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2114 Views 12 Replies Latest reply: Nov 15, 2011 7:26 AM by Whitie60 RSS
Whitie60 Just Startin'
Whitie60
198 posts since
Apr 24, 2009
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Jul 6, 2011 4:58 AM

Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

Can anyone help me determine if MY NEW FBV mrk II Express is malfunctioning? I am currently using Podfarm vrs 2.02. i have watched some videos about how easy it all seems to configure the FBV with the MIDI Learn function but have found that in reality this has not been as easy as i thought. New to MIDI so I may be doing something wrong. At the moment all i want the FBV to do is control the Bank Changes and Programme Changes in the setlists and to control the WAH & VOLUME PEDAL via the Expression pedal. I have downloaded the software for the FBV from LINE 6 but am having some problems which makes me either suspect the NEW FBV or the software itself. First tried to configure by MIDI Learn clicked on the Bank Changes in the Setlist ( setlist changes) did the Midi Learn thing assigned to a particular button think it was A to start with. The down arrrow on the setlist hence incremental change to Bank. It worked up to a point but did not appear to Scroll in a sequential manner - it kept missing a few setlists repeatedly ( the same ones each time). similar happened when I associated footswitch B with the down arrow. then after a while it seemed to loose any association and stopped scrolling. Tried to do the changes in the FBV software. Switch A I choose Bank Change ( incremental) value 1, on Midi channel 1 , next associated footswitch B with Bank Change decreimental value 1 Midi channel 1. This did not seem to work. I then went further into editing and Made C and D the program changes incremental and decrimental and these seemed to work. then altered things slightly to see if Switches A and B would do the Programme changes instead and they did this without fault. now I am getting confused. tried to set up Midi learn again but again it did not work or it worked with errors missing the same psetlist each time. Now having doubts about Midi learn. I decided to set up a Wah with the function in the model view I was able to set this up. now really confused. however when using the Wah I did notice that the on or Model On light goes off totally when I am total Heel down shut off but it goes off slightly before I reach total Heel Down. i have done the configuration for the Pedal as recommended. Now i am really confused about Midi and midi learn anyone have any ideas?

Tags: ux1, fbv, pod_farm, podfarm
  • Kneehow UberGuru
    Kneehow
    6,750 posts since
    Dec 26, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 6, 2011 11:00 AM (in response to Whitie60)
    Re: RE: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

    There are some questions I have to ask; while a lot of information was presented in your question, some key details are still unclear:

     

    1. If you run just the FBV Control 1.03 software application, did you load in the POD Farm 2-Express.fbv template into the program memory?
    2. Did you buy any chance try a different USB port on the computer other than the one you were using whilst describing what you experienced?

     

    Sporadic connectivity with a USB port can manifest in inconsistent MIDI datastream I/O from the MKII controller to the software program in question. Believe it or not, each USB port of a computer (PC or Mac) are unique/independent, so it's good practice to never assume that any USB port should work (there are 3 ports on my work PC that won't provide consistent connectivity for audio/MIDI devices, so I've taped them off).

     

    Please let me know the answers to these two questions so we can confirm and then move onward, if needed in going down the troubleshooting path.

     

    Also, if possible can you try a different CAT-5 Ethernet cable? A cable with a broken strand internally (usually not visually apparent) can disrupt data transmission to and from the host computer as well.

    • Whitie60 Just Startin'
      Whitie60
      198 posts since
      Apr 24, 2009
      Currently Being Moderated
      Jul 7, 2011 2:15 AM (in response to Kneehow)
      Re: RE: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

      L6Perry - yes I did load the Podfarm2 template by opening File and selecting this option. No i currently have not tried in into a different usb port. also I have done some research myself on the forums to see if any others have had similar issues. I found this dated 20/04/10 '14.01 'Standalone Pod Farm 2 Midi learn Problems' by hwhalen. It suggests that there were similar problems to what I have been having with the Midi Learn but it appears that this was cured by de-selecting the boxes in the Midi Preferences tab and re- selecting. It looks like problems may occurr when there are more than one device capable of Midi selected. At the time I was having issues i also had connected my UX1 and had that ticked as a Midi Source. I diont think this is actually correct because as far as i am aware pod Studio UX1 is not capable of sending or recieving Midi commands . i really dont know why it was ticked but it was already in there 'ticked' when i connected the the FBV or both were there when I started up Pf2.02 I really cant remeber the actual sequence ( I would normally have all hardware connected before I initiated the programme. Anyhow the UX1 was ticked. 3 items relating to the FBV were also ticked but one was not. For the sake of thoroughness I did tick in the last item on the list as well which was not automatically ticked. I have not had time yet to check if leaving the UX1 unchecked makes any difference. I can't really understand why the Ux1 would be checked as a Midi device as its not a Midi device ( correct me if I have misunderstood this but it doesn,t seem to send Midi Commands) . i do need it connected to operate PF2.02 properly and to get sound. I am a bit confused about midi generally I suppose.

       

      Could I just ask as well - Is it normal for the wah On light to go off when it reaches the end, or towards the end of its travel ,in the Heel Down Position? technically the Wah is still functioning  in the effects chain until you switch the model to Bypass, would that not be correct?

