MIDI Designer Q&A - Recent questions in Suggestions (Implemented)

Add support for Roland five byte device codes in check sums

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 19:51:06 +0000

Roland has run out of four byte device codes and now gone to five byte. Juno-X is five byte (00 00 00 00 12). Not urgent update, as I do not believe the Juno-X enforces checksum validity. But the Tr-6s (00 00 00 6D - near end of four byte codes) does. So may not be long before we see a Roland device that needs a correct five byte address checksum to function with MD. At present, if you are coding for a Juno-X, select the four byte option.

Let us know if you have a newer Roland device that is not responding to MD, and we can investigate if it is a checksum issue.

Schoolcall - for those interested, the Roland checksum calculation is:

Sum address and data bytes
Mod sum with 80h (128)
Subtract sum from 80h
Mod sum with 80h

The selection in the SysEx field (Roland two, three, four...) lets MD know where the address begins for the summation.

Can we have StreamByter sub-routines implemented?

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:25:43 +0000

Any chance of this? I have intentions for more Sys-Ex parsing..

Mailing a layout no longer 'subject lined' automatically

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 13:24:04 +0000

I used to use the email feature to send copies of my layouts to myself and have them redirect to a safe folder, based on the content that MD automatically created in the subject line.

I know there's the 'Share' option now, but it doesn't do the subject line content for me. Deliberate, or an oversight?

PLEASE can I have the auto subject line back?!

Any chance of implementing a "Double tap to default setting" feature?

Fri, 12 May 2023 09:28:14 +0000

Hi there.

A lot of software these days has a "Double tap/click" feature whereby if the control is double-tapped/clicked, the control will reset to its default value. In fact, I've found myself doing this a lot with MDP unintentionally in order to reset a control and then remember "Oh, that's right...MDP doesn't behave like this".

MDP already has a function whereby a control's default value can be configured to snap back after a certain time delay; is there a chance that a "Double tap" could be added as well in order to reset a controller value to a pre-configured default?

Cheers

Gary

Widen Log Window

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 02:34:14 +0000

A recent change added the event time to the Log. The event line now requires 2 lines per event. This reduces the number of events displayed by ½. Widen the window to display one event per line. Screenshot attached.

In iPadOS, hide swipe up bar at the bottom of the MDP screen

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 16:45:19 +0000

I have at least one iPad app that hides the swipe up bar after opening. To activate it takes 2 swipes. I would like to see this implemented in MDP.

Background: I am currently developing a layout for an organist to use with the Hauptwerk VPO while playing with a live orchestra. Some buttons are near the swipe up bar. The iPad will not be hand held, but mounted on his console or keyboard. It would be too easy as he quickly moves from playing a keyboard to the iPad to accidentally graze the swipe up bar and be unable to make the required change! This would create a very bad situation.

By the way, this same app, Scrabble GO, does not display the 3 split screen dots at the top. I haven't used MDP in a split screen mode and I spend a significant amount of time in Design Mode. The work around, while it works, often requires extra steps. Particularly with my 11" iPad.

Don

Fixed-width font for StreamByter editor

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 12:26:29 +0000

It’s hard to line things up and keep StreamByter code organized with the variable-width font; it would be more convenient if it was fixed-width instead.

Transparent Panels (Alpha=0.0)

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 16:53:07 +0000

I want to be able use panels to group controls without a visible panel background—but the Alpha slider only goes down to 0.3.

Some simple(-sounding) ideas:

A new panel option, like “Hide Background in Play Mode”, or:
A new “0.0” value on the Alpha slider, between “0.3” and “---”
- only available when the panel contains controls

Shorter "Snap to Default value" times, for Pitch Bend

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:53:24 +0000

The shortest delay on the "Snap to Default value" slider is 10ms, but that's too slow for a traditional (spring-loaded) Pitch Bend controller.

