MIDI tyro - FCB1010, M5, Pod

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Tue Dec 24, 2019 7:34 pm

Most recent Mac OS update (Catalina) has made Automap useless, and Novation aren't going to develop it any further. So my Novation Impulse now doesn't work like it used to. Irritatingly, Novation have sort of patched the problem by releasing a firmware update that adds HUI functionality to the Impulse, but Ableton doesn't use it.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 2:29 pm

Got the Behringer. I'm focused on getting that to work now, then I'll worry about the Novation. Considering downgrading my operating system to one where stuff just works.

This is basically impossible. I've had a dabble, and I can see midi messages registering in Ableton (it has a light in the top right hand corner of the screen that illuminates when Ableton receives midi) but I haven't been able to see the Behringer listed or detected as a midi device anywhere, either in Mac's System Preferences or in Ableton's Midi devices.

Had a quick look at the Mountain Utilities app, and I'll get into that deeper now. It looks like what GUIs looked like in 2002 or so. I like it!

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:05 pm

Sussed the Behringer. Still need to explore setting up the expression pedals, but it's working pretty seamlessly with Ableton.

Also want to explore using it within plugins within Ableton.

[youtube][/youtube]

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Mon Dec 30, 2019 6:18 pm

Be interested in seeing how you get on. I've held back upgrading my Mac for sometime due to issues with Ableton and other synths. Heard nothing but problems for people and Catalina

Bought myself a lanchcontrol xl recently which is brilliant.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 12:38 am

I was loath to downgrade, because of the amount of time I'd already dumped into getting things working with Catalina. If it wasn't for that, I definitely would not upgrade.

I've remapped the Novation Impulse and I have it doing most of the things I can remember Automap doing. There is probably functionality that I've lost, but none that I can remember, so that shouldn't be a problem. Keyboard is sorted.

Behringer works brilliantly. I used the video posted above to learn how programming it works, then exported those settings into the Mountain Utilities software that Nick posted about. This made it easier for me to understand how the software works. Now it controls everything I need it to in Ableton, and it controls everything in Amplitube.

Only issue now is that I've run out of USB ports on my computer (only 2 on the MacBook, which is a bit shite). So I'm wondering if I can free one up by having the Impulse set up using midi cables (midi out from interface to midi in on Behringer, midi out/thru on Behringer to midi in on Impulse, midi out on Impulse to midi in on interface. Any idea if this will work?).

Other than that, I'm looking at purchasing a Thunderbolt hub, which will be pricey, but will give loads of options and probably make the whole setup easier to manage. Price might be manageable because it's Thunderbolt 2 and not Thunderbolt 3, so it's old tech, sort of.

Then I'll have Behringer, Impulse, Launchpad and the EWI all plugged in at once, and still have room to add a Behringer Crave or Arturia Microfreak at some point. Or maybe both....

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 7:51 am

Daisy chaining like you said should work, just need to have them on separate midi channels. I'd get the HUD still, I have the same issue and also looking for one. Or get a midi hub.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 2:02 pm

Cheers. I imagined that's how midi should work, but I'm still a bit clueless.

I think that ultimately a hub would be great, and would make set up much, much easier, but there's no point spending money if I don't need to.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 4:23 pm

Hm, hasn't worked. The Novation has Midi in and Midi out, not Midi out/thru.

Might it be that the midi messages being sent by the Behringer aren't getting past the Novation?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 4:36 pm

Never worry, I changed the order in the daisy chain now everything works as it should.

So close, now the EWI is shitting the bed any time the Firebox is used for MIDI. They're all set for different channels, so I don't know why. Will go for a pint and a think and see if that fixes it.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 8:08 pm

Bacchus wrote:Never worry, I changed the order in the daisy chain now everything works as it should.

So close, now the EWI is shitting the bed any time the Firebox is used for MIDI. They're all set for different channels, so I don't know why. Will go for a pint and a think and see if that fixes it.

I was going to respond about order of devices. Not sure about the EWI

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 8:49 pm

Bacchus wrote:Will go for a pint and a think and see if that fixes it.

Aye, pour beer on it.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Wed Jan 01, 2020 6:00 pm

Works today. Seems the problem was the wrong decade?

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Wed Jan 01, 2020 11:43 pm

Bacchus wrote:Works today. Seems the problem was the wrong decade?

Would have thought it would definitely not work in this brave new decade.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 8:07 am

Bacchus wrote:Works today. Seems the problem was the wrong decade?

Getting over its Y2K hangover