  • Kneehow UberGuru
    Kneehow
    6,750 posts since
    Dec 26, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 8, 2011 11:35 AM (in response to Whitie60)
    Re: RE: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

    I'm attaching two screenshots to this response. Please note that instead of a UX1, I have a KB37 as my work audio interface along with the FBV Express MKII as the MIDI controller.

     

    Screenshot #1 shows the way I have settings in both the MIDI Preferences of POD Farm 2.51 and FBV Control 1.03. Please pay extra attention to the MIDI CC settings in the FBV Control app; those values are crucial.

     

    Screenshot #2 is just what I'm seeing when depressing either the "A" or "B" switches. They've been MIDI Learn'ed to bypass the first two devices in POD Farm 2.51.

     

    If you step down hard (toe down position), the Wah/Volume LED will toggle to the other state. The expression pedal control state is an either/or and never both.

    Attachments:
    • Whitie60 Just Startin'
      Whitie60
      198 posts since
      Apr 24, 2009
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      Jul 8, 2011 12:51 PM (in response to Kneehow)
      Re: RE: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

      L6Perry - I will look at these and try something with them. I think you have maybe misunderstood my question in relation to Wah. I mean the Model bypass light not the toggle at Toe down that toggles between Wah & Volume. Its the bypass light in the Podfarm application itself. When you are in panel view this light is to the side of the model. When you are in Gear view its the light that hovers above the model to show its on or Off state. This is what goes off when in Heel Down position.

  • Kneehow UberGuru
    Kneehow
    6,750 posts since
    Dec 26, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 8, 2011 5:03 PM (in response to Whitie60)
    Re: RE: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

    Hmm... I'm not sure what you're seeing. Here's a screenshot of the "Panel" view for my POD Farm 2.51 application window.

     

    Would it be possible to take a screenshot to attach to your next response so we can "see" what you're writing about?

     

    I can't see the "light" that you're writing about, sorry. Do you mean the "bypass" (Power Icon) that shows up when you mouse-over above the device in the virtual wood room environment?

    Attachments:
    • Whitie60 Just Startin'
      Whitie60
      198 posts since
      Apr 24, 2009
      Currently Being Moderated
      Jul 8, 2011 11:52 PM (in response to Kneehow)
      Re: RE: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

      L6Perry - yes the Bypass light is what I mean it also shows up to the side in Panel View. It goes out at Heel Down with Wah. Is this normal as the effect is not actuallt bypassed as its still active in the  Tone Chain.

      • Whitie60 Just Startin'
        Whitie60
        198 posts since
        Apr 24, 2009
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        Jul 11, 2011 2:27 AM (in response to Whitie60)
        Re: RE: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

        Just to update and also inform L6Perry. Issues with the Wah bypass light have been resolved. i dont know how but it may be something to do wiith the massive Download of service pack 2 i did for Vista. I then uninstalled and re-installed Pf2.02. All that said it did not help with the Midi issues at all. i know am beginning to suspect the new FBV MkII as the culprit. Why? Because its so erractic and unpredictable. what worked before no longer works. It is impossible to get the footswitches to do any Program changes at all. Also have noticed that the Expression Pedal is working with Midi learn in the Podfarm. it can basically do any knob or any pedal effect by Midi learn. This suggests to me that the software Pf2.02 is off the Hook and the Pedal itself is suspicious. I am using the L6 software FBV control latest version 1.03 I think. When i try to do my associations in this as opposed to using MIDI Learn then again it does not work. i will just take you through what I have been doing so if you think I am doing anything wrong you can tell me. First i tried to make Switch A a Bank Change. value 1 incremental to scroll through the setlists. i put these values into the programmer then tried. it worked once but again kept on missing some items. I then tried a fixed value with switch B. I selected Bank change ,value 3. channel All, Fixed to go to bank 3 in the setlist. again this did not work. then I tried to associate switch B with a bank changes  again i set up this time decrimental, value 1. channel All. got these to work in a fashion scrolling between A and b but after a few scrolls it stopped working. I then tried to associate switches C & D with program changes in the same way on the programmer. i selected Program change, incremental and decrimental value 1 channel All again. Nothing worked. i did not get it work with any Program changes. I went on to try to associate switches A & B with Program changes but this did not work either. I then tried Midi learn with the setlist up & down arrows to try to associate these with switches A & B respectively. again no joy. I have tried different usb ports - no effect. i have tried new USb cable - again no changes.

         

        I did notice however that the Podfarm 2 fbv file when loaded into the programmer does not have the same values in it to the one in the User advanced manuals that came with both PF2 and the FBv express pedal. all values in it are loaded as bank changes associated with all the four switches on the FBV pedal. there was no value for any programme changes. i find this strange and have never saved the file with new values that i put in. anyway what i did was substitute the same values as the presets listed in the FBV control detailed in the respective User manuals these included program changes. I tried to use these with PF2.02 but nothing happened at all when I depressed the switches. because Midi learn works when associated with the Expression pedal i have now to suspect that the footswitches on the FBV itself are not actually sending any MIDI messages or do so only intermittantly.