Previous requests have suggested adding options for 3ms and 6ms^[0][1], and at one point this seemed likely to go into 1.7^[2].

Those options seem reasonable to me. Alternatively, it would be fantastic if you could fine-tune values below 10ms by slow-scrubbing the slider.

Stream Byter Subroutines don't work

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 19:48:28 +0000

Hi there!

I've started to work with the Stream Byter Plugin some weeks ago. Everything has worked perfectly until I have started to work with subroutines.

The Stream Byter Plugin just does not execute the code within subroutines.

When I execute the code below, nothing happens:

IF LOAD
SUB functionX
#codeblock
END
END

IF M0 == BB
functionX
END

The Plugin does not execute functionX. It neither works when I put the Subroutine out of the "IF LOAD". And it neither works when there is no IF-condition. I've tried many things, but subroutines have never worked.

Do you have any idea how I can make subroutines work?

Thanks very much!

Add new MDP feature to deactivate response from subcontrol

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 00:53:33 +0000

See the Image. One control (such as a foot pedal) can control multiple controls. The Off/On controls disable or enable the connection from the Supercontrol to the respective Subcontrol. They act as open/closed connections.

The use case is a single foot pedal is used to control multiple functions such as Pan, Modulation, and Multi-FX. A Button for each function will enable or disable the output from the function's knob. Thus one, two, or all can generate an output at the same time.

This seems like a natural extension of the Show/Hide panel, where each function knob is a member of a panel. An option for Hide would be to deactivate all members of the panel.

I am currently working on a solution using MidiFire to loopback the On/Off buttons to control SB Input Rules.

Show Hide Panels with Buttons in MIDI Designer Pro 2.150

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 02:01:40 +0000

Released in MIDI Designer 2.150

https://youtu.be/xZVk70KVjps

See Change Log for more.

Label Value Source & LED Labels: New in MDP2 2.180

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 22:31:56 +0000

https://youtu.be/21zxP8kZru4

Also... in this version we also added show-hide panels reacting to Extra CC & Hold:

Show Hide Panels

https://mididesigner.com/qa/8537/show-hide-panels-with-buttons-in-midi-designer-pro-2-150

Extra CC & Hold

https://mididesigner.com/qa/7/extra-cc-and-hold

Can you send MIDI from a StreamByter output rule back to MDP?

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 05:34:05 +0000

I have an extensive MDP layout for editing and controlling a Boss Katana amp. I use StreamByter quite a bit. I am trying to use it to workaround some MDP limitations and it would be very helpful to be able to send a MIDI message from my output rules back to MDP in order to set some knob values in a situation where Supercontrols are not practical.

Is there a way to do that?

Battery Status

Mon, 27 Jun 2016 04:38:05 +0000

Would it be possible to show the battery status in MD? The reason I'm asking is 99% of the work I've been doing is wirelessly and not knowing the current battery status burned me a couple of times in my early stages of testing.

More delay time for batch send throttle

Sun, 13 Mar 2016 22:43:11 +0000

I use mididesigner to send patch changes followed by a few control settings. Sometime my settings don't "take" because the synth is still working on executing the patch change when the message arrives. Not sure why it doen't que it and execute it when it's ready but it doesn't. Using the batch throttle gets it to the point where the 2nd one sent after the program change works but not the 1st one. I think I would quadruple the max or something like that. What by the way is the current maximum in milliseconds?

Integrated Bluetooth, When?

Sat, 24 Oct 2015 09:39:53 +0000

When will integrated Bluetooth support be rolled into MIDI Designer?

Supercontrol to change sliders to default value?

Fri, 28 Nov 2014 10:18:02 +0000

In MD i have created 3 sliders to controll three different CC. Now I would like to create a button (momentary) as supercontrol that changes each of the sliders to its default value.

How to do ? ;-)

Is there a way of turning off the newsletter nag notice?

