MIDIbox Pedal Box, Pedal Board Usage Manual
Pedal Box / Pedal Board Usage Manual
Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................................2
Understanding how it works, and what it does................................................................................3
Devices Files (or Device banksticks)...............................................................................................3
Master Settings (or Master bankstick).............................................................................................4
The Patches.................................................................................................................................4
The Settings.................................................................................................................................4
Expression Pedals............................................................................................................................5
Overview.....................................................................................................................................5
Dynamic and Locked Modes......................................................................................................5
Setup Expression Pedal MIDI Output.........................................................................................5
Expression Pedal Setup using PBE2 Software...........................................................................7
MIDI Input as Expression Pedals (New in 2.6)..........................................................................7
PedalSwap (New in 2.6)..............................................................................................................7
Footswitches....................................................................................................................................8
Overview.....................................................................................................................................8
Normal (meter handlers)....................................................................................................8
On/Off only........................................................................................................................8
Program Change................................................................................................................8
Tap Tempo.........................................................................................................................8
Static and Banked Footswitches.................................................................................................9
Footswitch Setup.........................................................................................................................9
Footswitch Setup using PBE2 Software...................................................................................10
Rig Control.....................................................................................................................................11
Overview...................................................................................................................................11
Configuring MIDI Messages to send........................................................................................11
Relay Setup...............................................................................................................................12
Configuring using PBE2 Software............................................................................................12
Triggering a Patch Change........................................................................................................13
Gig Control....................................................................................................................................14
Overview...................................................................................................................................14
Configuring...............................................................................................................................14
Configuring using the PBE2 Software......................................................................................15
Triggering..................................................................................................................................15
Storing Configurations (PC Software)...........................................................................................16
Save and Load...........................................................................................................................16
Uploading to PB........................................................................................................................16
Special MIDI Implementation.......................................................................................................17
Device Configuration.........................................................................................................................19
Overview........................................................................................................................................19
Program Changes......................................................................................................................19
Control Changes............................................................................................................................20
Value Maps................................................................................................................................21
Storing Configurations...................................................................................................................22
Save and Load...........................................................................................................................22
Uploading to PB........................................................................................................................22
Introduction
PbX and PbD are almost identical, except that PbD uses it's own footswitches. Where as PbX uses
MIDI Input. PbX should be used when you already have external floorboard. PbD IS an external
floorboard.
PB is extremely powerful. Offering dynamic expression pedal setting changes (including the device
it's targeting) and Rig control which allows up to 32 MIDI events to sent, as well set change the
state of up to 8 relays.
PB is very flexible, it can be used as simple display tool, to powerful hub of your setup.
About the creator
Hi, I'm Durisian, I live in Melbourne Australia and spend most of my time as a theatre production
manager. I spent my youth dreaming of becoming of a sound engineer with maybe a hint of rock
star :)
I fell in love with creating music a young age when my dad (who ran a computer store) showed me
how to connect a keyboard up through a midi interface. I've always been fascinated by technology
and now I could combine it with music.
Before I started this project I had very little programming experience, certainly none on a PIC chip.
So if you looking from my code shaking your head, that's ok – I look back at it now and shake my
head too!! (There was lot's I didn't understand when I started this project).
In my late teens while studying music and sound engineering I learnt guitar – and began the never
ending quest for the perfect sounds.
It wasn't until after my studies and I had established myself as a live sound engineer and theatre
technician that I had enough money to buy my dream guitar (Ibanez SZ-320). By this stage I had a
Behringer FCB1010 and V-Amp pro. The V-Amp still provides some of the fantastic sounds I've
ever heard (I don't care what you think – this thing rocks, you just have to know how to use it). As I
got more creative (read bizarre) I realised that 2 expression pedals wasn't enough.
My search for a reasonably priced analogue to MIDI converter began in 2006-7. It took almost 6
months before I finally stumbled across SmashTV's website. I became very excited as I found my
way to ucapps.de and realised that it would not be difficult to create my application to drive more
expression pedals. After many months of learning I started my first app – Pedal Box, which in it's
first incarnation simply took the AIN and output MIDI. Then I went a little further with LCD
display, getting it to show me labels about what I was controlling.
It then dawned on me that I don't need my FCB1010, I can just use digital inputs. Pedal Board was
born.
From there things got really out of control – Especially when it came to rig control! I realised a PC
editor would be required to assist with config files, and spent almost a year creating the first version
in Java (which I had no idea about - I'd never done object oriented programming before). I've since
discovered how much easier VB is. So PBE2 will only run under windows and requires .Net 3.5...
sorry.
Today, almost 3 years after it's first conception - I can enjoy an enormously powerful floorboard –
With a PC editor to make configuration a breeze.
A very big thank you to all those that helped with my ridiculous questions through the forums. And
of course TK who makes this sort of thing possible for so many people.
Understanding how it works, and what it does
PB needs to know what it is controlling, and the messages that it has to send. This is done via
device config files which are uploaded to a bankstick. Each device file requires a 24LC256
bankstick.
A maximum of 7 device config files can loaded (due to the MBHP limit of 8 banksticks, the first is
used for master settings).
When setting up pedals, footswitches and patches. You do not enter CC or program change
numbers, instead you select names from the list located in the device config file.
Pedals and footswitches are mapped to an event by the given bankstick number and event type and
event number.
