MIDI Control of Pedals

[siderealxxx]

Hi...

I need to control my Boss DD-200 delay (which is on minijack MIDI) and Strymon Big Sky reverb (DIN) via MIDI to simultaneously recall patches via sysex for individual songs in live use. I can't get my head around how to do this with the hardware most efficiently...

I think I need some sort of MIDI thru box stuck to the pedalboard which is fixed and hard wired on short cables to the pedals themselves. The idea being that I can then run DIN cables across the floor from it to a 2x2 MIDI interface attached via USB near the computer.

This will keep it simple and safe to setup, with no USB on the floor/pedals. Is this the best way of doing it? Any recommendations for MIDI boxes, particularly the thru box (accounting for two devices)?

Thanks!

[BillB]

Checking out the BigSky manual, the MIDI out can be set in the menu to a MIDI Thru function, so you only need one MIDI cable into the Strymon MIDI In, then a DIN to TRS cable from the Strymon ‘MIDI Out’ (Thru) to the Boss. In terms of the connection from MIDI Interface to the Strymon, you could safely use up to a 5m cable, if that helps to keep things out of the way. Don’t forget that if you just want to send patch changes over MIDI, there are devices like the Behringer FCB1010 foot pedal. No laptop required, unless it is doing other duties.

[siderealxxx]

Checking out the BigSky manual, the MIDI out can be set in the menu to a MIDI Thru function, so you only need one MIDI cable into the Strymon MIDI In, then a DIN to TRS cable from the Strymon ‘MIDI Out’ (Thru) to the Boss. In terms of the connection from MIDI Interface to the Strymon, you could safely use up to a 5m cable, if that helps to keep things out of the way. Don’t forget that if you just want to send patch changes over MIDI, there are devices like the Behringer FCB1010 foot pedal. No laptop required, unless it is doing other duties.

Thanks! Strange they didn't label the Strymon on the back as Out/Thru.

Will this work in both directions for programming the data in also? So...

MIDI interface out >
Strymon MIDI in >
Strymon MIDI out (thru) >
Boss MIDI in (mini TRS) >
Boss MIDI out (mini TRS) >
MIDI interface in

[siderealxxx]

Checking out the BigSky manual, the MIDI out can be set in the menu to a MIDI Thru function, so you only need one MIDI cable into the Strymon MIDI In, then a DIN to TRS cable from the Strymon ‘MIDI Out’ (Thru) to the Boss. In terms of the connection from MIDI Interface to the Strymon, you could safely use up to a 5m cable, if that helps to keep things out of the way. Don’t forget that if you just want to send patch changes over MIDI, there are devices like the Behringer FCB1010 foot pedal. No laptop required, unless it is doing other duties.

Thanks! Strange they didn't label the Strymon on the back as Out/Thru.

Will this work in both directions for programming the data in also? So...

MIDI interface out >
Strymon MIDI in >
Strymon MIDI out (thru) >
Boss MIDI in (mini TRS) >
Boss MIDI out (mini TRS) >
MIDI interface in

... and the Boss/Strymon are each assigned a different MIDI channel I presume.

[BillB]

Separate MIDI channels for receipt of prog change commands, yes.

I don’t think that the setup you described would work for programming though, because both devices would be working in Thru mode (the DD-200 also has it as an option) so neither would be sending their own MIDI messages from the output (erm, I think… it’s usually a choice of ‘out’ OR ‘thru’, not both at the same time).

For programming (and I’m not sure what you mean by that for these pedals, as they are programmable from the front panel), it’s probably best to use the MIDI in/out in the conventional way on the Strymon; then for the DD-200, use the USB port. So you have one connection configuration for programming and another for performing.

[The Elf]

I haven't checked, but if these devices permit MIDI control over USB, a simple USB hub to pull it all together might be a neater and more flexible option than MIDI jacks.

[BillB]

No USB on the BigSky, Elf.

[The Elf]

Fair enough, Bill. I didn't check, but it was worthy of consideration for the OP. Of course, a cheap, simple USB/MIDI cable is an option, but by that time there are other equally capable options.

[BillB]

I don't fully understand what siderealxxx is trying to do, but an FCB1010 has 100 presets and can output up to 5 program change commands on 5 different channels per preset (i.e. 150% more than is needed!). Seems like an obvious route to go for live use. Good, old-fashioned MIDI!

[siderealxxx]

Thanks folks, sorry busy day!

To clarify neither the Big Sky or Boss allow MIDI control over USB.

My primary aim is to recall patches on the two pedals via a laptop running Mainstage from song selections with backing tracks.

The Behringer pedal is of no use in this respect and would be too big along with the pedalboard.

When I say transmit in both directions, I mean to also send data from the pedals to MainStage to record for the song patches.

Obviously it's just a basic MIDI setup, but I'm trying to minimise the amount of cable needed, and ensure that it can be hard wired on the pedalboard. The reason being that the pedalboard is all tightly organised so the MIDI needs to follow suit (especially factoring that the boss is on mini-TRS MIDI).

Ideally the pedals would be connected on short runs to a small MIDI box on the board itself, then I just connect MIDI cable when in situ. But a MIDI thru box doesn't quite do that for two separate devices in both directions?

I hope that clarifies things...!

[BillB]

To clarify neither the Big Sky or Boss allow MIDI control over USB.

OK

My primary aim is to recall patches on the two pedals via a laptop running Mainstage from song selections with backing tracks. The Behringer pedal is of no use in this respect and would be too big along with the pedalboard.

That makes more sense

When I say transmit in both directions, I mean to also send data from the pedals to MainStage to record for the song patches.

This part I don't get, but then I don't know Mainstage. Would you not just pick (say) Song 1 = preset 3 on the DD + preset 10 on the BigSky, so you set program changes to be sent from Mainstage:
- for Song 1 > PC03 Ch01 + PC10 Ch02
and repeat for other songs/parts.

Why do you need to send anything from the pedals to Mainstage?

[siderealxxx]

This part I don't get, but then I don't know Mainstage. Would you not just pick (say) Song 1 = preset 3 on the DD + preset 10 on the BigSky, so you set program changes to be sent from Mainstage:
- for Song 1 > PC03 Ch01 + PC10 Ch02
and repeat for other songs/parts.

Why do you need to send anything from the pedals to Mainstage?

This is true, I was thinking along the lines of sysex data for patches rather than Prog changes. Probably because this is what I do with synth patches in Logic etc. But you're right this would be simpler!

In which case your first suggestion is probably the most straight forward! I have a lot of setting up to do :/