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Getting more encoder groups [BCF] or using presets differently

2016-04-26 by Joel Saunders

Hi.

I just got a secondhand BCF from a friend, and have just started exploring this group and will get onto looking at the BCManager tonight [thanks for all the extensive support here!] but I've got a question first.

I want to have more encoder groups - something like 12 different sets of 8 encoders would be great.

So far I've set my machine up to have 8 different presets, and each preset is transmitting midi data on a different midi Channel, but this isn't ideal. When I change BCF preset it sends all the midi data for that preset to my DAW and all of a sudden the fader data [and button data] changes. I want the faders and some buttons as global controls, I just want access to more knobs by having more encoder groups/pages.

I figure i could do this with external software by creating some sort of patch that when a button is pushed it +8 to the midi CC parameter, but I thought there must be a more elegant solution.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Joel

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Re: Getting more encoder groups [BCF] or using presets differently

2016-04-26 by rpcfender@...

I guess you know that the encoders have 4 group buttons already (top right) that gives you 4 x 8 encoders that can all be programmed separately

If you duplicate the programming, say encoder 4 and encoder 6 to use the same simple .easypar command. then then they will stay in sync. You can try this and watch the Led ring on encoder 6 track the movements of encoder 4.

So you can have encoder 4 and the same physical encoder on the next group - encoder 12 - matching and as you swap groups the value of the physical encoder will stay the same. You can have all 4 the same - encoder 4, encoder 12, encoder 20 and encoder 28.

BUT this only works within the same preset.

The only way to do what you really want is to write a program.

You set up all the controls on the BC to output different midi messages, say CC, and the program reads these and outputs something else.

The program creates virtual BC 'pages' - as many as you like.

You can use whatever buttons you like to select 'pages' of encoders as the program uses the BC button message to keep track of which page it is on and varies the encoder translation.

(the BC never really changes encoder group or preset)

When you change 'pages' the program sends the values for that 'page' back to the BC to keep it in sync.

I use this method for a Yamaha 4-op synth controller (TQ5) to swap between the 4 ops.

BCR<=>TQ5

Connecting the Yamaha Connecting the BCR2000 to a Yamaha TQ5 synthesisers Go to a new version of the software Video is not visible, most likely your browser ...

View on www.bwalk.com.au

Preview by Yahoo

and

http://www.bwalk.com.au/TQ5_2/TQ5_2.html

Al the best

Royce

Re: [bc2000] Re: Getting more encoder groups [BCF] or using presets differently

2016-04-27 by Joel Saunders

Thanks Royce that is great help.

Is it possible to do something like this::

* In preset 1 I change the value of the faders and buttons

* On changing preset from preset 1 to preset 2 the value of the faders and buttons is copied (learnt) from preset 1 and pasted into preset 2 so the fader and button values are now the same on preset 1 & 2

* In preset 2 I change the value of the faders and buttons

* On changing the preset again to preset 1 the values are copied again

and so on and so forth, so in practise I have multiple presets, but functionally all the faders (for example) are the same value in every preset, but (for example) the encoders in each preset are assigned to unique midi control data.

The idea of using a program seems another option I'll consider exploring. This would mean I would need to have BCManager & my DAW (in my case Audiomulch) running while doing live performances? Midi data would be travelling like this:

BCF [everything is CC] --> BCManager [some buttons are used to alter the parameter of the encoders] --> audiomulch

Would other programs that I'm already a little familiar with like Junxion do this just as well?

Cheers

Joel

Show quoted textHide quoted text

On 26 April 2016 at 22:21, rpcfender@... [bc2000] <bc2000@...m> wrote:

I guess you know that the encoders have 4 group buttons already (top right) that gives you 4 x 8 encoders that can all be programmed separately

If you duplicate the programming, say encoder 4 and encoder 6 to use the same simple .easypar command. then then they will stay in sync. You can try this and watch the Led ring on encoder 6 track the movements of encoder 4.

So you can have encoder 4 and the same physical encoder on the next group - encoder 12 - matching and as you swap groups the value of the physical encoder will stay the same. You can have all 4 the same - encoder 4, encoder 12, encoder 20 and encoder 28.

BUT this only works within the same preset.

The only way to do what you really want is to write a program.
You set up all the controls on the BC to output different midi messages, say CC, and the program reads these and outputs something else.
The program creates virtual BC 'pages' - as many as you like.
You can use whatever buttons you like to select 'pages' of encoders as the program uses the BC button message to keep track of which page it is on and varies the encoder translation.
(the BC never really changes encoder group or preset)
When you change 'pages' the program sends the values for that 'page' back to the BC to keep it in sync.

I use this method for a Yamaha 4-op synth controller (TQ5) to swap between the 4 ops.
BCR<=>TQ5

BCR<=>TQ5
Connecting the Yamaha Connecting the BCR2000 to a Yamaha TQ5 synthesisers Go to a new version of the software Video is not visible, most likely your browser ...

View on www.bwalk.com.au

Preview by Yahoo

and
http://www.bwalk.com.au/TQ5_2/TQ5_2.html

Al the best
Royce

Re: [bc2000] Re: Getting more encoder groups [BCF] or using presets differently

2016-04-27 by rpcfender@...

Hi Joel

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a way to access the values in other controls within a patch or the same or other controls in another patch on a BC.

This would also be a useful feature for those with older synths that pack multiple parameters into one byte.

I think you are stuck with just 32 encoders if you want a stand alone BC with the faders keeping their value.

Again, your patch swapping - CC updating could be done with the 'man in the middle' computer (or micro-controller) by making the computer put out all the common CC values when a BC patch change occurs.

There are a lot of cheap, small and powerful controllers (eg Arduino or Raspberry Pi) if you are able to program.

It would be a fairly simple take to get any 8bit micro-controller to track the 8 CC values from the faders and when it received a patch change message to output those values.

This is what I would do , but perhaps that is due to me being cheap and having a drawer full of 8 bit controllers.

I'm not a OSX person, but Junxion could work if it will let you use a Midi command to 'page' in your faders as new CC types.

Al the best

Royce

Bc2000 (for the BCF2000 & BCR2000)

Getting more encoder groups [BCF] or using presets differently

Getting more encoder groups [BCF] or using presets differently

Re: Getting more encoder groups [BCF] or using presets differently

Re: [bc2000] Re: Getting more encoder groups [BCF] or using presets differently

Re: [bc2000] Re: Getting more encoder groups [BCF] or using presets differently

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