Voodoo Lab

Welcome to the forum!

I think the only thing I see you would need to change is to remove the MIDI Cable leading back to the Commander. This will create a MIDI Loop that continually sends the messages around and around.

Let us know if that helps.

63fender wrote: ↑Sat Mar 20, 2021 11:34 am Is there any plans for an updated version of the GCP? I really love everything about mine but, it's not really the king of the hill for midi controllers anymore. If there's a chance it's going to be updated to compete, I'll wait it out but, it's hard to not look at tye morningstar stuff.

Sorry to say, but there are no updates for this that we are actively working on at this time.

The Ground Control Pro 10 Presets Per Bank Mode is likely well suited for this. Each preset Bank would have Ten Preset locations. A common use of this in a somewhat rigid set list is to dedicate each bank to a song.

You would still need to press the Bank up or Down Button to get to the next "Song" but you would have up to 10 preset changes ready to go.

I hope that helps!

Sorry to say but this is a symptom of this very old hardware. Both the Original Ground Control and the Ground Link lack the ability to save the state of the buttons when they are re-programmed with MIDI Channel and Controller Number.

The GCX Active LED will stay on when a Ground Control configured to enable the GCX is connected. This is normal.

I hope that helps!

The HEX uses Program Changes to load Presets. A HEX Preset will recall the saved state of all six loops at once.

You will need to know what MIDI Channel you are sending your Program Changes on from your ES-8, but I'll assume its MIDI Channel 1.

There are some setup steps to get things going that require powering up the HEX while holding down a button. Here is a list of steps that should get you up and running in this rig.

To get started I'd suggest re-setting your HEX.
1. Press and hold buttons 2 and 3 while powering up the HEX.
2. Release the buttons once the LEDs all flash to confirm you are in setup mode.
3. The HEX will do a button test. Press each button after it lights up.
4. Wait for all the LEDs to flash three times, then disconnect the power to the HEX.

Enable MIDI Program Changes
1. Press and hold Button 1 while powering up the HEX.
2. Release the button once the LEDs all flash to confirm you are in setup mode.
3. Press button 1 to light it up. This will enable MIDI Program Change receive.
4. Disconnect powerto the HEX.

The Default MIDI Channel is 1 so we will leave that alone for now.

Connections
1. Connect the MIDI Out to the MIDI In of the HEX.
2. Connect the MIDI Out of the HEX to the MIDI In of the SYN-2.

The easiest test to confirm all is communicating...
1.Press any button on the HEX to activate a loop.
2. Send any Program Change from your ES-8 that would also control your SYN-2.
3. The Active HEX Loop should have turned OFF and the SYN-2 should have responded.
(IF the HEX didn't respond but the SYN-2 did then the ES-8 is likely sending on a MIDI Channel other than Channel 1. )

If the test was successful then you can create HEX Presets.
1. Send a Program Change from the ES-8.
2. Press any of the button on HEX to activate any combination of Loops you want to come on with this Program Change.
3. Press buttons 1 and 6 at the same time to save these loops as a HEX Preset. The LEDs will flash to confirm a successful save.

Let us know how it goes!

Philemire wrote: ↑Wed Mar 17, 2021 6:47 pm Just bought a Px-8 plus and I'd like to use it with my old control switcher v.1, the one with the black buttons. Does it works the same as the v.2 for saving my preset. I've read every manuals but I still ain't sure how to set it up properly. Thx

The Black button Control Switcher will work with the PX-8+ the same way, yes. The only difference from above will be the steps for programming your Black Button Control Switcher to accept MIDI Program Changes on MIDI Channel 1.

Set MIDI Channel 1 (Black Button version)
1. Power up Control Switcher while holding down Button #2. LED 2 will flash until you
release the button.
2. Make sure all four LEDs are OFF for MIDI Channel 1.
3. Remove power to Control Switcher.

Enable Program Change (Black Button version)
1. Power up Control Switcher while holding down Button #3. LED 3 will flash until you
release the button.
2. Turn On LED 1 to enable Program Change by pressing Button #1.
3. Remove power to Control Switcher.

Let us know if you get stuck!

phawinp wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 9:54 am I've managed to build a tap tempo switch using a SPST momentary switch and 2 resistors.
At first I tried debouncing the switch, didn't go well for me

It's basically a fixed expression pedal with no pot.

Here's the clip:
https://youtu.be/01PSXCqs13o

Here's the wiring diagram:


Mess around with the resistors, start with R1 = R2 and then decrease or increase the R1 value until it gives you CC Value 64.
You do have to measure the resistor values.

** CC value 64 works for me, it might not work for your gear. **
*** If you have another expression pedal that you wanna use, be sure to plug it in to an EXP port.
It affects the CC value of the other port somehow. ***

I end up with R1=9.33 kOhm and R2=9.75 kOhm.
Theoretically, if R2=9.75 kOhm then I think R1 should be around 9.45 kOhm but this is the closest I have.

This works fine sending MIDI CC to my Atomic Amplifire (tap tempo, turning things on/off).
No switch bounce problem at all.

Great Idea!

Many MIDI devices do use any value between 0-63 and 64-127 as a toggle, and some will filter the bounce better than others. For instance, some devices won't attempt to respond again until the data value crosses the 63/64 threshold when the function is a sort of toggle like on/off or tap tempo. However some MIDI devices will count a Tap as ANY value seen making any attempt to de-bounce this setup an exercise in futility.
Glad you happened to be using a device that filters the data values!

Do you use the GCX Guitar In Buffer ahead of your first pedal? If so, I'd test if there really is a discernible loss when inserting the Volume Pedal and longer cables between two loops before adding more buffers.
How far away will the volume pedal be?
Do you know what value pot is in your Volume Pedal?

Of course, if it does affect sound, or you just want the convenience of not running the extra cable, you could try to find either a dedicated MIDI controlled volume box or add any other MIDI device that also does Volume. This would get routed into the signal path wherever you like. You could then likely use your existing Volume Pedal as an Expression Pedal to control volume on the appropriate MIDI device.
(Just did a quick search and the dedicated MIDI Volume box idea looks a little limited in that anything that does this seems to be somewhat expensive or vapor... Best bang for the buck would be to add a MIDI effect that happens to also have Volume since we always want more effects anyway )

Sorry for the delay on getting this post approved!

The Control Switcher should be able to control just about anything that uses a simple 1/4" footswitch, not just guitar amplifiers.
The MIDI Receive channel is programmable and it can respond to Program Changes and/or Control Changes.

I hope this helps!

Lets see if we can get your GCX in for an inspection. Please write to info@voodoolab.com to get the RMA started and be sure to mention this thread.