M4 MIDI Programming Question

[Zaphod B]

I don't have a MIDI foot controller yet but will have one soon.

I understand how to program a module/channel to a MIDI program patch - select the patch on the controller, select the desired module and channel, press and hold the Channel button on the M4.

The questions: If you assign, for example, patch 48 to a specific module and channel, then decide that you want that patch for a different module, can you reassign it? Or is it a one-time-only thing?

(The same question applies to the RT2/50, assigning power amp channels to the M4 modules...can you do it over?)

Also, does programming the M4 affect the manual channel selection - does it remain a rotary function?

Thanks!

 

[Flump]

I'm kind of confused as to why you would do it that way. I'm gonna assume that the M4 works the same way as the Mod 50, and if you are using Program commands, that module 1 channel A would be PC0 or 1..i don't remember which up through module 4 channel B would be PC7 or 8 on whatever midi channel you have. This requires no button pushing holding on the M4, and all you have to do on your midi foot controller is then change which PC you send to the M4 to change which module/channel you want.

 

[Zaphod B]

Ah, OK - I believe that's true, that you can do it either way.

Thanks.

I'm still curious about it, though.

I'm a complete MIDI idiot, by the way.

 

[Zaphod B]

Hey, Flump -

The M4 modules can be addressed directly as you describe but that requires MIDI note information. Some of the controllers I'm looking at (simple foot controllers) don't transmit note information, just program changes.

Anyhow, I called Dave at Indoor Storm and he verified that the patch programming can be done and redone as much as desired.

 

[Flump]

Hey, Flump -

The M4 modules can be addressed directly as you describe but that requires MIDI note information. Some of the controllers I'm looking at (simple foot controllers) don't transmit note information, just program changes.

Anyhow, I called Dave at Indoor Storm and he verified that the patch programming can be done and redone as much as desired.

I just read the M4 manual, and it works just the same as the Mod 50 and responds to program changes and midi CC messages. I use a rocktron all access and I only use the PC's to change channels. It appears the exact same thing can be done with the M4.

Personally I would do that because you can go into the patch you made on your Foot controller and change the PC sent to the M4 extremely easily. Whatever is easiest for you I would go for though.

Manual link: http://www.egnater.com/manuals/m4_3-07.pdf

 

[Zaphod B]

If I get a controller that transmits note info that looks like the way to go.

 

[aeroic]

If I get a controller that transmits note info that looks like the way to go.

I personally set up my Ground Control Pro to transmit program changes 1-8 (corresponding with the module / channel I want) on Midi channel 1..and the rest of my effects on midi channel 2. That way I don't have to deal w/ CC changes w/ the M4. And I can leave effects on from preset to preset...like...going from a lighter gain lead tone to a heavier gain lead tone (ie...going from EG34X ChA -> ChB)....

That way you don't have to deal w/ CC changes...and you don't have to hold down the button on the M4 for each preset you make...to save lets say...PC 49 to be Module 3 ChA... Secondly, it allows me to use the same setup w/ a Mod50...although I would only have PC 1-4 for modules.

Eric

 

[Flump]

If I get a controller that transmits note info that looks like the way to go.

I don't think you need anything that transmits note info...I'm guessing you're talking about like what a keyboard midi controller does as in velocity, duration, and all that?

Example:

Right now when i make a patch on my all access say I want my vox module clean, and the first patch on my G-major 2 which happens to be a just a little reverb and very slight compression.

In my all access I go to midi channel 1 and have it send program change 1 to the amp.
I go to midi channel 2 and have it send program change 1 to the G-major

That's it. No note info, just 2 little bits of information for a clean sound. Almost any simple foot controller will do this. The cheapo behringer one will do it or the smaller rocktron unit...etc

 

[Zaphod B]

If I get a controller that transmits note info that looks like the way to go.

I don't think you need anything that transmits note info...I'm guessing you're talking about like what a keyboard midi controller does as in velocity, duration, and all that?

Example:

Right now when i make a patch on my all access say I want my vox module clean, and the first patch on my G-major 2 which happens to be a just a little reverb and very slight compression.

In my all access I go to midi channel 1 and have it send program change 1 to the amp.
I go to midi channel 2 and have it send program change 1 to the G-major

That's it. No note info, just 2 little bits of information for a clean sound. Almost any simple foot controller will do this. The cheapo behringer one will do it or the smaller rocktron unit...etc

Thanks, Frump. Like I said, I'm a MIDI idiot.

