v-twin rack mode switching

[basket case]

One of these has come up for sale and I'm tempted to get it. But first I need to get my head around the remote mode switching options. Could someone please explain to me what I would need to switch the modes via the sockets in the back? The manual doesn't explain. Do you plug individual footswitches into each of them? Ideally I would like to set up relay switching for it using my G-System.

Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[tiktok]

I have one of these, and you need separate short-to-ground switches for each function. There's one jack for each mode, and then I think one for the mix and the effects loop. I used to use a Rockman Octopus, which would controll up to eight such switches via MIDI. A MIDI Matrix would also work.

 

[basket case]

Ok, thanks. It seems like a really odd way to design it. You would think they would use a din socket or allow it to be done via midi.

 

[tiktok]

A din socket puts you into the proprietary connector realm, whereas 1/4" short-to-ground are industry standard. I've used the MIDI Octopus with my V-Twin, Quad, and several Boogie combos because they all use the same type of connector and switching logic. DIN-connectors require custom wiring and are usually attached to an expensive proprietary footswitch (hello MkIV!!!).

Putting in MIDI is more complicated than it first appears. What MIDI message would you want it to respond to? Program change? CC? MIDI Note? At any given time you probably want to be able to specify which channel(s) you want active, what mode for each channel, and whether the effects loop is active or inactive. Then you'll probably want a multi-character display on the front to show the MIDI state.

Mesa used to offer a MIDI option for the Quad. I called them up to ask about it, and they said "Don't get it--it just allowed MIDI Program 1 to be lead 1, and so on". You'll still need something to do program mapping, unless you want copies of all of your effects programs to be "hard-coded" to each MIDI program change.

 

[Blackface tweed]

uh, sorry for my ignorance, can you tell me what else do I need to switch modes on my V-twin.
it has a switching jacks on the back, but I don't want to have a dozen of footswiches...
so I need something like Octopus, but it's just a box... I thougth it would be something like footswitch.
Or I'm getting something wrong?

 

[tiktok]

To footswitch modes on the V-Twin rack pre, you need a MIDI controller pedal and something like a MIDI Octopus (or a MIDI Matrix), and a bunch of patch cables, one for each switch you want to control. The Octopus has eight quarter-inch jacks on the back, and you connect those to the quarter-inch switching jacks you want to control via MIDI. So, #1 could select the Rhythm1, #2 Rhythm2, etc.

On the Octopus, you select the MIDI program that you want to edit, for example 001. Then on the front panel of the Octopus you select all the switches you want to have "on" for that program setting (there's a button for each one). Typically this would be one of the channel/modes and then the effects loop on or off. The V-Twin Rack Pro also allows you to run both the Rhythm and Lead channels at the same time, so you could have three switches in use for a given patch.

Once you've made all your choices, you press "Save" and the Octopus stores all those switch settings in that MIDI Program. You'll probably also have a rackmounted effects unit you're using, so you'll have MIDI cable connecting the effects unit and the Octopus, so you can store all your preamp settings and your effects settings and call up all of them with one MIDI Progam Change command (i.e. a button on your MIDI foot controller).

I used to have a setup with the V-Twin, an Intellifex the Octopus and a 20/20. My MIDI controller was connected directly to the Intellifex, and then the MIDI Thru went from the Intellifex to the Octopus. The Intellifex supports MIDI "mapping", so you can have incoming MIDI Program Changes trigger a program other than the MIDI Program Change number. This way you don't need to have a bunch of copies of commonly used effects patches.