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Re: [crumar] Editing Bit-01 with SYSEX strings

2010-07-11 by Michael Ashton

Hello,

I'm the author of BitControl, by the way -- congratulations on getting a Bit.

On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:34 PM, a33e <dr.3.tri@...> wrote:

Hi.

I'm new owner of 01 and learning basics of this machine now. Does anyone have experience about editing this with some hardware knobbox using SYSEX strings?
I have Bitstream 3X controller which i want to use.. .

I found out that there is few editors for this, Sound Quest, Sound Diver, BitEdit1_2 and BitControl.

In BitControls userguide it was said:

"BitControl transmits patch parameters in a
somewhat unusual fashion. The Bit has a
relatively simple MIDI implementation, and
understands only messages containing entire
programs; it does not provide MIDI messages
for altering one single parameter. Therefore,
each time you edit a parameter, BitControl
transmits the entire program to the Bit,
followed by a program change.
Because of this system, each time you make a
change to a patch, any playing notes are
stopped, even if you are holding down a key.
You cannot, for instance, hold down a note and
sweep the filter, and hear the changes in real
time."

Is this the absolute truth?

As far as I know, it is. If anybody can tell me differently, then maybe I'll update BitControl accordingly!

So there is no hope to control it directly? And even if i would get it working from Bitstream3X it would still have same nature with pauses after every knob turn or slider move?

Yes -- unfortunately that's true.

Another question -how would you feed notes when editing Bit01 with that VST plugin?
I use BUZZ as main sequencer and added pattern + track for that VST editor also, then added some notes but had no results..

Many VST hosts have in the past not handled MIDI plugins very well. I think this is changing now, but that's why BitControl opens its own private MIDI port, instead of trying to send MIDI through the host. Also, I'm not sure that note messages are passed through the plugin at all, at the moment.

One strategy is to put the plugin on a different track, where there aren't notes, and use that to configure the Bit. Then you can send notes to the Bit from other tracks. Of course this may not work in all hosts -- in particular some Windows MIDI drivers may not do well with this arrangement.

--mpa

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