53 +0000

Instructions in answer for Ableton Link integration, out since Feb 2022

How to show/ hide panels using the AND of two buttons?

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 08:08:54 +0000

I have multiple panels for FX types. These are shown using a button group (call them FX s/h buttons) using a dial control so only one panel is visible at a time. On some of the panels I want to have sub panels that are shown when a button on the panel (call them sub panel buttons) is on.

The problem I have is that the sub panels still show after the ‘parent’ FX panel is hidden.

is there a way to make a panel’s show/hide state dependent on two buttons? E.g an FX s/h button AND the respective sub panel button.

How do I transpose incoming midi notes sent thru MDP2 from a midi keyboard?

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 08:37:43 +0000

I’m trying to send midi thru MDP2 from a midi keyboard which has no octave buttons, and into Animoog which has no transpose feature. I’ve read the section in the manual about setting up transpose buttons but it seems to only be for midi notes sent from within MDP2. Is there a way to transpose “thru” notes from controllers and send them Out? Thank you !

How to create 4 toggle buttons ON/OFF, resulting in 16 combinations ?

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 12:55:52 +0000

Hi all, working on a new layout.

Situation:

To activate 4 effects (separate and simultaneously) the device accepts 16 values.

value 0 = all effects off;

Value 1 = effect 1 ON, other 3 effects off;

value 2= effect 2 ON, other 3 effects off;

value 3= effect 1+2 On, other 2 effects off”

——————etc

Value 15 = all effects 4 on

Question: how can I - much like in a stomp box way - use 4 buttons on/off to trigger the device response?

I created a knob with 16 values, no problem but I’d like to activate these values with 4 buttons!

Any thoughts?

Cheers!

Gurbz

Updated Motion Engine Hack Has Issues

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 23:01:37 +0000

This updated Motion Engine layout runs with MD Next 2.150 and is a follow-up to recent Motion Engine postings. Clear should be tapped when initiating a sequence to get all controls in sync.

This layout adds a Start/Stop button and a Halt/Resume button. Tapping Start/Stop starts repetitive cycling. Pressing it a second time Stops cycling and resets the Start/Stop controls. Tapping Halt/Resume while the Motion Engine is cycling will halt cycling at the position it is currently at. Pressing it a second time resumes the cycle from the halted position. They work fine independently as long as Halt/Resume is tapped ONLY while Driver is running.

However an out-of-sync condition exists if the Start/Stop is pressed while Driver is halted. Tapping Start/Stop then requires tapping Halt/Resume twice to halt. Randomly tapping Start/Stop and Halt/Resume occasionally causes the Motion Engine to act up and do strange things or it appears to freeze. I have had MDP crash several times during random taps. I created a Clear button to reset everything to its default prior to starting, but that doesn’t work when the Motion Engine is acting up. Clear may potentially impact applications and may not be a permanent solution.

Another anomaly occurs if Start/Stop is pressed a little too quick. Driver takes time to cycle back to 0 and should be instantaneous. I also believe my iPad response for other apps slow down and/or act up if I leave MD Next running.

HELP! Ideally, turning Halt/Resume off when Stop goes on may eliminate the out of-sync issue. I haven’t found a way to do that. I tried reseting Halt/Resume at start or at stop but that didn’t work.

Driver, Resetter, and Reset are configured as before. The new layout uses two 2 tick Knobs to control alternating Start and Stop buttons and control Pause (Halt) and Start (Resume) buttons. Resume actually re-Starts. Start triggers Driver to start (or resume) cycling with Snap Sub to Value set to 1s Fixed Speed (this can change based on application). Stop and Pause require 10ms (why?), Pause is Fixed Speed, Stop is not. Stop SuperControl Options is Inverted and returns Driver to 0. Pause Midi is set to 127 – 0 and Super Options are Button Send On, Current value, Stepper, and Inverted.

Another mod to think about is to somehow design a variable time.

Thanks, Don