Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

Hey, I do have something working with my BCR2000.
Sysex to the vfx for editing patches.
Will post more when I am finished, trying to map it all out right now.
Need to rearrange the commands on the bcr2000 to make sense.
Map the lfo section, fx, wave section and output section.
After finishing the envelops, I am 3/4 done tho!




--- In Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com, "Hans Artmann"
<hans-artmann@...> wrote:
>
> Yes, I'm talking about bomes midi translator. I've tried some things
> myself, using a Tascam US 428 so I may be able to answer your questions.
>  
> 1. You need the controllers midi out going into the VFX midi in. There's
> no point to also connect the VFX midi out as long as you don't have a
> progarm to cope with messages coming from the VFX. The controller won't
> handle them, although you could use midiox to e.g. view error messages
> or receive and store sysex dumps requested through a message coming from
> the controller - both works.
>  
> 2. It's simpler than you think. Don't bother about all the message types
> you mentioned.
> The controller sends a message or a series of messages with each knob or
> fader. My Tascam's very easy with this because I can't change the
> messages sent, they are all controller massages. This is what a
> B-Control can always deliver.
> In Midi Trranslator there's a function to 'capture' the message coming
> from the controller. This you can assign either
> - a keystroke, which would be processed by the currently activated
> program or,
> - a midi sequence defined in hex
> Now, this sequence must define a sysex message, i.e.
> - the 6 byte header F0 0F 05 00 cc tt where cc  is the base channel
> (zero for channel 1!) and tt is the message type 
> - the message command type
> - the message data packet
> - the sysex tail 'F7'
> The simplest to try are dump requests or the so called virtual keys. To
> e.g. emulate one of the bank keys, let's say bank 3, adjust the VFX to
> base channel 1 and send
>  
>  F0 0F 05 00 00 00  00  00 00 03 to 'press' the bank 3 key
>  F0 0F 05 00 00 00  00  05  to receive a single program dump (ok,
> connect the vfx midi out and use midiox to receive the dump from the
> respective midi port)
>  
> As for the number of zeros there's a trick: message bytes, those after
> the header, are sent in pairs, meaning a byte denoted as 4D would be
> sent as two bytes 04 0D and, 00 as 00 00, and 03 as 00 03 etc.
>  
> Don't forget to assign the correct midi ports in midi translator: output
> goes to VFX, input comes from your controller.
> To give it a try you can also use midiox to send your commands, as long
> as you don't have a controller available.
>  
> There's only a little problem as I already mentioned. The midi spec has
> changed from VFX to VFX-SD and SD-1. You'll find e.g. the bank key codes
> working but you'll find the rest of the virtual key definitions being
> assigned differently. While you'll probably be able to work this out for
> the virtual keys (look for error messages with midiox) you'll probably
> have a hard time to figure out if and how the assignments to parameter
> values would work (page/slot/value). Maybe it's not too different but I
> havn't tried yet.
>  
> Once you get this working another problem is that you have to assign
> each single value of a series of controller values produced by a slider
> to a single sysex message, e.g for values from 0 to 127 or -127 to 127
> etc. Doable but cumbersome. 
>  
> Good luck, and let me know when you've figured out the SD codes.
>  
> Hans
>  
> 
> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com] Im Auftrag von k5kip_1999
> Gesendet: Sonntag, 10. Dezember 2006 23:01
> An: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
> Betreff: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: ne1 know if you can use external midi
> controller on VFX?
> 
> 
> 
> Hey,
> Are you talking about bomes midi translator or midi ox?
> I have the vanilla VFX and I have the manual. Sorry no vfx sd manual
> tho....
> So, I take the controller I want to use and map it to a function using
> the sysex info. 
> The manual lists several specs....
> 
> Several questions - 
> 1. Do I need to have both midi in and out going to and from the vfx
> to do this?
> 
> 2. What info do i need to send for every translation or controller
> message conversion? Hmmm... how to be clear. After the translator
> receives the controller and converts to sysex...
> ? system exclusive status byte ?
> ? Non real time message code ?
> ? Bass midi channel number ?
> ? All channel broadcast code ?
> ? General information message code ?
> ? Device inquiry message code?
> ? end of system exclusive
> 
> ................. wow 
> Ok....
> Let me start again.
> I am not sure how it will happen... I am overwhelmed by midi messages.
> Question how will translator send a different value... or is it
> translating every sing value change on the controller.
> 
> OH my...
> 
> --- In Ensoniq-VFX- <mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD%40yahoogroups.com>
> SD@yahoogroups.com, "Hans Artmann"
> <hans-artmann@> wrote:
> >
> > ok, there's a program that is able to translate MIDI messages, i.e.
> > taking controller messages from a B-Control or anything and deliver
> > sysex messages. 
> > Let me know if anyone's interested in this program and I'll send the
> > link where to get it.
> > 
> > Now here's yet another problem: the sysex definition has changed from
> > VFX to VFX SD and the changed version has not been published with the
> > later manuals as it had been in the early vanilla VFX manual. Times
> ago
> > it could be ordered from Ensoniq for free but there's no Ensoniq any
> > more.
> > Does anybody happen to have the full MIDI spec for the SD?
> > 
> > Hans
> > 
> > 
> > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> > Von: Ensoniq-VFX- <mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD%40yahoogroups.com>
> SD@yahoogroups.com
> > [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX- <mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD%40yahoogroups.com>
> SD@yahoogroups.com] Im Auftrag von Hans Artmann
> > Gesendet: Donnerstag, 7. Dezember 2006 09:27
> > An: Ensoniq-VFX- <mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD%40yahoogroups.com>
> SD@yahoogroups.com
> > Betreff: AW: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] ne1 know if you can use external midi
> > controller on VFX?
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Interesting idea. I don't think it could be done just using
> > controllers. The VFX has a pretty early MIDI implementation and does
> not
> > support so called NRPNs (non registered parameter numbers) to control
> > sound parameters like lfo rate etc. but rather uses sysex messages for
> > parameter control.
> > As far as I've understood the B-CONTROL you can assign program
> changes,
> > controllers, and e.g. sequencer start/stop messages to the knobs and
> > faders but you cannot directly define sysex messages.
> > 
> > But there's hope. If you wouldn't bother to additionally connect a
> > notebook it could be done: all you need is a piece of software to
> > translate controller messages coming from the B_CONTROL via USB to
> sysex
> > messages going through the MIDI interface to the VFX.
> > 
> > However, this piece of SW has still to be written...
> > 
> > Good luck
> > Hans
> > 
> > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> > Von: Ensoniq-VFX- <mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD%40yahoogroups.com>
> SD@yahoogroups.com
> > [mailto:Ensoniq-VFX- <mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD%40yahoogroups.com>
> SD@...m] Im Auftrag von k5kip_1999
> > Gesendet: Donnerstag, 7. Dezember 2006 03:16
> > An: Ensoniq-VFX- <mailto:Ensoniq-VFX-SD%40yahoogroups.com>
> SD@yahoogroups.com
> > Betreff: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] ne1 know if you can use external midi
> > controller on VFX?
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Hey all, 
> > 
> > Specifically - I want to program the synth controls like envelops and
> > other "synth" parameters, filter cutoff, lfo rate lots of them
> > etc.... from an external midi controller like UC-33e or BCR2000? All
> > those knobs and they are so cheap ... would make the vfx feel like an
> > old analog with lots of knobs!!!!
> > 
> > It would breath much new life into programming this synth.
> > Are there a limit to how many controller assignments can go in and
> > what they will effect?
> > thanks
> >
>