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  • Help: Using iPad with Fractal Audio FM9

Hi,

I'm trying to send MIDI commands from ST3 to my FM9. I'm doing so wirelessly using a WIDI jack.

For the moment, I'm not trying to do anything too complicated. I just want to send a PC when I hit play on my backing track in ST3. I've tried doing so several ways. I tried the [midi@play...] route, and I've also tried the same thing by having ST3 send the message at 1 second into the count in [midi@00:01.00...]

In this instance, I'm trying to load FM9 preset 452. According to the MIDI chart that comes with FM9, that should be in bank 3, preset 68.

As I understand it (which may precisely what's at issue, I realize), there are two ways to do this in ST3. The easier of the two ways is to use the ST3 "shortcut" and assume the MSB is 0. So, the command in this case should be:

PC68.3@1 (preset 68, bank 3, on MIDI ch 1)

I've tried sending the message the longer way by sending CC0 with a value of 3. I've tried sending one long command separated by a comma. I've tried splitting the messages up into two separate midi commands.

The WIDI jack flashes at the exact time(s) I've specified in my commands, so it seems like it is receiving data. I've triple checked that I have the MIDI outputs set for blue tooth in Playback. I've checked the MIDI remote setup as well--several times. Nothing is working. Rather than spell out each and every attempt I've made, I was hoping someone could just tell me what I'm likely to be doing wrong.

I realize I need to troubleshoot three possible sources of the problem: ST3, WIDI jack, and my FM9. But I've gone over everything in painstaking detail, and I can't figure it out.

For any Fractal Audio users, I also read and posted in this thread on the FAS forum. It describes pretty much the same issues I'm having.

https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/solved-midi-preset-scene-control-via-widi-jack-w-stage-traxx-3-ios.194313/

Thanks so much in advance for any help.

    jcshirke silly questions but will ask - have you definitely set the FM9 to receive on channel 1?
    Are the ins and outs on the Jack correct? I’ve made this mistake before…

        Maybe the Fractal device starts numbering at 1? ST3 starts at 0, so to select bank 3 you would need PC68.2@1.

          Lishy

          I don't blame you for going back to square one. I've checked the simple stuff a dozen times. Yep, it's set to receive on ch. 1. In/Out jacks look to be correct. I even reversed them once or twice just to make sure I wasn't being an idiot. Still didn't work. I will check yet again.

            peter

            This is from the manual:

            MIDI BANK & PROGRAM CHANGE
            The following table lists the MIDI Bank and Program Change messages required to select FM9 presets.
            MIDI Bank Select (CC#0) Value , Midi Program Change = FM9 Preset Number.

            0, 0 = 0
            0, 1 = 1
            0, 2 = 2
            0, 3 = 3
            0, 4 = 4

            Continuing:

            3, 68 = 452

            Even if I had made a mistake about which bank corresponded to the one I need, wouldn't I expect to see some preset to load with PC68.3@1?

              One other thing I should mention is that I tried the MIDI learn route first. On the ST3 screen, it just says "Waiting for MIDI data," no matter what buttons I push on the FM9.

              Lishy

              You were right! I had the MIDI jacks reversed because I was reading the triangles on the WIDI Jack wrong. I had it connected correctly at some point during my struggles, but I probably wasn't sending the correct messages to the FM9 then.

              Just as a note in case someone else needs the info, you cannot send PC65.3@1 (in my example) to switch banks. You do need to include a CC message also. So, in my case, I had to send: [midi@00:01.00: CC0.3@1, PC65@1]. It worked!!

                Ah yes, so the Fractal device needs the bank sent in CC0. Then you need to send it seperately, because the part that is sent in the PC command uses CC32. So PC65.3@1 will be effectively: CC32.3@1,PC65@1

                I've got it figured out now, and it works brilliantly. I programmed two FM9 scene changes later in the song, and they worked flawlessly. 🙂 Thanks, everyone!

                  a month later

                  Question on this. Were you able to automate this by playing the track in ST3 and just hitting the scene select buttons on the FM9, or did you have to manually enter (ex) [midi@00:01.00: CC0.3@1, PC65@1] for each selection?
                  Thx

                    guitarcollege

                    I'm not quite sure what you're asking, but I do have everything automated now. I include the PC message at the start of the track, so that as soon as I hit play the correct preset comes up on my FM9. Then, while the track is playing, it changes scenes for me as well. I type in the full MIDI message (as you did in your example) so that the times correspond to precisely when I need to switch scenes. I go through the whole song that way, switching, for example from scene 1, to scene 2, then back to scene 1, and then to scene 3 (etc.). I have assigned CC34 to "scene change" (I can tell you how to do that, if you're not sure), and then include as part of my MIDI message [...CC34.0@1] (which would bring up scene 1) or [...CC34.1@1] (which would bring up scene 2), and so on. Let me know if you need more help.

