Helix Midi File Format - Help needed

[Detgyver]

Hi all, 

 

I need urgent help. I want to send a midi file from an external backingtrack Player device to my Helix via a Midi Connection to make a program change. 
My Helix is listening on channel 2 and I like to send the data in the red square from the screenshot but I dont have any idea how to create an external midi file. 

 

 

I would be really thankful if someone could please show me the way how to do this. 

 

Greetings

[Schmalle]

What does your backingtrack player's manual say about this?

[rd2rk]

It would be helpful to know what "external backingtrack Player device" you are using.

This is easily done using most any DAW.

[DunedinDragon]

The MIDI required to make changes to a different preset and/or snapshot as well as enabling different stomp buttons and such is pretty well documented.  A great source for such things would be the Helix Help web site as it has a section dedicated to the various MIDI actions available and the ways in which you use them.

 

I will say, from someone that operates my Helix solely in conjunction with backing tracks you probably want to separate the MIDI interaction from the playing of the backing track because of timing constraints.  It takes a moment or two for the Helix to change presets and be ready to be played whereas starting a backing track is pretty much an immediate thing.  Your backing track player may provide a delay between the commands sent and starting the track, and if so that would probably work fine.  In my case I use a dedicated MIDI footswitch controller where one switch sets up both the Helix and selects the backing track, and another footswitch starts the backing track.  That way I know the Helix (and all other stage automation components) are ready before we start the song and it's worked flawlessly for many years now.

[Detgyver]

I use the M-Live B.Beat Device to play the Backingtracks for our band. Unfortunately, the manual of the B.Beat say´s it supports .mid files but nothing more. 
In the configuration of the device, you have the option to import and position the .mid file on the songs "timeline" so that the mid file will be used "at the right moment". 
I have the idea to use this .mid file support to switch to the preset in my setlist in my Helix for the next Song but I am not that MIDI-Power-User to get this done, so I need help to create the needed .mid file. 
I would be very happy if you could give me some tips.

 

 

[Schmalle]

Most editors are horrible for this stuff.

What works ok for this is Reaper (my DAW of choice), because thankfully it has a simple event list view / editor.

 

Here is what I did to create the attached file:

• open Reaper
• create new Track
• Insert -> New MIDI item
• double click on that item
• View -> Mode: event list
• right click on first positon on the list -> Insert
• select type = PC, channel = 2, value = 5 and add the item
• insert item: type = CC, channel = 2, controller = 32, value = 7
• insert item: type = CC, channel = 2, controller = 69, value = 0
• File -> export to new MIDI file

Hope that helps.

detgyver.MID

[rd2rk]

The attached .mid track was also created in Reaper, but I used a different method. Instead of manually placing the PC messages in the track, I recorded the changes as I played along to the backing track. All I recorded was preset changes, but the instructions below will allow you to record everything.

 

Set Reaper to use your Helix as MIDI Input and Output devices.

Set Helix Global Settings>MIDI>MIDI Over USB=ON, MIDI PC Send=USB, MIDI PC Receive=USB, Snapshot CC Send=ON.

To record toggling of FX within presets you'll need to set the MIDI BYPASS of the FS assigned to those FX to a CC#, then in Command Center, set the FS to SEND that CC# as a toggling CC.

 

Create an audio track by dragging your backing track into Reaper.

Create a MIDI track to record MIDI from Helix. Set the Track RECORD MONITOR setting to AUTO.

Route the Output of the MIDI track to Helix.

Arm the MIDI Track and start recording. Play along and switch presets/Snapshots as required.

After recording, disarm the MIDI Track and start PLAYBACK, playing along without manually switching presets.

If all goes well, SELECT the MIDI Track, go to FILE>Export Project MIDI>Selected Tracks Only. Click OK and note where it's being saved to.

You should be able to import that .mid track to your device and hopefully it should sync to your backing track.

 

Hopefully I described all the steps correctly, it's late here in Colorado! 

Helix.mid

[Detgyver]

Thank you @Schmalle and @rd2rk for the for the effort you made to create a midi file for me. I will try out the file today (evening) and then get back to you. I'm looking forward to the test run.

 

Many greetings from Germany
Det

[Detgyver]

Thank you @Schmalle and @rd2rk for the for the effort you made to create a midi file for me.
I did a test and the file from Schmalle switched my helix to the folder "Templates" to preset 5. That shows me, that I can use it as a template in Reaper - but I have to start working with reaper to get this done. 

I will also test the file from @rd2rk to see what it can do with the B.beat and the Helix. 

 

Many greetings from Germany
Det

[rd2rk]

Keep in mind that all my file does is to randomly switch presets in a single Bank.

If I planned to record ACROSS Banks I would assign the destination presets to footswitches.

Otherwise, there's too much time wasted manually switching Banks and Presets.

 

[Schmalle]

Also keep in mind that my file was just a one bar / start of a song example. You can automate whole songs with a MIDI track.

 

Also you probably want to alter the order of the three MIDI commands in my file before you make it a template:

 

1. CC#32 0..7 to select the setlist
2. PC 0..127 to select the preset
3. CC#69 0..7 to select the snapshot

 

Be aware of the MIDI value vs. number offset: e.g. CC#32:7 recalls setlist 8 (7 + 1 offset) which is "Templates".