Sorry for this newbie to bombard you all with questions but, here goes.
It seems like the 2.0 manual is a little thin on MIDI documentation.
I have a Hotone Ampero 4 button midi switcher that I’ve been using with my AX8, to turn FX off and on. I’d like to use it to switch the QC’s blocks off and on while in Preset and Scene mode. I’ve found a list of “Incoming MIDI Reserved CC” messages but nothing about CC messages for a specific block’s bypass status. I admit, I know just enough about MIDI to avoid catastrophe (most of the time). Maybe someone more well-versed would know just what to do. Do any of you know of more advanced MIDI implementation info than what’s in the manual?
Also, the Hotone is capable of transmitting MIDI via USB or a standard MIDI cable. Is there any advantage of one over the other?
The QC manual lists CC messages for each stomp switch. The advantages of using MIDI DIN are that the connections are more secure/gig hardened than USB, and it leaves the USB free for use as an audio device.
I saw the foot switch CC assignments listed in the manual but I If I’m in Preset Mode, wouldn’t the MIDI CC messages change presets and not bypass/activate blocks?
I don’t know that I’d call anything DIN secure or gig hardened ( ) but that’s a good point about still leaving the USB open for other activities. Thanks for that!
Huh…don’t mean to be post-like (dumb as a) but if I’m in Preset Mode and the onboard switches are changing presets, how would the QC know that I mean for those MIDI CC messages to make it respond as if it were in Stomp Mode? I must be missing something (happens often).
So…I looked through the MIDI section in the manual again, searched the forum and have done several YouTube and general internet searches but I’m coming up empty.
To summarize: I am looking for the procedure to use a MIDI switcher to turn FX blocks off and on while in Preset or Scene Modes.
I know that you can use reserved CC messages to control onboard footswitches but if I’m in Scene Mode, those footswitches change scenes and they change presets while in Preset Mode.
I was able to do this with my Fractal AX8. Being far more advanced, I assumed the QC would be able to do this and more.
Is the QCs MIDI implementation still a work in progress or am I just missing something?
The QC manual says MIDI CC# 35 Value 0-127 does Enable/bypass Footswitch A (Preset/Stomp/Scene Mode, and Gig View)
So for example, say you have a distortion block set to bypass on switch A. If you configure a MIDI controller to send CC# 35, it will do the same thing as switch A in stomp mode. It will control the distortion block bypass no matter what the mode is.
So, when using "reserved " CC messages (i.e. #35 = footswitch A) it only actuates what those switches do in stomp mode? Regardless of what mode you’re in? That would be fantastic and oh-so simple. Unfortunately, I don’t have my MIDI controller available to try it…but I will.
I finally got the Ampero Control MIDI pedal and QC together and set up a bank to actuate the QC footswitches corresponding with the blocks I want to toggle on and off. All worked perfectly while in Stomp Mode but as soon as I switched to Preset Mode, the Ampero Control started changing presets to the ones assigned to those footswitches on the QC (not controlling the blocks). Same story in scene mode, the Control just changes scenes.
I don’t really see the purpose in having these Reserved CC assignments if all they can do is mimic what the onboard footswitches are doing (depending on mode). If there were some means to lock these functions to the footswitch function in a specific mode, that would have a useful purpose.
I believe the midi controllers turn on and off the footswitches, not he actual FX like on the AX8.
I was using an AX8 with a Voicelive 3. I used the AX8 to change scenes and the Voicelive 3 to turn on and off individual FX. I don’t believe you can do that with the QC. I believe that’s why they implemented hybrid mode.
The MIDI implementation in QC is barely usable in its current form. I hope this is a priority for future updates. The QC has too much power and too many blocks to have such limited MIDI control. I have found a way that works for me, but it involves compromises and limitations I would really like to eliminate.
Yeah, I’m discovering that. I think I have a work around until they give the MIDI capabilities some vitamins. Other than a few little negative surprises, I’m loving this machine. It sounds fantastic and is such a pleasure to program. I’ve had it for about a week and a half and I’m already feeling confident that I could go gig with it.
Hey there,
my “problem” should be simple but I’m no good in midi so might aswell ask the experts.
I’m coming from the Fractal AX8 and although I really do like QC, the AX8 has a switching system that (to me) is far better than QC’s although they have exactly the same amount of switches.
The concept was, The Λ button was getting your screen in PRESET mode where you could select your preset from the numbers or go up and down banks with the Λ V and then chose the preset with numbers and after you chose your preset the screen was getting into STOMP mode so you (that’s how I have it anyway, I’m oldschool and not very keen on scenes)
Can I do something like that with an extrernal (small preferably) midi switcher like the Ampero?
This, stepping on both switches to change modes, really gets on my nerves and you can make mistakes while gigging.
The AX8 even though is 14yrs old is still a charm to work with
I too, am coming from using an AX8. A great unit in a lot of ways but not nearly as easy to program and the QC just sounds better. The AX8’s MIDI capability is way more advanced than the QC though (as are most modern processors). Something I’m sure they’ll be addressing “soon”.
I’m not a MIDI expert, by any means but, once someone told me about a trick, I was able to get things working as I wanted. First, program the 8 buttons on the QC to control the active/bypass status of each of the blocks you want to turn off and on. Now, set up your MIDI controller(s). The trick is to program each button on your controller to send three messages, one to set the QC to Stomp mode then one to send the message to duplicate whichever of QC’s buttons that you want to control, then a third to return the QC to Preset mode. Most controllers should be able to send all three commands in a couple hundred milliseconds, or less. I’m currently using two Hotone Control pedals. This allows me to leave the QC in Preset mode most of the time and then use the Hotones to turn up to eight blocks off and on.
By the way, the trick for changing modes on the QC is to make sure your foot depresses the bottom button first. if you press those buttons “toe down”, and hit the ‘down’ button first, the QC thinks you’re trying to go to a lower bank.
Press them ‘’‘heal down’’ and it’s quite dependable.
Thank you so much for the reply.
I guess what i want to do is the opposite than what you do. I want my main screen (the one that’s up all the time) to be my stomp screen. Like having a view of a “pedalboard”. I rarely change presets within a song.
That way, changing presets will be like swapping pedalboards. On the ax8 i was pressing top right button to turn my little green screen into preset list screen (using top right and middle buttons to swap banks) and when i chose my preset, the screen was turning automatically into stomp screen.
That’s what I’m after (or as similar as possible)
Oooh, that’s why I see a lot of people putting a top on the middle button and leave the tempo one without? To make this move more “natural”? Thanks
Easy Parcheesi! You will need a MIDI controller with at least 8 buttons (11 buttons if you want to change modes and bank up and down via MIDI). You would run the QC in Stomp mode, then have each of the controller’s buttons send a message to change the QC to Preset mode, then a message to actuate one of the QC’s buttons (1-8), then a message to set the QC back to Stomp mode. If you don’t intend to use more than 8 presets or to operate the QC in anything other than Stomp mode then 8 MIDI buttons is all you’d need (two Hotone controllers) or you can still use the extra three buttons on the QC. I don’t have all the MIDI CC message numbers memorized but there is a list in the MIDI section of the manual.
) but that’s a good point about still leaving the USB open for other activities. Thanks for that!
into preset list screen (using top right and middle buttons to swap banks) and when i chose my preset, the screen was turning automatically into stomp screen.