Synth 1 - how to change presets with midi pedal

MikeFloutier

Hi,

I'm new to Synth .

It seems brilliant in so many way and, as an iRig Blueboard Pedal user I was delighted to see the excellent Midi Learn function.

However, I'm struggling to see how to change presets with the midi pedal.

It's pretty important to me as I will be using it with the magnificent Midi Guitar 2.

Does anyone know?

uncledave

Hi Mike,
A couple of untested suggestions. If Synth One responds to MIDI Program Change messages, you might be able to use them to change the presets. You would either:

• Configure the BlueBoard to send PC commands, or
• Use a StreamByter script to convert what BlueBoard sends to PC.

The Synth One iBook doesn't mention this at all, so not too hopeful. I'll try to test this later today, but maybe someone already knows the answer.

uncledave

After testing, Synth One does respond to MIDI Program Change messages. They can select any preset in the current bank. I used a StreamByter script in Audiobus to generate the messages, sending them to the Synth One Virtual MIDI port (in System), not to Synth One (in Apps). It's a little tricky because Synth One is IAA, not AUv3. I also tried sending a MIDI Bank Select (CC0), but that seemed to crash Synth One. Maybe I was doing it wrong. (Probably wrong. No crash on retry, but no effect either.)

So, you can use a script to convert BlueBoard messages to PC. I suppose you have a couple of buttons sending different MIDI CC#s and you can make them raise/lower a counter, and send that value in a PC message.

Edit: Of course, PC messages can only select presets from 0 to 127. Higher numbers cannot be reached. You'd probably create banks with your own playlists, and keep them under 127.

Poppadocrock

Free apple book might help.

Audiokit Synth One the Ultimate Guide

https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=1544368523

uncledave

@Poppadocrock said:
Free apple book might help.

Audiokit Synth One the Ultimate Guide

https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=1544368523

Unfortunately, no mention of Program Change in the book, so it was no help at all.

MikeFloutier

Thanks UncleDave, I’ve had a good read of the BlueBoard documentation and it certainly appears that it CAN send PC messages.

I think I was fixating on the presets not getting highlighted when switching “midi learn” on.

In practice I’m guessing that simply sending a PC1 message will cause Synth One to select Preset 1 etc.

Another question in this line, which is probably a fairly general Bluetooth question, is; What happens if I’m running two IOS apps (in this case Midi Guitar 2 and Synth One) at the same time (my normal set up). Will they both respond (which could be chaotic)? Should I simply restrict BlueBoard to one of the apps by only enabling that one for BT?

Thanks again!

uncledave

@MikeFloutier said:
Thanks UncleDave, I’ve had a good read of the BlueBoard documentation and it certainly appears that it CAN send PC messages.

I think I was fixating on the presets not getting highlighted when switching “midi learn” on.

In practice I’m guessing that simply sending a PC1 message will cause Synth One to select Preset 1 etc.

Another question in this line, which is probably a fairly general Bluetooth question, is; What happens if I’m running two IOS apps (in this case Midi Guitar 2 and Synth One) at the same time (my normal set up). Will they both respond (which could be chaotic)? Should I simply restrict BlueBoard to one of the apps by only enabling that one for BT?

Thanks again!

Yes, PC1 will select preset 1 in the current bank. As I suggested, since the BlueBoard only has a few buttons, you might want to use them as Up and Down buttons (probably sending CC messages), and use a script to maintain a count and send the updated value as a PC to the app.

The conventional way of separating MIDI messages is to use different MIDI channels for the controllers and configure the apps to respond accordingly.

MikeFloutier

Many thanks UncleDave, ok I get the stuff about the actual midi messages (I think 😂); what I’m less sure about is the ability of a Bluetooth device (in this case BlueBoard) to link to two separate apps at the same time. Or perhaps I’m confused and actually what BlueBoard is connecting to is not so much the apps directly but my (in this case) iPhone, which can? then use the midi messages any way it wishes.

Thanks for bearing with me, it’s a bit of a learning curve for me...

uncledave

Yes. Once the BT device is connected, it's connected to the iPhone, just like a BT keyboard. So the MIDI messages it sends will be visible to any app. They will be on a specific MIDI port, but many stand-alone apps don't have port selection capabilities, so they hear everything, and MIDI channel is your only filter. Hosting/routing apps like Audiobus, AUM, or MidiFire have more powerful port selection and MIDI routing capabilities.

