External control of Quickknob parameters

[tiresias]

Hi, I’m migrating from H9 and Morningstar MC6 Mk1 to H90 and an MC6 Pro which is a whole other level of mapping choices.

Example scenario:  A preset with reverb in slot A and a delay in slot B. I want to control the mix level of each algorithm independently but only have one expression pedal. This obviously wasn’t an issue with the H9 with only one algorithm at a time.

Is it possible to map three different mix levels, eg. low, medium and high to three different foot switches on the MC6 Pro for the reverb algorithm whilst leaving the expression pedal free to control the mix level for delay. Can this be done for instance with CC messages with different values for the mix levels? Venue acoustics obviously plays a part in mix level selection and would be good to have independent control.

Also I’m a bit confused by the release notes for the latest firmware release regarding Perform Overlay. Is this something that has to be activated? I can’t see any difference on the screen between this release and the last. Maybe I just didn’t spend enough time with the prior release to notice any difference.

[joecozzi]

Hello tiresias,

tiresias wrote:

I want to control the mix level of each algorithm independently but only have one expression pedal…Is it possible to map three different mix levels, eg. low, medium and high to three different foot switches on the MC6 Pro for the reverb algorithm whilst leaving the expression pedal free to control the mix level for delay.

Yes.

tiresias wrote:

Can this be done for instance with CC messages with different values for the mix levels?

Yes, that’s one way to do it but the H90 offers this type of control using Hotswitches in PERFORM mode. You don’t need to take up switches on your MC6 Pro. Check this out: https://youtu.be/5y14LwN9oAk?t=3198&si=4ZhBLPAsVH3Bumrj

tiresias wrote:

I’m a bit confused by the release notes for the latest firmware release regarding Perform Overlay. Is this something that has to be activated? I can’t see any difference on the screen between this release and the last. Maybe I just didn’t spend enough time with the prior release to notice any difference.

These perform overlay features will only be present when engaging functions that have been mapped from the Performance Parameter Mapping menus. If you haven’t mapped any Performance parameters to external switch or controllers, you won’t see the overlays.

[tiresias]

Thanks for the link, I’ll check that out. Does it cover both the onboard and midi controller version of the solution?

Regarding Overlay, do you have a screen shot or video that shows what it looks like?

[joecozzi]

The video only explains what Hotswitches are. It’s up to you how you want to use them. I’m simply advising not to take up 3 switches on a MIDI controller when you have them already there on the H90. As far as programming CC# to parameter values, this video explains how to assign CC#s to specific parameters including Mix levels.

https://youtu.be/5y14LwN9oAk?t=2888&si=T660erC9D5YY15cA

The overlays appear on the lower portion of the screen similar to how the quick knobs reveal parameter changes when you turn those knobs. Sorry, I don’t have an example I can show you at the moment.

[tiresias]

From the video link I couldn’t see how, referring to the scenario, how you could map three different mix levels for the same algorithm to each of the performance switches. Am i missing something?

 

[tiresias]

Are you saying that each of the performance switches P, A and B can all be used in the service of a single algorithm?

 

[joecozzi]

Yes, you have three hotswitches at your disposal. You can make them all control parameters across the entire Program. Yes, that means you can assign three different values to one parameter of a single preset if that’s what you want.

[joecozzi]

You need to search for the Mix Level you want to control and map it to a Hotswitch. Using Program 1 Clean Ambient as an example, enter the PARAMETERS menu and hold down the P LED button until you enter the “Hotswitch 1” programming menu. Press the B LED button so it shows you the Preset B parameters (reverb parameters). The first one should be “Mix.” That will control the mix level for the reverb in the Program. Press the first quick knob to assign a value such that whenever you press the Hotswitch 1 button in PERFORM mode the reverb’s mix level will go to that value.

Repeat these steps, but the second time around enter the Parameters menu and press and hold the A LED button to program Hotswtich 2; the third time around press and hold down the B LED button to program Hotswitch 3.

After this process you will have mapped 3 different Mix levels of the reverb in the program using three different hot switches. During your performance you can keep your H90 in PERFORM mode where these three hotswitches are accessible all the time.

 

 

[tiresias]

Hey thanks so much for your patience, I think i’ve got. I’ve successfully mapped different values of the same parameter to three different hot switches. However I’m now confused by the display of what I’m presuming is the Overlay.  Each of the switches are mapped to Hotswitch 1,2 and 3 but regardless of which one I press I get the same momentary message at the bottom of the screen: P/programme name/hotswtich on or off.  I was expecting the algorithm name with the parameter value or something similar.