                      Thx for the quick reply. I believe you answered my question - I wondered if you had to type in each [midi@00:01.00: CC0.3@1, PC65@1] to the ST3. There is a YouTube video out that shows a guy using a Helix - and as the track is playing, he just taps the pedalboard and ST3 populates this [midi@00:01.00: CC0.3@1, PC65@1] automatically. Wondering why I can't get my FM9 to do this.

                      [https://youtu.be/R5IIrmJWKJ8]

                        guitarcollege

                        In your example, where you use CC0, does that call up FM9 preset 449? It should because FM9 uses CC0 to tell it the bank number. So, bank 3, number 65=preset 449.

                        From there, just use whatever CC you assign to scene change to make your scene changes automatically while ST3 plays. I use CC34 because it's what Fractal had previously designated for scene changes in older products. If you type that exact MIDI command plus add CC34.1@1 (put a comma before the command, and separate any additional commands with a comma also) at the time you want the FM9 to change scenes, it should work. You do need to tell the FM9 what CC# you want to use for scene changes. In the FM9 editor, go to the SETUP menu, then MIDI/Remote, then the "other" tab, then scroll down until you see a box for entering the scene change CC#. Put in whatever number you want, but a lot of people, like me, use 34.

                        I didn't watch the YT video yet, but my guess is that it's Scott Uhl's. If so, I learned all this stuff from him (and a couple people here and on the Fractal Forum), too.

                        Let me know if you're still stuck. Btw, I am also using a WIDI jack to do this wirelessly via bluetooth from my iPad. Mind. Blown.!!

                          The Scott Uhl video: I think you could do it that way and take advantage of ST3's MIDI learn functionality. In other words, when you press the FM9 button that changes scenes, ST3 will decode the exact MIDI message that the FM9 sent. In my case, because I was still learning how to do this from the ground up, and because I hadn't yet assigned a CC# to the FM9 to change scenes via MIDI, I went ahead and did it the slower way. I assigned the CC#, then manually typed the scene change message into ST3. I should just post a pic showing you an example from a song. But hopefully you get it sorted out.

                          Took a few evenings of Midi profanity to get this far for sure...

                          My original problem is I can't get ST3 to "learn" the CC (Fractal Scene) changing. It will automatically do the PC and go to the Fractal Preset (Bank), but will not do the individual scenes within the preset. I can manually input a CC and get ST3 to go to a specific scene(s). See below, all manually typed in all except for this first line [midi@00:03.01: PC29.1@1]

                          I would really like to be able to automatically do it from the Fractal foot switches while the track is playing as in the YouTube video. All I get is same as you, "Waiting for MIDI data." ***Not a deal breaker, just glad I've been able to get it to work! No more Pedalboard Dancing!!

                          [midi@00:03.01: PC29.1@1] <Fractal Switches to Preset/Bank 29 and last scene SAVED in Fractal>
                          [midi@00:06.01: CC34.0@1] <Fractal Switches to Preset/Bank 29 scene #1>
                          [midi@00:09.01: CC34.1@1] <Fractal Switches to Preset/Bank 29 scene #2>
                          [midi@00:10.01: CC34.2@1] <Fractal Switches to Preset/Bank 29 scene #3>
                          [midi@00:11.01: CC34.3@1] <Fractal Switches to Preset/Bank 29 scene #4>
                          [midi@00:12.01: CC34.4@1] <Fractal Switches to Preset/Bank 29 scene #5>

                          and these wireless Midi Dongles... I saw your post earlier that you had them plugged in backwards. I have a two sets of these things, and they are completely opposite of each other haha. So far the cheap Lekato version has worked well. Ordered another set as a backup.

                          Ah, I get it now. I will try to do scene changes that way and see if I can get it to work. If not, then it's back to the slow way for both of us!