Using my DAW (Cubase) to switch presets & snapshots with midi

[SiriusVI]

Hey everyone,

I connected my Helix to my computer and was able to make cubase and my Helix Floor interact with each other. I also can manually draw program changes in my midi track.

However, what I would really like to do is to press record on my midi track in cubase and then klick the foot switches on my helix to then record the program changes at the correct time in my song, since this would make everything more convenient for me in the future.

But something is really off when I try to do this. If I set my Helix as an Output device to send midi information to cubase, as soon as I hit ONE foot switch on my Helix, it completely freaks out. It starts randomely changing parameters, switching between snapshots and so on. After 5 seconds or so, it sends over 20 different midi commands to cubase and they are actually saved inside the midi track, but of course this defeats the purpose.

The question is: why is this happening? It seems like the Helix is trapped in some kind of loop. Does anyone have experience using midi? I'm a complete  noob and I'm happy I've gotten as far as I have.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[silverhead]

On 1/8/2024 at 11:06 AM, SiriusVI said:

…. If I set my Helix as an Output device to send midi information to cubase, as soon as I hit ONE foot switch on my Helix, it completely freaks out. ..

Not sure I understand this sentence. When Helix is set as an Output device, then it is set to receive, not send, midi information from Cubase. Perhaps you want to set it as an Input device, meaning Cubase will receive midi commands sent by Helix.
 

If Helix is set as both an Input and Output device for Cubase then perhaps hitting the footswitch sends Cubase a command which immediately gets sent back to Helix.  If both Cubase and Helix have Midi Thru set to ON, an infinite loop is created. Turn Helix/Cubase midi thru OFF (see Global Settings on Helix). 
 

[rd2rk]

Make sure that the Track Monitor switch (sometimes called Input Monitor) is set to OFF (or AUTO). Otherwise, because Helix is both Input and Output Device (which is the correct way to configure it) you're creating a MIDI Loop as described by @silverhead. You should also keep that switch set to OFF (or AUTO) on your Audio track, otherwise there'll be a slight delay added to the guitar sound you hear as you play.

 

EDIT: In Cubase that switch is simply called MONITOR (the one with the speaker icon) and it is located next to the Track Record Enable switch.

[SiriusVI]

On 1/8/2024 at 6:34 PM, silverhead said:

Not sure I understand this sentence. When Helix is set as an Output device, then it is set to receive, not send, midi information from Cubase. Perhaps you want to set it as an Input device, meaning Cubase will receive midi commands sent by Helix.
 

If Helix is set as both an Input and Output device for Cubase then perhaps hitting the footswitch sends Cubase a command which immediately gets sent back to Helix.  If both Cubase and Helix have Midi Thru set to ON, an infinite loop is created. Turn Helix/Cubase midi thru OFF (see Global Settings on Helix). 
 

I try to be more detailed:

1. I connect the Helix via USB.

2. In the Helix settings Midi Through is set to OFF, midi via USB is set to ON.

3. I create a midi track in cubase.

4. In the Cubase midi track, I Set the Helix as "Midi Out" and my Audio interface as "Midi In"

5. The monitor in the midi track is off.

With this setup I see the eradic behavior of my Helix. What should I change?

When I have more time, I can provide pictures.

[DunedinDragon]

Although what you're attempting to do is interesting I'm not so sure it's going to be as accurate or easy as simply creating a small (one beat) MIDI segment that contains the activation sequence for each of the Helix footswitches and store those as separate small files that you can drag and precisely paste into a single MIDI Out track at the appropriate point in your song.  No need to draw them again and you can position them very precisely.  That's how I do it and it only takes moments to setup an entire song.

[brue58ski]

It does sound like a MIDI loop as you said in you original post. One thing you didn't mention in your last post is if the Cubase's MIDI Thru was off or on. If it's on, l would suspect that was the issue. I wish I understood MIDI more. One more thought I had. This is purely conjecture but if the Cubase track is set to the Helix receiving MIDI out from the Cubase and the Cubase is also receiving the MIDI information from the Helix while recording, couldn't that create a loop while you're recording?  What if you turned off/down whatever, the MIDI Out of the Cubase off while you were recording. Maybe that's where the loop is. Like the Cubase may still send MIDI to the Helix, even when it's recording from the Helix, so maybe that would create the loop.

[rd2rk]

@SiriusVIDid you get this working? At the time of my previous reply I was not at the computer with Cubase, but since then I have tested (Elements 12) and Helix records and responds to playback as expected.