         

        Finally one weird thing happened. i tried to associate the A/B switches with switches A/b and A+b  with MIDI learn. when I had done this it did not work but i stamped on the FBV expression pedal and found that this was then doing these associations instead.

        • Whitie60 Just Startin'
          Whitie60
          198 posts since
          Apr 24, 2009
          Currently Being Moderated
          Jul 11, 2011 4:09 AM (in response to Whitie60)
          Re: RE: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

          I have spoken directly to Support @ L6 Europe. they have advised re-flashing the FBV pedal memory to establish if there is a problem with that. if no improvements take the pedal back to the dealer.

          • Whitie60 Just Startin'
            Whitie60
            198 posts since
            Apr 24, 2009
            Currently Being Moderated
            Jul 11, 2011 8:39 AM (in response to Whitie60)
            Re: RE: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

            well did the Flash Stuff. Opened PF2.02 selected the down arrow at the corner of setlist. Cleared the Midi value Did it again this time with Midi Learn and it worked. It scrolled. then did the same with Down arrow on Setlist and with Footswitch B , but this time it didnt work. Went back to use Footswitch A to find it had now stopped working. Went to Program change area of the setlist itself (down arrow)to scroll through the programs in the particular setlist. Did Midi Learn with footswitch C and it worked, did the same with Footswitch D and the up arrow of the programs and it Didn't work. went back to C and it had stopped working again. tried new Midi learn with Footswitch A and it didn't take. Well just to add that this FBV pedal will be going back tothe Dealer in the morning.

  • Line6Don Line 6 Support
    Line6Don
    5,275 posts since
    Mar 14, 2011
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 13, 2011 2:05 PM (in response to Whitie60)
    RE: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

    Hey Whitie60,

       

      Be sure to follow Perry's instructions from post #3 to configure POD Farm's assignments once you obtain your new FBV Express MKII after returning your current FBV Express MKII.

  • Whitie60 Just Startin'
    Whitie60
    198 posts since
    Apr 24, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Aug 22, 2011 5:08 AM (in response to Whitie60)
    Re: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

    Just thought I would take an opportunity to help anyone with Midi control issues using the above. A few weeks ago I was new to Midi and finding the info you need to use it can be very piecemeal and rather misleading and confusing. Now I have an angle on it and have managed to use it sucessfully  but if I had had the right info in the Manuals to start with things would have gone much smoother and I would not have had to go to the trouble of sending back what was possibly a fully functioning pedal believing it was malfunctioning. What they dont tell you in the manuals is that Podfarm only recieves Midi CC messages and not Bank  & Programme control messages as it states it does in the lieterature. What it also does not say is that you cannot basically just select a Midi CC number to assign to each pedasl it actually has to be a specific number . these magic numbers that the pedal & Podfarm recognises are only Midi CC command 1, command 2, Command 3 & Command 5. Command 1 & command 2 are associated with the A/B & A+B switches respectively. The others which you may want to change from Global Commands are the Setlist are already associated with setlist next and Program change commands. freeing these up gives you greater opportunity to switch to Local command controls to switch your Fx on and off. I spent ages trying to load in Bank Change and Program change controls to get the FBV to send these to Podfarm but dont waste your time it dont work. Use Midi CC all the way and associate the command as 1,2,3, & 5 with your switches A to D. As I sai i already sent a pedal back thinking it was faulty because it failed to associate Bank & Prog controls with the Podfarm application. It wont do the bank , incremental, decrimental stuff it only does the Midi CC Toggle thing. Also the FBV controller states it comes with a loadable preset to help get started with Podfarm but it doesn't work because it has the wrong values in. it doesn't even have the values that it states it does in the manual and even when you put the values it does have in the Manual into it it still dont work because these are Incremenatl decrimental bank Change and  & Programme  change messages & not Midi CC. Also when you look at Podfarm manual it states that some control is already set up on Midi CC 20,21,22,23 or 26. this is complete rubbish as stated the CC already set up and associated with the A/B  & A+B and setlist changes etc takes place on Midi CC commands 1,2,3,5. I spent ages unravelling this misinformation. When changing any Midi commands using Midi Learn other than Pedal functions make sure you use Midi CC command 1,2 ,3 or 5 only to do this then you will be able to makle your FBV Express Pedal work for you. here Endeth the Tutorial.

     

    
    • Whitie60 Just Startin'
      Whitie60
      198 posts since
      Apr 24, 2009
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 15, 2011 7:26 AM (in response to Whitie60)
      Re: Podfarm Midi control using FBV express

      Here is an update to the lesson provided above

      Forget the FBV programme download altogether except to assign your various functions to each part of the pedal. When you use FBV express with the PODFARM 2 software all you then need to do each time you open Podfarm is to go to preferences in the menu of PF. Select the midi option tab - then select from the Listed items your FBV pedal. set apply - OK and away you go. Remember 1,2,3 & 5 are your options  in the FBV pedal assign use them with a Toggle selected . Also with Pedal use your MIDI Learn functions in POD Farm to assign these.

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