[tbskoglund]

This is the correct behavior. The perform overlay will tell you whether Hot Switch 1-3 is on/off, it will not provide any information about what parameters are mapped. You must use the Hot Switch edit menu on the pedal or in H90 Control to see which parameters are mapped to the Hot Switch.

[tiresias]

H9 Control app confirms the value changes by the position of the parameter knob in the edited algorithm, A in this case but there is no such info on the device.

[tiresias]

Hi ~ I’ve been trying to achieve the same results with midi. I’m not having much luck with mapping different values of the same parameter directly to different cc numbers. I can’t tell from the video if this is actually possible? Or do i have to do the Hotswitch mapping and then map the hotswitches to controller numbers?

[tbskoglund]

Can you be more specific with what the issue you are having is? For example, map CC 1 to preset A mix, and send different CC values to adjust the preset A mix parameter. What have you tried and what is not working?

You can map your MIDI CCs directly to the parameters, or you can map your MIDI CCs to a Hot Switch.

[tiresias]

Thanks for clarifying Overlay behaviour.

 

Re Scenario:

Naively I’d tried mapping three different mix positions for Algorithm A to three different cc numbers with a greater than 64 value. The thinking was this would reproduce the same outcome as mapping to three different hot switches.
It sounds like you’re suggesting the same CC number with different values would do the job. That would be very handy if I could work out how to do it.

 

[tbskoglund]

You’re welcome. Thanks for the additional info.

Yes, I am suggesting 1 CC mapping, and sending different values of that CC to adjust the mix parameter. For example, a value of 0 will make the mix at 0%, a value of 127 will make the mix at 100%, and a value of around 64 should give you roughy 50%. You should be able to configure your MIDI footswitches to send out these CC values.

[tiresias]

Hey that’s great thanks! I had to clear some previous mapping experiments to get it working but got there. What’s also great is the CC values will do subdivisions of a selected parameter range.

[tiresias]

With the MC60 P I can use the initial preset selection plus a long tap message and double tap message to get three mix settings with a single switch without having to leave the page or the bank.

[tbskoglund]

Glad to hear you got it working! Great idea about the different mix settings using the various footswitch mappings.

[tiresias]

Hi, thanks. Another question.  Is it possible to get a parameter sweep mapped to a Hot Switch? I’m thinking of the Mash button on the TC Flashback.

[tbskoglund]

Can you be more specific? I am not familiar with what the Mash button does. I saw a video where it seemed to do many different things depending on what delay algorithm was being used.

The Hot Switch will always quickly jump to whatever value it is assigned to. For example, if your mix setting is at 100, and you map the mix to Hot Switch 1 to be at 50, when you engage the Hot Switch you will see and hear the mix value immediately jump to 50.

[tiresias]

Yes I was thinking of something like a sweep through delay time values but doesn’t sound possible with a switch. I think the Mash switch was a pressure sensitive expression device. I remember a preset on the H9 with delay values preset for an expression pedal which was quite fun. It might have been lost lunch or something like that.

 

Next question then, Can an expression pedal be switched between mappings?  E.g. is it possible to switch an expression routing from say programme mix level to an algorithm delay tempo subdivisions. A longshot I know. Maybe a second expression pedal required.

[tiresias]

Actually I’ve just watched a video which demonstrates switchable expression routing in the MC6 Pro.  It seems like having the expression pedal connected there instead of to the H90 might provide the answer.

[brock]

A 2nd expression pedal connected to the H90 has become an essential component in my rig (except when using the Looper; replacing one with 3-way Aux switch).  But if you’re fully committing to MIDI control, taking advantage of the MC6 Pro’s four Omniports makes a whole lot of sense.

Being a total ‘controller’ freak, I use both approaches.  Best of both worlds.  Expression pedal mappings make for more universally transferable Programs among users.  MIDI-centric is more personalized, and rig-dependent.  But it offers a finer grain of control within a wider range of possibilities (especially true of the MC6 Pro).

Fortunately, changing from one type of control to the next is the simple matter of a dropdown reassignment.  So it’s easy to copy a Program, and have one version for expression, another for MIDI.

[tiresias]

Thanks broc, that’s useful and encouraging. Also good idea about two copies of a programme, hadn’t thought of that.

 

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