I just checked AudioKit SynthOne, and it cannot select a MIDI port, so it can only filter MIDI by channel. SynthOne does create a Virtual MIDI Port, so using a routing app may give you more control. You can make that decision after you have the gear.

MikeFloutier

Thanks so unchanged UncleDave, much appreciated, that gives me the confidence to go ahead and buy it; then I can experiment, as you say.

Thanks again!

MikeFloutier

@uncledave said:
After testing, Synth One does respond to MIDI Program Change messages. They can select any preset in the current bank. I used a StreamByter script in Audiobus to generate the messages, sending them to the Synth One Virtual MIDI port (in System), not to Synth One (in Apps). It's a little tricky because Synth One is IAA, not AUv3. I also tried sending a MIDI Bank Select (CC0), but that seemed to crash Synth One. Maybe I was doing it wrong. (Probably wrong. No crash on retry, but no effect either.)

So, you can use a script to convert BlueBoard messages to PC. I suppose you have a couple of buttons sending different MIDI CC#s and you can make them raise/lower a counter, and send that value in a PC message.

Edit: Of course, PC messages can only select presets from 0 to 127. Higher numbers cannot be reached. You'd probably create banks with your own playlists, and keep them under 127.

Many thanks for this @uncledave . It definitely looks like the way to go.

I have had a quick tour of the StreamByter page, along with it's manual, the StreamByter University, the MidiBridge tutorial and the Audeonic Soapbox and, whilst a new hobby does appeal to me, given my various other interests, I feel it may be best to get some help with programming for my initial needs.

I'm guessing I'd need a script that will take a couple of my BlueBoard buttons; A & B (ie. Notes C3 & D3) and supply the recipient App/AU with a scrolled up or down note message in order to select the relevant pattern; within my required limits, ie. scrolling up and down within 4 patterns, triggered by Notes 12 to 15.

I noticed that folk such as myself are encouraged to post in the Audeonics Soapbox with requests for such scripts; do you think that would be the best approach?

Thanks again!

espiegel123

@MikeFloutier said:

@uncledave said:
After testing, Synth One does respond to MIDI Program Change messages. They can select any preset in the current bank. I used a StreamByter script in Audiobus to generate the messages, sending them to the Synth One Virtual MIDI port (in System), not to Synth One (in Apps). It's a little tricky because Synth One is IAA, not AUv3. I also tried sending a MIDI Bank Select (CC0), but that seemed to crash Synth One. Maybe I was doing it wrong. (Probably wrong. No crash on retry, but no effect either.)

So, you can use a script to convert BlueBoard messages to PC. I suppose you have a couple of buttons sending different MIDI CC#s and you can make them raise/lower a counter, and send that value in a PC message.

Edit: Of course, PC messages can only select presets from 0 to 127. Higher numbers cannot be reached. You'd probably create banks with your own playlists, and keep them under 127.

Many thanks for this @uncledave . It definitely looks like the way to go.

I have had a quick tour of the StreamByter page, along with it's manual, the StreamByter University, the MidiBridge tutorial and the Audeonic Soapbox and, whilst a new hobby does appeal to me, given my various other interests, I feel it may be best to get some help with programming for my initial needs.

I'm guessing I'd need a script that will take a couple of my BlueBoard buttons; A & B (ie. Notes C3 & D3) and supply the recipient App/AU with a scrolled up or down note message in order to select the relevant pattern; within my required limits, ie. scrolling up and down within 4 patterns, triggered by Notes 12 to 15.

I noticed that folk such as myself are encouraged to post in the Audeonics Soapbox with requests for such scripts; do you think that would be the best approach?

Thanks again!

The first thing you need to know is if the recipient actually has a next/previous function that is MIDI-learnable.

uncledave

@MikeFloutier said:

@uncledave said:
After testing, Synth One does respond to MIDI Program Change messages. They can select any preset in the current bank. I used a StreamByter script in Audiobus to generate the messages, sending them to the Synth One Virtual MIDI port (in System), not to Synth One (in Apps). It's a little tricky because Synth One is IAA, not AUv3. I also tried sending a MIDI Bank Select (CC0), but that seemed to crash Synth One. Maybe I was doing it wrong. (Probably wrong. No crash on retry, but no effect either.)

