MIDI - Song Select

[mkornell]

Has anyone had any success in getting the Helix to pass through MIDI Song Select messages?

 

Background - I'm trying to set up some automation in my rig, including getting my drum machine to select the correct song. It's a Boss DR-3, needs a MIDI Song Select (i.e, F3 xx) message to work properly. I've struck out in getting the Helix to pass that message through. Anyone have any insight on this?

 

I've tried sending the initial messages to the Helix via both USB and MIDI, doesn't make a different in what gets passed through.

 

Also - my Helix MIDI global settings are (tho I've tried just about every combination)

- MIDI Thru - ON

- MIDI Over USB - ON

- MIDI PC Receive - Both

- MIDI PC Send - Both

 

[gbbaker]

I don't have this unit but looking at the manual  https://static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/DR-3_OM.pdf the MIDI specification sheet (at the back) indicates that it will send <Select-Hex F3>; <Start-Hex FA>; and < Stop-Hex FC> along with several others. This is a System Control Message and not a Control Change Message.

 

The format would be to send a two byte Control Message with the first byte a F3 and the second in the range of 0 to 99.  Keep in mind that everything in MIDI code starts at "0".  So "0" = 1,  1 = 2,  2 = 3 and so on; so when you look at the song select on the BR-3,  if you chose 5 as the selection you are actually choosing song 6.

 

If you need to start the song after selecting it,(( instead of doing it manually on the BR-3)) you will need to send a second message which the Helix will  (should) provide as a MMC (Midi Machine Control). You should be able to just select the options of "type MMC and 'Start'. by assigning this to any of the Stomp Buttons.  Same thing for the "Stop" command.

 

Worst case - you can send a MMC command with FA  to Start the song and a MMC command of FC to stop it.

 

I will edit this message with a reference to a MIDI controller when I can locate the item that my help you now or in the future..

 

Additionally,  you can download my "Custom Tone" called  MIDICONTROL1 in custom tone.  Read the notes included in the description and that, along with looking at the settings I used, should get you started.  Let me know if you need additional help.

 

Good luck - Gary  "Bo"  Baker

 

 

Item of interest::    MIDI Solutions . . . .  https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MIDIFC1

[mkornell]

Bo, the issue is that I am sending the Song Select (i.e., F3 xx) command from my PC to the Helix, but the Helix is not passing that through to the rest of the MIDI chain (as far as I can tell).

 

I don't see an option on the Helix to send System Common messages, either. MMC messages, yes. 

 

I haven't got to the MMC commands yet, just planning on using a footswitch directly attached to the DR-3 for that.

 

So, I guess the question is, should the Helix be passing through the Song Select messages I'm sending? And if so, why isn't it.  (And if not, maybe I need to go to ideascale)

[gbbaker]

1.    So. . . .  have you made sure that everything is set to Send and Receive on the same MIDI channel?  If so, the Thru setting should just be passing the System Common messages on to the Boss.  See #3 for a better alternative.

 

2.   Have you tried connecting the PC directly to the Boss DR-3 to make sure that it is set up to receive these messages?  If it works, then it's something in the Helix.  If it does not work then there is part of the problem.

 

3.   Since you are trying this as a "Pass Thru" I am assuming that you are sending messages to both the Helix as Program messages and the DR-3 as pass thru System Common messages from your PC. So try setting the PC  up to use channel 1 for the Helix Send/Receive and channel 2 (or any other channel) to Send/Receive for the DR-3.

 

Pass thru would require an "original MIDI message from a source other than the Helix (thus a Pass Thru) into the Helix and out the "thru" of the Helix into the DR-3. 

 

The fact that Helix can not send System Command messages was the reason I mentioned the MIDI Solutions products in my first post.  That may be your only "solution".

 

 

Good luck,  "Bo"