Triple recto midi switching

[Walshinator666]

Can I use a different midi foot switcher(5pin) to switch channels on my recto?I have and effects rack that I want to use in my new amp.Can I use the Mesa footswitch to change channels on the effects rack(making use of the solo channel)I hope.

 

[domct203]

Can I use a different midi foot switcher(5pin) to switch channels on my recto?I have and effects rack that I want to use in my new amp.Can I use the Mesa footswitch to change channels on the effects rack(making use of the solo channel)I hope.

Welcome to the forum.

The footswitch jack IS NOT a MIDI port. It is a simple DIN style jack for connecting your footswitch ONLY.

I have no idea what your "effects rack" is so the only advise I can give on how to control it is to NOT use your amp's footswitch.

If you wish to implement MIDI control of your rig you are going to need some external gear to control the amp.

Voodoo Lab & RJM Music Tech makes some great MIDI gear for guitar rigs.

Can you give up some details on your gear and what you wish to accomplish?

Dom

 

[Walshinator666]

I have an old 80's effects rack(ART product)What I want to do is to have my rack and amp switch effects and channels with one press of the controller.What do I have to buy to make this happen.I want to use the amp tone and just implement the effects

 

[domct203]

I have an old 80's effects rack(ART product)What I want to do is to have my rack and amp switch effects and channels with one press of the controller.What do I have to buy to make this happen.I want to use the amp tone and just implement the effects

If you want full control of your rig you're going to want to go with MIDI control.

You're going to need somekind of MIDI controller (I use a Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro) & a MIDI interface to control your amp (I use a Voodoo Lab Control Switcher). If you have any pedals or other non-MIDI gear you'll need a MIDI looper to switch them in/out (I use a Voodoo Lab GCX). If your ART unit has MIDI control you'll just need to plug it in and configure it to work with all your other MIDI gear.

You are going to need to educate yourself on MIDI implementation, Control Change (CC) & Program Change (PC) messages, controller values, setting MIDI channels etc.

I use the Voodoo Labs gear, and they work together with minimal configuring. You will still need to understand MIDI to fully implement it.

Here is a very basic article on it, read thru and see if it's for you. Then you can decide if MIDI will work for you.

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/midi-switching-1

Warning- MIDI gear can get expensive quick. Be sure to research all your options.

Dom

 

[Walshinator666]

I just bought a ground control and a gcx.Can it activate the solo buttons on the recto pr do I have to buy a separate boost pedal?Can it be set up so one switch with activate the boost pedal and the desired effect on my effects rack?

 

[domct203]

I just bought a ground control and a gcx.Can it activate the solo buttons on the recto pr do I have to buy a separate boost pedal?Can it be set up so one switch with activate the boost pedal and the desired effect on my effects rack?

If your rack effect accepts PC and/or CC messages then yes, you can do as you asked, that is what the GCP & GCX is designed to do.

Dom

 

[Walshinator666]

Sorry I'm not familiar with those terms.How can you tell if a rack will accept CC or PC messages?

 

[domct203]

Sorry I'm not familiar with those terms.How can you tell if a rack will accept CC or PC messages?

You'll need to refer to the effect unit's manual. Program Change messages & Continuous Controller (or Control Change) messages are how your MIDI devices communicate.

.........
You are going to need to educate yourself on MIDI implementation, Control Change (CC) & Program Change (PC) messages, controller values, setting MIDI channels etc.

Google is your friend here. There is a lot of great info on the net. I found these articles while searching for "MIDI for guitarists"

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/may95/midiforguitarists.html
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/what-is-midi-and-how-can-i-use-it

Voodoo Lab also has a pretty good support forum:
http://www.voodoolab.com/forum/index.php

Good luck,
Dom

 

[Walshinator666]

So after reading both articles(thanks for sending the links)I am certain my effects rack can use PC and CC type commands.My GCX and Ground control are due to arrive sometime today.How would I program it to work for the solo switch on my amp.Thanks for you replies and all the help you've provided thus far.

