For anyone familiar with using Helix midi commands on BeatBuddy

[hoppmyers1]

Hello,

 

I'm trying to figure out if Helix (I'm using the floor model) has the ability to send out a midi command to the BeatBuddy similar to the Singular Sound Midi Maestro Midi pedal when it comes to a press/release function. I'm thinking there isn't, but I'd like to cover all the bases in case I'm wrong. Paragraph 4 below shows what I'm trying to do. Hopefully, you'll understand my dribble. And I'll mention that I'm just a hobbyist who sometimes plays at church and this isn't a matter of life and death. It's just that I would like to be able to leave the Midi Maestro at home whenever possible. I would also like to use 1 pedal on the Helix for this control instead of having to use 4 or more individual pedals, plus having a workaround the problem would also be nice to know for future issues. And I've come up with other ways to get done partially what I need. So, if that's all I get, then I'm happy.

 

For those who are familiar using Helix midi on BeatBuddy; since the device originally designed to program the Singular Sound BeatBuddy is the Midi Maestro and the phone app (screenshot photos below) that you use allows you to add multiple commands on the same page as well as having the ability to choose whether the command happens at the press or release of the pedal.................... and since I cannot see anything close to similar on the command center button options of the Helix, am I correct in my understanding that the Helix midi commands will not function in this manner?

 

For those not familiar with the BeatBuddy/Midi Maestro app; if you care to read on.

 

(4) Without any external midi controllers connected to it, out of the box, with the first press of the Beatbuddy footswitch, the drums start, a second press, you get a fill, another press you get part 2 of the drum set, another press you get another fill (and possibly more fills) hold the button down continuously and you get a transition fill and lastly, a quick double tap and the song stops. The CC Commands to duplicate all of those functions is their CC120 command (emulates main pedal).

 

Please note: to see all three images, you need to click on the first and then use the arrows; otherwise you will only see two of them. When programming the Singular Sound Beatbuddy pedal with the Singular Sound Midi Maestro Midi Control Pedal, every single time you place a command (left image/press), you are required to put in the channel number, CC# and the value on one page and save. If the command has multiple commands, then you are required to fill out a second page and save (center image/release). Then on a totally different page (far right image) you are required to choose if the command happens at the press or release of the pedal and whether or not the command will be toggled. I've included 3 pictures of the pages out of the phone app used to program and send commands from the Midi Maestro to the BeatBuddy to show the info required to generate the CC120 command.

 

My problem is that none of the Helix midi control types that I can see (pedals or snapshot flash in the contol center) offer the ability to set the command specifically on a press or depress and when I try using 1 of the 10 pedals on the Helix the only thing that I can do is a start/stop type of function; nothing that allows me to do multiple things as in the CC120 command and when I use the snapshot flash, the BeatBuddy will start, but to get it do anything else, I have to pick another snapshot, then go back to the original snapshot and when I do, it will go into a "continual non-stop" fill or a transition. If I try commands with a toggle, I'm having to double press or even triple press to get it to do anything. CC120 is not designed to function under a toggle switch.

 

When I use the "toggle" command on one of the command center footswitches of the Helix unit to try and operate this function, I have to double press the button on everything that is a single press on the MM or BB and only some things function. To turn it off, I have to tap the pedal quickly 3 times. 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

Edited October 11, 2023 by hoppmyers1
To show all 3 images

[rd2rk]

If I'm understanding this, what you're seeing is a MOMENTARY CC.

On PRESS it sends CC#120 Value 1; on release it sends CC#120 Value 0.

If the BB is doing different things each time, it's keeping track internally.

The attached preset example shows how to do this.

Footswitch 1 is the active FS.

hoppmyers1.hlx

[DunedinDragon]

Many years ago I was automating a BeatBuddy from my Helix.  It's was a long time ago but I do remember that I was using simple stomp buttons rather than snapshots or the command center.  If I'm remembering correctly I was just simulating the various actions of the BeatBuddy pedal to switch between the sections of the BeatBuddy song as well as a couple of stomps to navigate forward and backwards between different songs.

[datacommando]

On 10/11/2023 at 9:23 PM, hoppmyers1 said:

Hello,

 

I'm trying to figure out if Helix (I'm using the floor model) has the ability to send out a midi command to the BeatBuddy similar to the Singular Sound Midi Maestro Midi pedal when it comes to a press/release function.

 

Hi,

 

I’m not sure if you have already checked this info from the Singular Forum, it even has a contribution from @DunedinDragon.

 

https://forum.singularsound.com/t/finally-figured-out-helix-control-of-beat-buddy-functions/25399

 

Hope this helps/makes sense.

[hoppmyers1]

On 10/11/2023 at 7:23 PM, rd2rk said:

If I'm understanding this, what you're seeing is a MOMENTARY CC.

On PRESS it sends CC#120 Value 1; on release it sends CC#120 Value 0.

If the BB is doing different things each time, it's keeping track internally.

The attached preset example shows how to do this.

Footswitch 1 is the active FS.

hoppmyers1.hlx 3.65 kB · 0 downloads

Yes, you understood and your help is very much appreciated as well as your quick response. And...... your file works perfectly. I haven't spent much time on HX Edit and have done most of my tweaking on the floor unit itself. I realized after installing your file that the "moment/latching" option does not show on the floor unit (at least on the first page and I didn't realize there was a 2nd page) and so, my patch automatically assigned it as a toggle function, which made having to double and even triple press the button to get it to function properly. Once I used HX Edit and the options weren't hidden, I was able to easily program it. I guess I had better familiarize myself with HX Edit to save future grief.

 

Thank you so much for your help!