The Egnater M4 user's guide says:
"S7 is the Controller Enable function. This allows instant access to any module channel using controller (note data) functions."

Then it lists a table of Note vs Module, so that's where I'm getting the Note Data stuff.

To make it respond to program changes you have to do a little button pushing on the M4. No biggie.

 

[aeroic]

If I get a controller that transmits note info that looks like the way to go.

I don't think you need anything that transmits note info...I'm guessing you're talking about like what a keyboard midi controller does as in velocity, duration, and all that?

Example:

Right now when i make a patch on my all access say I want my vox module clean, and the first patch on my G-major 2 which happens to be a just a little reverb and very slight compression.

In my all access I go to midi channel 1 and have it send program change 1 to the amp.
I go to midi channel 2 and have it send program change 1 to the G-major

That's it. No note info, just 2 little bits of information for a clean sound. Almost any simple foot controller will do this. The cheapo behringer one will do it or the smaller rocktron unit...etc

Thanks, Frump. Like I said, I'm a MIDI idiot.

The Egnater M4 user's guide says:
"S7 is the Controller Enable function. This allows instant access to any module channel using controller (note data) functions."

Then it lists a table of Note vs Module, so that's where I'm getting the Note Data stuff.

To make it respond to program changes you have to do a little button pushing on the M4. No biggie.

You don't have to do any button pushing on the M4...if you have your M4 on one MIDI channel and your effects on another MIDI channel.

They come from the factory w/ PC 1-8 corresponding w/ each module.

1 - Module 1 ChA
2 - Module 1 ChB
3 - Module 2 ChA
4 - Module 2 ChB
5 - Module 3 ChA
6 - Module 3 ChB
7 - Module 4 ChA
8 - Module 4 ChB

So..what you'd want...is to set the M4 to be on it's own midi channel...and have your board (likea ground control pro) send PCs 1-8 only... That's the "easiest" way of doing it IMHO.

Then you don't have to select each module and "save a setting" w/ PC 49 to be Module 3 ChB...and PC 12 to be Module 1 ChA for instance.

I have Midi Channel 2 of my rig control my Line 6 Echo Pro / Filter Pro and my 2 Lexicon MPXG2s....MIDI channel 1 controls my M4 only...

Make any sense? That's how I'd recommend you do it...unless you choose to get a Liquid Foot pedal...and have 8 instant access switches for each module / channel on the board...then you would need to do CCs instead.

Eric

 

[Zaphod B]

Yeah, that all makes sense. I was thinking that I was going to have to have a different patch for each FX setting even if the M4 module remained the same, but using one transmit channel for the M4 and another for FX makes a lot more sense.

Thanks, guys.

 

[aeroic]

Yeah, that all makes sense. I was thinking that I was going to have to have a different patch for each FX setting even if the M4 module remained the same, but using one transmit channel for the M4 and another for FX makes a lot more sense.

Thanks, guys.

Yep...that's exactly what I do. If I only need to change channels on the M4 module..I just switch one midi channel...if I need to only change effects...I just change PC's on the other...if I need to do both...I do. Makes it very flexible...easy to follow (as 1-8 PC on the M4 midi channels correspond exactly to what channel you want)...

Eric

 

[Zaphod B]

Makes sense. Eric, what controller are you using? Can you change the transmit channel on the fly? Again, please excuse my ignorance.

 

[aeroic]

Makes sense. Eric, what controller are you using? Can you change the transmit channel on the fly? Again, please excuse my ignorance.

Using the Voodoo Labs Ground Control Pro.

No...you don't do that. The Ground Control Pro...lets you configure different "MIDI devices" during setup. And lets say you hit Preset 1... You can edit Preset 1 to send program change 3 to the Egnater M4...and program change 35 for example to some other MIDI effects device....lets say...a MPXG2 in my case! Then you can edit Preset 2 to send PC 4 to the Egnater M4, but leave the MPXG2 in my case at PC 35. That way...only the M4 is changing not both. But lets say...Preset 3 needs to change both...you can do that to. Send PC 2 to M4...and PC 23 to the MPXG2. So...the ground control pro...knows what PC to send to what device...depending on what preset you hit on the GCP.

Eric

 

[Zaphod B]

Well, that sounds pretty friggin' cool.


Thanks again for the info!