 

[domct203]

So after reading both articles(thanks for sending the links)I am certain my effects rack can use PC and CC type commands.My GCX and Ground control are due to arrive sometime today.How would I program it to work for the solo switch on my amp.Thanks for you replies and all the help you've provided thus far.

You will use the external trigger jacks on the back of the amp & the N.O. (normally open) switches in loops of the GCX.

You should download the GCP & GCX manuals from voodoolab.com. Pg 10 of the GCX manual shows how to use a GCX loop to switch amp channels, which will apply to each of your amp's external triggers.

http://www.voodoolab.com/manuals/gcx_manual.pdf
http://www.voodoolab.com/manuals/ground_control_pro_manual.pdf

Refer to your amps manual for info on the external trigger jacks.

Dom

 

[Walshinator666]

Now that I have the voodoo labs gcx and the GCP.Where do I conect for the solo switch to work?

 

[Walshinator666]

Here's what im trying to do.Get button1 on the GCP to switch on channel 1(amp) and effects rack channel 120
button2(GCP) work channel 2(amp) and rack channel 121
button3(GCP)work channel 3(amp) and rack channel 122
button4(GCP)work channel solo(amp) and rack channel123
Please help hook this stuff up.I've got a gig on Friday and I need this to switch for the gig otherwise i'm gonna have to use the mesa footcontroller and no effects.BTW my amp is a triple rectifier

 

[domct203]

Here's what im trying to do.Get button1 on the GCP to switch on channel 1(amp) and effects rack channel 120
button2(GCP) work channel 2(amp) and rack channel 121
button3(GCP)work channel 3(amp) and rack channel 122
button4(GCP)work channel solo(amp) and rack channel123
Please help hook this stuff up.I've got a gig on Friday and I need this to switch for the gig otherwise i'm gonna have to use the mesa footcontroller and no effects.BTW my amp is a triple rectifier

Sorry man, on Vacation and won't be with my rig for another week. I pretty much followed the instructions in the GCP & GCX.

You should post this at the Voodoo forum I shared.

Good luck,
Dom

 

[Walshinator666]

Not sure how to post it elsewhere.I do thank you for your help.I think I have the connections right but I'm having problems programming the GCP.I'm working on that with the guys at the voodoo labs forum.(Great group of guys there as well.

 

[deeman]

Not sure how to post it elsewhere.I do thank you for your help.I think I have the connections right but I'm having problems programming the GCP.I'm working on that with the guys at the voodoo labs forum.(Great group of guys there as well.

Yea your best shot is the dudes at the voodoo labs forum. Most of us don't have much knowledge of that

 

[Walshinator666]

I've got my gear all switching now except I can't get my solo channel to work seperately from my rtyhem channel.If anyone has the triple recto and GCX,GCP to switch can you enlighten me as to how you have it set up.The voodoo labs guys don't know why I can't make my solo channel seperate from my rtyhem.It's like I have 2 volume knobs.When I turn 1 up they both go up so there's no difference in volume from my lead and rtyhem channels.Thanks.

 

[Walshinator666]

I talked to Ben at voodoo labs forum and the problem I had with my "solo" knob was that I had my effects rack midi through connected to the footswitch input.He got me to disconnect that midi cable and voila it worked perfectly.Turns out the footswitch input is not a midi input.Awesome!!!I'm loving my new tones!!

 

[domct203]

........... Turns out the footswitch input is not a midi input...........

Well I could have told you that ............

Welcome to the forum.

The footswitch jack IS NOT a MIDI port. It is a simple DIN style jack for connecting your footswitch ONLY.............

Oh yea, I already did in my first post LOL.

Anyway, glad you got it all sorted out. Once you get comfortable with MIDI controllers you'll wonder how you got by without them LOL.

Best of luck with the new gear!

Dom

 

[Walshinator666]

I looked back and you did tell me that.I think I was getting frustrated and forgot but thanks for your input.