Sat, 05 Jul 2014 04:46:09 +0000

Is there way to call a specific page or bank in MD ? (Not using sequential Page or Bank Up or Down)

Sun, 15 Jun 2014 12:16:22 +0000

Sorry if this has already been addressed, I could not find it.

For live purpose, I created for each tune a single button calling differents synths patch and CC settings.

I also want to create a page for each tune with some basics sliders.

Now, is my question, I'd like also to be able to call from the same button a specific page or bank.

Of course, this is for live purpose so the set is not fixed and I may want to jump from one song to another randomly.

I know that I coud use the tabs pages to call them but I find it simpler this way : 1 big, clear button does everything.

Thanks,
Vincent

Hide sub controls?

Mon, 06 Jan 2014 19:04:21 +0000

Is it possible aleady? Thanks

Midi Thru in upcoming 1.6.0?

Fri, 27 Dec 2013 22:44:18 +0000

I'm trying to hook up a midi keyboard to MD (ipad thru Line 6 mobilizer II) to a sound module to be able Bank Select, Program Change, Control Change for quick access during live performance. Will "midi thru" be included/added to the upcoming 1.6.0 release? Thank you for the reply. Happy New Year 2014

Losing connection when app running in background

Mon, 09 Dec 2013 10:02:18 +0000

Midi designer is losing connection when I switch to my behringer x32 app . Doesn't happen right away and I can't find a reason for it to stop working. I have a few devices hooked up through same the same USB hub. Everything works fine if I just leave midi designer open. Any ideas why it would stop working after a few minutes?

[Design mode] Select Previous/Next control

Sun, 18 Aug 2013 23:06:48 +0000

It would be pretty handy to be able to quickly select the previous or next control when in Design mode, especially when you have lots of small controls like little texts, and also to select f.e. a panel behind a text control. You could probably even re-use the bit of code that does the selection of the next closest control after deleting a control?

Keep up the great work!
Rainer

More than 1 line of text in a label?

Sun, 07 Jul 2013 00:08:16 +0000

Is it possible to have more than 1 line of text in a label... kind of like wrap text or something like that?

Note Changer type

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:11:37 +0000

It would be great something like the channel changer for notes, velocity and cc.
With button groups, supercontrol and stepper buttons, I imagine a tap sequencer.

Similar to circle behaviours in the beatsurfing app.

Can Midi Designer act as midi thru?

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:01:16 +0000

I try to hook up a midi keyboard to ipad using iRig Midi and then send merged midi data through Midi Designer to Cubase on a laptop. Idea is to control VST instrument in Cubase (notes by midi keyboard and CC data via Midi Designer template)

I succeed in getting midi keyboard note data as midi-in in Midi Designer (knob set to note data moves when I play the keyboard), but I do not get midi-out when I play the keyboard. When I turn the knob in Midi Designer, the note of the VST synth does play, but when I play the keyboard, I see the knob turn, but VST does nothing

Is it possible what I try to achieve? Thanks for your reply!

Robert

"Radio Button" - "Resend" option? (exclusive button groups)

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:27:59 +0000

Would a possible solution to audios' problem regarding resending of data by pressing a button already selected be to incorporate a "Resend" button into radio button arrays (as a first or last button) that would resend the data appropriate to the already selected button. Seems like a duplication of function but in reality it would prevent accidental resending of data where the button pressed has already been selected. MD would test for the existing state of a button before executing it's function, and only permit resending via the"Resend" button.

It's nothing more than a safeguard that would prevent the disasters that audio refers to. Could be added to other button/control groups as well.

Possible to have "classic" radio buttons? (one and only one always active)

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:05:45 +0000

It's really easy to set up "radio buttons" as shown in the YouTube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZYjNEALx3w)

but there's one behavior that's not the same as "classic" radio buttons. As set up as in the video, if you press a toggle button a second time (before hitting any of the others), it turns off and leaves none of the buttons highlighted--a sequence of events that doesn't happen in the video. With classic radio buttons, there's always one and only one highlighted. Is there any way to set up the classic behavior in MIDI Designer?

