Helix rack w/ Voodoo Labs GCP question.

[Stefcien]

I can't seem to find much info on this but here goes. Anyone using the Helix rack with Voodoo Labs GCP in this way? 8 IA and 4 "preset" mode, the bottom 4 buttons controlling the snapshots and the top 8 IA being on/off switches for FXs. The bank buttons scrolling through the helix presets?

 

I contacted VL about this but it seems the terminology between what a preset is on the GCP and Helix might be getting confused. 

 

Before anyone steps in Im not a fan of the Helix Control unit. I need more buttons. 

[rd2rk]

I don't have the GCP, but MIDI is MIDI. I had a quick look at the manual and it looks pretty straight forward.

What seems to be the problem?

[Stefcien]

From what I’m reading the 4 bottom buttons are “preset” buttons. I can’t seem to find a way to change the program change and midi cc

[DunedinDragon]

That seems to me to be a limitation of the VooDoo Labs GCP, not the Helix.  You should touch base with them to get an answer

[rd2rk]

From the manual:

 

Assigning Program Changes - Pg 16-17

 

Assigning Continuous Controller - Pg 11

[rd2rk]

Not for nothing, but by eschewing the Helix Control, you've created a HUGE hassle for yourself.

 

While MIDI can control most every aspect of your Helix, you must tell your MIDI controller every little thing you want it to do.

For instance, when you load a preset in Helix, Control automatically displays the Bypass status of all the assigned switches. They're lit up and ready to send the appropriate ON/OFF message. Nothing you need to do. To get the same behavior from a MIDI controller you need to program it to send the desired CC message when the CONTROLLER'S preset loads - FS1/Distortion = CC#49 Value 127 (ON); FS2/Delay = CC#50 Value 0 (OFF) etc. Then, if you change your mind and want the delay ON you have to reprogram the MIDI Controller's Preset accordingly, vs just pressing the Helix Control's FS and hitting SAVE.

 

Oh, yeah, did I mention the handy LED rings on the switches? What DOES GCP FS 5 do in THIS preset?

 

That was a simple example. It can get really crazy depending upon the complexity of your configuration.

 

Need more than 10 stomp buttons? Add a cheap, compact MIDI Controller such as Ampero Control which has 4 switches per bank which can each be programmed to perform multiple actions using press, hold, double press etc. Same problems as above, but if the reason you need more switches is because you want Snapshots available in Stomp mode it's perfect, as having the LED rings is less important.

 

Anyway, just sayin', things to think about...