frodojon

Q: I can't get volume on Main Output to work correctly with controllers on my keyboard. It's either all on or all off. Works fine for individual instruments (thought it lumps them all together) but not for main volume output on concert. Thanks for any help.

I can't get volume on Main Output to work correctly with controllers on my keyboard. It's either all on or all off. Works fine for individual instruments (thought it lumps them all together) but not for main volume output on concert. Thanks for any help.

MainStage

Posted on Jun 22, 2013 11:53 AM

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Q: I can't get volume on Main Output to work correctly with controllers on my keyboard. It's either all on or all off. Works fine for ... more

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  • by CCTM,

    CCTM CCTM Jun 22, 2013 12:14 PM in response to frodojon
    Level 6 (10,939 points)
    Jun 22, 2013 12:14 PM in response to frodojon

    Hi

     

    The main volume fader is at mapped at Concert Level. Select the Concert at the top of the Patch List, then try mapping a Screen Control to it.

     

    CCT

  • by frodojon,

    frodojon frodojon Jun 23, 2013 9:14 PM in response to CCTM
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 23, 2013 9:14 PM in response to CCTM

    Thanks for your reply CCT.  I think I've have tried that.  Here's what I've done.

    In Layout I put a vertical fader in the workspace

    In Edit I select my concert in the upper left of patch list

    In Layout I click on the fader to learn my control wheel.....it works

    In Edit I click on the fader and in the Screen Control Inspector below I click on Main(3)

    Under Unmapped I select Volume

    When I'm done mapping the the controller just makes the volume either go all on at +6 ot all off.  No sweeping in between.

    Am I missing something?

    frodojon

    ps. I have patches that are layered.  When I use the control wheel now it just resets each channel strip to the same volume which ruins my mix.  I want to perfom live and be able to bring everything up or down with the correct mix.

  • by CCTM,Helpful

    CCTM CCTM Jun 24, 2013 12:41 AM in response to frodojon
    Level 6 (10,939 points)
    Jun 24, 2013 12:41 AM in response to frodojon

    Hi

     

    Your experiences sound like you have a few separate issues? Which version of MS are you using (2.1.3 or 2.2.2?)

     

    As a test, make a new Concert from the Empty Starter template (with no Screen Controls). In Layout mode, make a screen control fader or knob, and Assign it to incoming MIDI from your external controller.

     

    In Edit mode at Concert Level, select that Screen Control, click the Map button in the Inspector and then click the Output Fader in the channel strip area. De-select the Map button. This should work correctly?

     

    Assuming it does, it sounds like you may have multiple mappings for the same screen control in teh other Concert?

     

    Your issue with layered patches would suggest that you have not applied any scaling  to the multiple mappings?

     

    Either that or you have incorrectly mapped directly to MIDI CC7 rather than the individual volumes?

     

     

    CCT

  • by frodojon,

    frodojon frodojon Jun 24, 2013 6:10 PM in response to CCTM
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 24, 2013 6:10 PM in response to CCTM

    Same thing happened when I tried this in a new concert.  Everything appears to be scaled from -63 to +64 if that's what you mean by scaling?  What do you mean by MIDI CC7?  According to the manual it seems like assigning the controller to the main outputs in the concert setting should override any previous mapping on individual channel strips.  Even so, it still did this on a new blank concert. I'm baffled!

    BTW it also does the same thing if I assign this controller to pan or any other function. It just toggled back and forth from -63 to +64 but won't sweep in between.

    frodojon

  • by frodojon,

    frodojon frodojon Jun 24, 2013 6:34 PM in response to frodojon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 24, 2013 6:34 PM in response to frodojon

    Just got it working.  I either didn't do the correct mapping sequence before or I'm starting to wonder if it has something to do with my keyboard which has the expression pedal set to the same volume control as the mod wheel.  I'll try to correct this next but for now it's working.  Thanks for all your hep!

    frodojon

  • by CCTM,Helpful

    CCTM CCTM Jun 25, 2013 1:18 AM in response to frodojon
    Level 6 (10,939 points)
    Jun 25, 2013 1:18 AM in response to frodojon

    Hi

    frodojon wrote:

     

    I either didn't do the correct mapping sequence before or I'm starting to wonder if it has something to do with my keyboard which has the expression pedal set to the same volume control as the mod wheel.

    All this sounds like you are confused about the general nature of MIDI Continuous Controllers (MIDI CC). The MIDI specification allows for 128 different CC's: CC0 to CC127. Some are typically "preallocated" to 'standard functions: CC1= Modulation, CC7=Volume, CC10+Pan, CC11= 'Expression'. Some act as switches such as 'Sustain' CC64.

     

     

    frodojon wrote:

     

    Everything appears to be scaled from -63 to +64 if that's what you mean by scaling?  What do you mean by MIDI CC7?

     

    Mainstage works with MIDI CC's generally in a number of ways:

     

    Some standard ones are automatically passed through to all MIDI/Instrument channels unless you specifically block them. Others are not passed through unless you specifically map them to something.

     

    This mapping can be done basically two ways (with MS 2.2):

     

    a) Make a Screen Control in Layout mode, and assign it to a particular incoming MIDI CC message. Then, you can map this Screeen Control to a variety of parameters such as the volume of a particular channel strip.

     

    b) With MS 2.2, you can do the above Assign and Mapping directly, without the need for Screen Controls as an 'intermediary'.

     

     

    frodojon wrote:

     

    something to do with my keyboard which has the expression pedal set to the same volume control as the mod wheel.  I

    Yes.

    It sounds to me like you have an issue where you have several hardware controls on your Keyboard set up to transmit the same MIDI CC. This is probably not a good idea, and it would be much better if you assigned them to transmit different CC messages (CC1 for Modulation and probably CC11 for the Expression (though you may want to set the pedal to some other number instead.

     

    Once you are transmitting different CC messages, you will be able to Assign and Map much more flexibly:

     

    for example, you could one to control the overall output volume at Concert Level in MS, whilst the other controls the volume of a specific channel within a Patch.

     

     

    Your issue of layered patches is one of "Scaling": one Screen Control (assigned to an incoming MIDI CC message) needs to alter the ranges of different channel strips to different amounts. You can set this up by using multiple mappings for one Control, each set to work over a particular range (for example a goes from -20 to 0 whilst b goes from -30 to -20 etc.).

     

     

    hth

     

    CCT

  • by frodojon,

    frodojon frodojon Jun 30, 2013 8:43 PM in response to CCTM
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 30, 2013 8:43 PM in response to CCTM

    Thanks again CCT.  This is making more sense.  I knew about 7 being volume and 11 being expression.  Just not used to using the CC terminology. I will keep working on mapping out channels and experimenting with assigning and reassigning controllers.  Very helpful and much appreciated!

    frodojon