Smaller knobs for iPhone?

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:00:57 +0000

This may be stupid, and I'm not sure if the iPad version has knobs of the exact same size or if it's an equal ratio kinda thing (I worded that so poorly), however, I feel like the knobs in the iPhone version could be made one ...I don't know what the unit would be, but one "adjustment" smaller. You know, like one "click" downward and one "click" sideways. It would still function just as well, look at how small the "button" for a crossfader or fader is at it's smallest. This would allow so much more room on a page. I know that with the current layout I have for ableton live's mixer, it would allow me to delete page 2, just by making them a LITTLE smaller. Is this at all a possibility?

Problem using subcontrols rather than copies for sliders

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:15:29 +0000

I would like to have the same slider controls available on different pages. I don't want to use copy because I'd like the controls to be a different size on the second page, so I'm using subcontrols. No problem so far.

The control relationship is one-to-one (one supercontrol->one subcontrol). This is working great when the sliders have 128 ticks and 128 MIDI values. A problem arises, however, when the controls have a number of ticks and values other than 128 ticks / 0-127 values.

For instance, I have a supercontrol slider with 100 ticks and MIDI values from 0-99. It has a subcontrol with exactly the same setup, but there is no relationship between the displayed or sent values. If I drag the supercontrol to value 50, the subcontrol reads and sends value 39 (which is essentially the ratio of 100:127).

I have to work around it by setting the supercontrol MIDI values to 0-127 while keeping it's number of ticks at 100. Is this the intended behavior? It took me a while to figure out the relationship, but I would have thought the controls would have been more of a 1:1 relationship.

Long post to tell you I've got it worked out, but it doesn't seem right.

PedalBoards - option to disable 2finger tap drag?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 06:43:06 +0000

Hi,

Is it possible to disable the 2 finger tap & drag gesture to move the page up to see the pedalboards? If not, I would like this to be added as an option please :)

Many thanks, & all the best <3

Channel changer able to send higher values then 16?

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 04:54:41 +0000

Hi there again.

I'm getting to feel like the most annoying person in the world.

I do really like the MD it's easy to handle and understand. But I tend to try to make controllers that are beond what most controlsurfaces are supposed to handle.

I left the world of the lightningdesk programming for a while.(Waiting for some new lights to show up) But now I got myself into thinking that I need a controlsurface for The Yamaha 01v96 mixer. I actually needed one when I started, but I made a easy one first to cover the basic needs I had at that point... Now it tends to become a little more advanced. Why is that anyway.. =)

Well here's the thing I'm using the channelchanger to control the Channel when setting the values used for example the compressor. This in midisysex(Of cause, it's me) and that's what's needed for the compressor I guess. =) The thing is that in this way I can "reach" the first 16 channels.. but there are 16 more that can be controlled via sysex in this case. And since there seemed to be a possibility to actually set higher values, I tried.... and that didn't work. It's limited it seems to 16 channels? Is there a workaround for this, can I use a non-channel selector and make that send the L(midichannel) value to sysex and get higher values?

//Sigge

Oh, and by the way I just updated the MD so this question might be obsolete.. I have'nt got to check out the "news" so to speak.

Midi Designer over Bluetooth?

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:49:39 +0000

I've got Midi Designer working with NI Guitar Rig 3. It's perfect because i can change presets and output volume from my IPOD Touch velcroed onto my guitar for live gigs. But most clubs/gigs don't have wifi so i'm out of luck again. MIDI Designer over bluetooth would open up the wireless control world and make this system usable anwhere. Any chance?

Great product!

Paul

Can sliders be narrower?

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:22:05 +0000

I'm using sliders and cross-faders as supercontrols on x-y pads to control either the x or y value at a time. It works great, but is there any possibility that the slider could be sized to a narrow strip in the same way a cross-fader can be sized? It's purely cosmetic, and I'm hesitant to ask because this app is just so close to perfect. Thanks.

