MIDI preset organization

[ctc]

Okay, I am new to midi.

I am used to the old-school hunt and peck method for for selecting an amp's channel, reverb, EQ, solo, and the effects including wah, delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, tremolo, etc. One of the problems I never quite solved was being able to modify the effects quickly in a jam session which I like to do especially with the delay. So I guess I'll take another look at midi.

I am looking at the MKV, timefactor, mini amp gizmo, and the mastermind. I understand that I can save any combination of the MKV channels and features with any preset of the timefactor on the mastermind. I'll leave my wah out in front of the amp.

The question I have is this, with 3 amp channels, reverb, EQ, solo, and the timefactor [let's say 10 presets], there are a dizzying array of combinations (mathematically speaking 7! = Over 5000). I know that the mastermind has 125 presets (Okay I probably would not come close to using that many), but how does a mere human organize them in a manner that is easy to recall in the heat of battle during a jam session? I mean where would you save/find the preset for amp channel 3 + EQ + solo + timefactor preset 8? I am interested to know how veteran midi users do this.

 

[ando]

I've rarely gigged any other way but with MIDI setups so I guess I am a veteran...

What you need to do is stream line your thoughts a bit. At the moment you are mentally trying to prepare for every possible scenario you could face. The reality is, there are not that many variables that will come into play.

The way I approach it is to start with a MIDI pedal board that has enough patch buttons on the one bank so that you can cover your usual range of sounds. I use a Ground Control which has 10 buttons. Going from button 1 to 10 I have:

1. clean, plain + slight reverb/chorus
2. lush clean = delay, chorus, reverb
3. phased clean = phaser + delay
4. phased overdrive
5. crunch rhythm
6. heavy rhythm
7. mild lead
8. heavy lead
9. spacey lead with heavy delay/reverb
10. jazz lead

This is my basic line up of stock sounds that could get me through any gig. However, different situations call for contingency plans. Sometimes you will find that your effects are too prominent in a certain venue or mix. It pays to have a duplicate of your basic list in a drier form on a different bank. ie less effects on all.

For specific songs with specific effects and parameters that I want to control, I set up a bank for those songs. That way I can assign my expression pedals to certain parameters on various patches (say, delay level or delay time) and I can have a different range of effects suitable for that song.

It depends on how many basic patches you think you need as to how many pedal switches you need. If you only have 5 buttons, you may find it better to have lots of banks for different songs. You can connect expression pedals to the time factor so you could assign them to certain parameters like delay time, delay level or feedback. You will need to get to know what your equipment is capable of before making too many assumptions.

As far as MIDI programming goes, it depends what sort of pedal you have. If it's fully programmable, you can get it to send different MIDI numbers to your various devices and it will call up the presets you want. On a non programmable pedal, you have to program your MIDI devices to have the right sounds on the right numbers which match your pedal numbers.

Most of the time I make do with my main 10 patches list above, but there are always a few songs that need something different.

Anyway, not sure how helpful that was. Hopefully it gets you started at least.

 

[ctc]

Thanks for the explanation, organizing the presets by song does make sense.

But much of my playing is improvisational. With a traditional non-midi setup I have incredible freedom to choose between those dizzying array of combinations on-the-fly. Is there a midi "mode" that would assign each of the variables we have been discussing with their own button so that I could play in a more traditional manner picking and choosing alacart which combinations to engage or with midi would I be locked into using only presets?

 

[ando]

Thanks for the explanation, organizing the presets by song does make sense.

But much of my playing is improvisational. With a traditional non-midi setup I have incredible freedom to choose between those dizzying array of combinations on-the-fly. Is there a midi "mode" that would assign each of the variables we have been discussing with their own button so that I could play in a more traditional manner picking and choosing alacart which combinations to engage or with midi would I be locked into using only presets?

Sorry for misinterpreting your question, I thought you wanted to be able to control real time parameters - eg levels, delays, feedback etc. If you want it to work exactly the same as your pedals, you may be better off sticking with the pedals - but yes, it is possible to configure them that way if you use a MIDI loop switcher - like a Voodoo labs GCX, which has eight loops. With these, you can have any combination of these eight loops on. Each of your pedals could have it's own loop and you could use your MIDI foot pedal to switch them in or out. The advantage this offers you is the ability to assign certain combinations of effects on a single foot button - cuts down on the tap dancing on the floor trying to engage/disengage pedals simultaneously. If you assigned every effect its own button, you are no better off than having your pedals as they are now. The only real point of MIDI is the idea of simultaneously switching multiple devices - and being able to use expression pedals. Decide what combinations you think you will use and you are halfway to figuring out what equipment you need. I suspect a loop switcher will be the first step.

If all of your pedals happened to be MIDI capable, you wouldn't need to have a loop switcher - you would get away with assigning the effect to be on or off depending on the program number.

Hope that's getting clearer. Feel free to keep asking if I'm not hitting the mark. Maybe give some specific examples of things you have wanted to do or make simpler in the past.

 

[ctc]

Hope that's getting clearer. Feel free to keep asking if I'm not hitting the mark. Maybe give some specific examples of things you have wanted to do or make simpler in the past.

Yes, that is getting clearer thanks. I can see the practical use a midi for simultaneously engaging an amp channel, it's effects loop, and for calling up a preset on the effect, especially for songs. And from your explanation I see that it's also possible to assign the patches in a bank to mimic my traditional set up so that I can experiment with sounds during an improvised session.