So, you can use a script to convert BlueBoard messages to PC. I suppose you have a couple of buttons sending different MIDI CC#s and you can make them raise/lower a counter, and send that value in a PC message.

Edit: Of course, PC messages can only select presets from 0 to 127. Higher numbers cannot be reached. You'd probably create banks with your own playlists, and keep them under 127.

Many thanks for this @uncledave . It definitely looks like the way to go.

I have had a quick tour of the StreamByter page, along with it's manual, the StreamByter University, the MidiBridge tutorial and the Audeonic Soapbox and, whilst a new hobby does appeal to me, given my various other interests, I feel it may be best to get some help with programming for my initial needs.

I'm guessing I'd need a script that will take a couple of my BlueBoard buttons; A & B (ie. Notes C3 & D3) and supply the recipient App/AU with a scrolled up or down note message in order to select the relevant pattern; within my required limits, ie. scrolling up and down within 4 patterns, triggered by Notes 12 to 15.

I noticed that folk such as myself are encouraged to post in the Audeonics Soapbox with requests for such scripts; do you think that would be the best approach?

Thanks again!

For AudioKit SynthOne, you were looking at Program Change to select a preset. Unfortunately, a PC message can only select a specific preset numbered 0..127, in the current bank. So, implement scroll up/down, a script would need to maintain a counter, and send its value in the PC message. The inconvenient aspect is that the script cannot know about any change to the current preset done by the app GUI. When you use the pedal, the script will continue from where it was.

For selecting patterns in AR-909, certain notes select certain patterns. So you basically have the same problem. The script will retain the current pattern/note and increment/decrement that value under the control of the pedal.

Notice that you can be a bit clever with the user interface design of the pedals. For example, use a long press to switch direction, or hold one pedal while pressing another. You might use a long hold to reset the PC or pattern counter, so you know where you are. A script can interpret these to perform different actions.

And yes, you can request help in the Audeonic forum. I've helped a few users over there.

MikeFloutier

@uncledave said:

@MikeFloutier said:

@uncledave said:
After testing, Synth One does respond to MIDI Program Change messages. They can select any preset in the current bank. I used a StreamByter script in Audiobus to generate the messages, sending them to the Synth One Virtual MIDI port (in System), not to Synth One (in Apps). It's a little tricky because Synth One is IAA, not AUv3. I also tried sending a MIDI Bank Select (CC0), but that seemed to crash Synth One. Maybe I was doing it wrong. (Probably wrong. No crash on retry, but no effect either.)

So, you can use a script to convert BlueBoard messages to PC. I suppose you have a couple of buttons sending different MIDI CC#s and you can make them raise/lower a counter, and send that value in a PC message.

Edit: Of course, PC messages can only select presets from 0 to 127. Higher numbers cannot be reached. You'd probably create banks with your own playlists, and keep them under 127.

Many thanks for this @uncledave . It definitely looks like the way to go.

I have had a quick tour of the StreamByter page, along with it's manual, the StreamByter University, the MidiBridge tutorial and the Audeonic Soapbox and, whilst a new hobby does appeal to me, given my various other interests, I feel it may be best to get some help with programming for my initial needs.

I'm guessing I'd need a script that will take a couple of my BlueBoard buttons; A & B (ie. Notes C3 & D3) and supply the recipient App/AU with a scrolled up or down note message in order to select the relevant pattern; within my required limits, ie. scrolling up and down within 4 patterns, triggered by Notes 12 to 15.

I noticed that folk such as myself are encouraged to post in the Audeonics Soapbox with requests for such scripts; do you think that would be the best approach?

Thanks again!

For AudioKit SynthOne, you were looking at Program Change to select a preset. Unfortunately, a PC message can only select a specific preset numbered 0..127, in the current bank. So, implement scroll up/down, a script would need to maintain a counter, and send its value in the PC message. The inconvenient aspect is that the script cannot know about any change to the current preset done by the app GUI. When you use the pedal, the script will continue from where it was.

For selecting patterns in AR-909, certain notes select certain patterns. So you basically have the same problem. The script will retain the current pattern/note and increment/decrement that value under the control of the pedal.