Transpose Supercontrol

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:39:12 +0000

It would be great to get a knob or slider to transpose a group of subcontrols.

Merge Layouts

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:58:06 +0000

It would be cool to be able to merge layouts. That way you could have a single layout for each device you have, then merge together layouts depending on the devices you are using.

Coarse/Fine CCs (14-bit Control Changes)

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 18:55:32 +0000

I am using Midi Designer Pro to control a pan and tilt head. The implementation of course/fine CC values would increase resolution and not limit movements to 127 descrete values.

Any plan to implements this in the future?

Individual colours for buttons or dials

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:49:36 +0000

In addition to the whole panel as a default having the same coloured LED colours, each button and dial can also have an individual colour assigned to it, for both on and off status

INDIVIDUAL LED COLORS ARRIVED WITH 1.4.2

I want to have a big cross-fader in one big page mode

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 01:44:33 +0000

Problem with the apps one big page work around is that it limits your design as you can't place anything across the join

Negative Values for Display Min and Max

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 19:20:42 +0000

I have a synth that uses a 'split control': anything below 63 will subtract from the effect, anything above 63 will add. It would be nice if I could set the 'Display Value' in such a way that the Min Value is -63, and the Max Value +63, so I can see straight away what the control actually does. The values sent are of course still 0 to 127.

Rainer

FIXED IN 1.4.2 (NOV 2012)

Asymetrical X-Y Control

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 23:40:41 +0000

It would be nice to be able to create asymetrical X-Y Controls, so one could fit on more - always a good thing :-)

Can messages be sent with a limit (or thottle), e.g. one event every 10ms?

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:10:27 +0000

If for example sliders are moved, then a lot of midi data is created. This may overload some midi equippment, especialy older stuff. I tried with a classic oberheim matrix 1000 with sysex to controll some parameters of a patch. Moving faders will block the module for some time because of processing the heavy incoming midi data. The solution to only send data when releasing a certain controll helps but makes continuos changes very unpractical. If a max interval could be set for certain controlls like only sending a new value only every 10 or 20 ms AND when releasing the control (to get the last setting) then this would relax the module to controll massively. I even think this would greatly enhance midi performance in rather ccomlplex systems too as less data will be on the midi buss. To implement this should be very easy as well.

Disable iPad going Auto-Lock Without Adjusting Global Preferences

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:56:19 +0000

I notice that the iPad goes into standby mode after not using the app for the amount of time set in the preferences. I'd love to see an option that it can stay always on; I can imagine using it in a live performance and having to log in after not using it for a couple of minutes - not good :-) ofcourse I can turn this of in the iPad's global preferences, but it would be better to be able to control it on a per-app basis.

Expand Sysex with 'MIDI channel' param

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:53:03 +0000

I'm designing editors for some synths that can only receive Sysex for their parameter values, and notice that the MIDI channel is unfortunately just a hex value in the Sysex string, which can not be parameterized or renumbered easily, for example by using the functionality built-in to renumber MIDI channels. I have my JX-8P set to channel 16, but not everyone has, and so sharing/reusing the template would require manual editing of the all individual Sysex strings... which is tedious and quite error prone.

A cool solution for this would be to add another 'placeholder' variable for the MIDI channel within the Sysex string, like the current 'V' used for inserting the Control's value. The value for that variable would then be taken from the MIDI channel setting of the Control itself, and be susceptible to the channel renumber functionality, seamlessly integrating with everything else. I hope this will be a good addition to the programmability of complex Sysex-based synths.

Another idea would be to be able to choose the value of *any* Control as the value to use as the MIDI channel, so it would be very easy to have one global control that defines the MIDI channels for all controls that would be set to use it. Of course the Sysex MIDI channel would have to be in place for those to also work in Sysex strings :-)