MIDI IN events are matched up to a bankstick channel
Devices Files (or Device banksticks)
Device files hold vital information about your midi equipment.
1. The Event Map
A list of CC numbers and Program Change numbers.
Each entry contains:
• The name of the event
• And how the event is handled - On/Off, Tap Tempo, Link to value map, etc There are 9 types
to choose from.
2. 10x Value Maps
These maps contain named values (parameter 2 byte of a midi message).
These allow for CC's that are linked to an amp type, effect type, or anything that has a name
associated with it's value.
When using a CC linked to a value map, instead of seeing meaningless numbers, it will show the
name of the selection
Value Maps are linked to events list in the handler column of the event map.
Master Settings (or Master bankstick)
There are 2 main sections. The Patches and The Settings.
The Patches
1. Rig Control Patch Maps (There are 128 patch maps)
• Firstly a name is given to the patch as a whole
• MIDI send Entries (there are 32 of these entries in each patch map)
• Enabled or Disabled for that entry. If disabled, the event will not be triggered.
• The bankstick number of the device you wish to trigger
• The event type
• The event number
• The value you wish to set the event to
• Relay Trigger s
• Relays 1 - 8 each have an enabled or disabled setting. If disabled nothing will
happen
• Relays 1 - 8 each have an on or off setting
2. Relay Settings
• The Name of the relay
• It's On label
• It's Off label
• Whether to invert the relay or not
2. Gig Control Cue Lists (There are 20 to choose from)
• The Song List can be given a name
• Entries contain the Rig Control patch # to be triggered
The Settings
1. DIN map (only required for PbD)
• Bankstick of device to control
• The MIDI event type
• The event #
• A Low value
• A High Value
• Button type - either momentary, or switching
2. AIN Map (8 maps, 1 for each pedal. 128 entries in map (1 for each patch change)
• Bankstick of device to control
• The MIDI event type
• The Event #
• Low Value
• High Value
• Locked aka 'FIX PED'
Each pedal can be set to 1 (locked) or 0 (dynamic)
Dynamic pedals will change the bankstick/device and values they are set to by
following Rig Control patch change events.
Expression Pedals
Overview
• Scales between the low and high value
• Displays either:
• a meter of approx position, some events will display 'off' when 0 and/or 'on' when
127.
• A pan meter
• the data 2 value
• or a named value (eg. 'Ping/Pong Delay' for an effect select control).
• Pedals can not be mapped to program change, on/off or tap events.
• Pedals can have different settings for each rig control patch change, or can be locked to the
same event.
Dynamic and Locked Modes
Dynamic Expression Pedals can have up 128 different settings applied. The current setting is chosen
by triggering a rig control patch. This allows you to have a different pedal setup for each of your rig
control patches.
Locked Expression Pedals will always keep the same setting regardless of any patch change (the
setting associated with patch 0).
To change the locked mode:
Enter the global setup menu (CC 127 at 125, or hold bank down and press the global setup
footswitch)
Move an Expression Pedal to alter the value Locked status of that pedal
Exit Setup to save (CC 127 at 127 or press the event setup footswitch)
Setup Expression Pedal MIDI Output
Setup mode is activated by pressing holding bank down and pressing the event setup button (pin
defined in main.h) or CC 127 at 127. The last pedal moved (or footswitch pressed) will selected for
editing. If the pedal is dynamic – you will be editing the setting for the current rig control patch.
There are 4 input programming screens. You can move to the next screen with the bank up
footswitch or CC 127 at 126.
In the first screen, you select the device that should be used. Up to 7 devices can stored on 7
banksticks.
Moving any pedal will select the device. If a bankstick is not present 'BS Not Available' will be
displayed.
The second screen allows you to select the desired event type. Move any pedal to scroll through
available types.
3rd screen; Moving any pedal connected will scroll the event selection, select the desired event.
Multiple pedals/footswitches can be set to the same event.
Finally
For each pedal a minimum and maximum value can be specified.
The value is scaled between the low and high.
First select the low value with any pedal or pot, and then trigger the screen change. Now you can
adjust the high value.
From here you can screen change to go back to screen 1.
Pressing bank down or CC 127 at 127 at any time saves settings and exits setup mode.
Expression Pedal Setup using PBE2 Software
Select the desired Rig Control Patch from the list and select the desired pedal.
Use the MIDI Send Editor section to assign the desired settings.
The red arrows above the list allow you to move the settings for ALL 8 PEDALS to a different
patch.
You can copy and paste individual settings
You can also swap ALL of an single pedals settings with another by dragging one pedal on top of
another.
Dynamic Match will set all of a pedals setting the current settings
MIDI Input as Expression Pedals (New in 2.6)
By default CC's 20 – 27 will act as though they are directly connected analogue pedals. Including
dynamic changes and setup functions.
PedalSwap (New in 2.6)
PedalSwap allows you to swap in a different set of dynamic pedal settings without triggering a rig
control patch change. The effect will last until PedalSwap is deactivated or a rig control patch is
triggered.
There are 6 slots available. These can only be assigned with Pedal Board
Editor 2 software.
Select the desired patch from the list and click any of the 6 slots. These Pedal
settings will now be applied when that PedalSwap slot is activated. Only 1
patch can be assigned to slot.
PedalSwap can be activated (and deactivated) by pressing dedicated
footswitches or by CC's 92-97 respectively (note: the data 2 byte is ignored).
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