Notice that you can be a bit clever with the user interface design of the pedals. For example, use a long press to switch direction, or hold one pedal while pressing another. You might use a long hold to reset the PC or pattern counter, so you know where you are. A script can interpret these to perform different actions.

And yes, you can request help in the Audeonic forum. I've helped a few users over there.

Many thanks @uncledave , however, since I’ll be loading an AB3 preset containing the StreamByter script, and that the relevant preset or pattern in AR-909, when loaded, will correspond to where the script expects it to be, and that I will never touch the GUI, which lives in my pocket when playing live, do you think it might work ok?

By the way, I notice that I inadvertently titled the this thread “Synth 1” rather than “Synth One”. When I started, I didn’t realise that they weren’t one and the same. Is there any way of editing the title?

uncledave

@MikeFloutier said:

@uncledave said:

@MikeFloutier said:

@uncledave said:
After testing, Synth One does respond to MIDI Program Change messages. They can select any preset in the current bank. I used a StreamByter script in Audiobus to generate the messages, sending them to the Synth One Virtual MIDI port (in System), not to Synth One (in Apps). It's a little tricky because Synth One is IAA, not AUv3. I also tried sending a MIDI Bank Select (CC0), but that seemed to crash Synth One. Maybe I was doing it wrong. (Probably wrong. No crash on retry, but no effect either.)

So, you can use a script to convert BlueBoard messages to PC. I suppose you have a couple of buttons sending different MIDI CC#s and you can make them raise/lower a counter, and send that value in a PC message.

Edit: Of course, PC messages can only select presets from 0 to 127. Higher numbers cannot be reached. You'd probably create banks with your own playlists, and keep them under 127.

Many thanks for this @uncledave . It definitely looks like the way to go.

I have had a quick tour of the StreamByter page, along with it's manual, the StreamByter University, the MidiBridge tutorial and the Audeonic Soapbox and, whilst a new hobby does appeal to me, given my various other interests, I feel it may be best to get some help with programming for my initial needs.

I'm guessing I'd need a script that will take a couple of my BlueBoard buttons; A & B (ie. Notes C3 & D3) and supply the recipient App/AU with a scrolled up or down note message in order to select the relevant pattern; within my required limits, ie. scrolling up and down within 4 patterns, triggered by Notes 12 to 15.

I noticed that folk such as myself are encouraged to post in the Audeonics Soapbox with requests for such scripts; do you think that would be the best approach?

Thanks again!

For AudioKit SynthOne, you were looking at Program Change to select a preset. Unfortunately, a PC message can only select a specific preset numbered 0..127, in the current bank. So, implement scroll up/down, a script would need to maintain a counter, and send its value in the PC message. The inconvenient aspect is that the script cannot know about any change to the current preset done by the app GUI. When you use the pedal, the script will continue from where it was.

For selecting patterns in AR-909, certain notes select certain patterns. So you basically have the same problem. The script will retain the current pattern/note and increment/decrement that value under the control of the pedal.

Notice that you can be a bit clever with the user interface design of the pedals. For example, use a long press to switch direction, or hold one pedal while pressing another. You might use a long hold to reset the PC or pattern counter, so you know where you are. A script can interpret these to perform different actions.

And yes, you can request help in the Audeonic forum. I've helped a few users over there.

Many thanks @uncledave , however, since I’ll be loading an AB3 preset containing the StreamByter script, and that the relevant preset or pattern in AR-909, when loaded, will correspond to where the script expects it to be, and that I will never touch the GUI, which lives in my pocket when playing live, do you think it might work ok?

Yes. As long as you never change the selection in the app GUI, it will remain synced with the script. Note that we use the "+P" option in the SB script when initializing the data, so the updated value will be saved in the AB3 preset.

By the way, I notice that I inadvertently titled the this thread “Synth 1” rather than “Synth One”. When I started, I didn’t realise that they weren’t one and the same. Is there any way of editing the title?

Yes. As the original poster, you can edit the title. Not sure how, since I've never done it. You can edit a post using the gear icon in the post title bar. Maybe there's a gear on the title?

MikeFloutier

Many thanks @uncledave ! Ps yes you’re right, the gear icon gives the option to edit the title too, BUT it’s only available for 1 month after the original post.