FC50 with Mainstage problem

Question

Level 1

8 points

FC50 with Mainstage problem

Hi There,

New to this! I usually find the answers from searching other people's post but in this case, I have to ask as I have tried everything (i think):

My hardware setup

I have a boss FC-50 MIDI foot controller that I am trying to connect with Mainstage 3.
I want to use it as a foot controlled trigger for different actions.
I am running Mainstage 3 using a M-Audio Pro Fire 610 as my interface.
FC50 goes out to M-Audio Profire 610 interface MIDI IN

My Problem

Although the MIDI activity buttons I have in my layout window light up when I press on any one of the FC-50 pedals (showing that Mainstage is indeed receiving MIDI impulses from the foot pedal) I cannot actually assign the FC50 pedal to any of the footswitches or buttons on the mainstage Layout window. In other words, the layout buttons and footswitches do not respond when I assign any of them to the pedal (nothing happens, they don't light up, don't assign no connection between the two). so the pedal seems useless to me now.

My Mainstage setup

In the Screen Control Inspector (side Bar) of the Layout mode, My hardware Input setup is as follows, though I have tried many different combinations to no avail. Also the MIDI IN window on the top of the screen, every press of the foot switch does not show a note (like B#, C D# etc) just numbers.

Any help on how to make Mainstage speak to the Boss FC-50 would be appreciated!

Thanks a million!

Jon

MacBook Pro with Retina display, iOS 9.2, Yosemite 10.10.5

Posted on Jan 11, 2016 2:24 PM

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Answer 1

diemorg

Level 1

4 points

Feb 9, 2017 9:58 AM in response to TO-X

Hi Théo!

How do I have to use your Max/MSP patch?

I launch the application, and I call your patch, it works, and then?...

Thanks a lot! If it works, you're going to be my hero!! 😀

::DieMorg::

(si tu es français, on peut se répondre en français! 😉 )

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Answer 2

Jan 17, 2016 7:12 AM in response to jcexmusic

The internal Buttons on the Boss FC 50 only sends MIDI Program Changes. To control Display Buttons you have to send MIDI Control Changes to Mainstage. In your setup you have to use the control ports of the FC50 with an external footswitch.

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Answer 3

jcexmusic Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 17, 2016 7:16 AM in response to fred vom jupiter

Thanks Fred

I am not sure I understand what you are saying. (sorry I'm a bit thick with this) 😉

"In your setup you have to use the control ports of the FC50 with an external footswitch."

does that mean i have to bring in another footswitch? if so which one? or do i have to change a setting on mainstage?

So I cant use the fc50 with midi cable? or I have to use another footswitch to control it? Im not sure I understant, seems silly to need another pedal to control a pedal.

If you would be so kind as to explain in a bit more detail it would be sooo appreciated. !

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Answer 4

CCTM

Level 6

13,159 points

Jan 17, 2016 8:13 AM in response to jcexmusic

Hi

Fred has already answered your question, without some detail.

A) The switches on the FC50 only transmit MIDI Program Change messages. MS can only use this type of message to change Patches ( or to pass through to a plugin.

B) The FC50 can transmit MIDI Continuous Controller messages( MIDI CC) if you add some extra switches via the CTL 1 and CTL2 sockets on the FC50, and also if you add Expression Pedals via EXP1 and EXP2.

MS can use MIDI CC messages to control pretty much everything,

So, Yes you may need to add some extra switches and/or Expression pedals, depending on what you want to do.

CCT

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Answer 5

jcexmusic Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 17, 2016 10:37 AM in response to CCTM

Thanks CCT,

So if i understand this correctly, If I want to use the FC-50 to say, mute a channel or an effect on a Mainstage channel strip (on/off) which is what I am trying to do, I need MIDI CC messages and not MIDI Program Change? so I cannot do that simply using the midi cable, I need to use the CTL outputs on the FC50?

I don't even seem to be able to do a patch change using the midi cable on MIDI.

Sorry, I need kid gloves with this. Appreciate it.

J

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Answer 6

CCTM

Level 6

13,159 points

Jan 17, 2016 10:49 AM in response to jcexmusic

Hi

jcexmusic wrote:

So if i understand this correctly, If I want to use the FC-50 to say, mute a channel or an effect on a Mainstage channel strip (on/off) which is what I am trying to do, I need MIDI CC messages and not MIDI Program Change? so I cannot do that simply using the midi cable, I need to use the CTL outputs on the FC50?

NO!

They are Inputs for additional footswitches/pedals such as the Roland FS 5 or FS 6 and the EV5. The generated MIDI CC messages come from the FC50 MIDI Out into MS.

jcexmusic wrote:

I don't even seem to be able to do a patch change using the midi cable on MIDI.

OK here goes:

A) Check that the FC is transmitting MIDI PG messages using MS's MIDI message monitor (in the Window menu).

B) Make sure that each Patch in MS is assigned to a separate MIDI PG number: you can do this in one go by selecting all the Patches and using the Action (gear Menu in the Patch List:Reset Program numbers

C) Make sure that the FC is working on the correct pedal bank using the buttons on the FC.

D Make sure that MS is listening to the FC PG messages by selecting the Concert (top of the Patch List) and checking that the Concert Settings for Program Changes are Device "All" and Channel 1-16

Press some of the pedals on the FC and MS should change patches.

CCT

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Answer 7

jcexmusic Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 26, 2016 6:39 PM in response to CCTM

Hi CCT

I have been trying to no avail to get the FC50 working with MS. It seems i cannot control anything (not even patch changes) I dont know why.

Ive got the midi out of the pedal into the midi in of the pro fire 610

Ive followed your instructions but breaking it down, it goes something like this. .

A) Check that the FC is transmitting MIDI PG messages using MS's MIDI message monitor (in the Window menu).

I have and it does (sample) btw, when you say MIDI PG message, what do you mean? does it mean program change message?

C) Make sure that the FC is working on the correct pedal bank using the buttons on the FC.

can you elaborate please? what is a pedal bank exactly? what am i looking for, I am on bank 1 but any bank I chose does not work. It sends a midi message but nothing more. No control of anything on mainstage

D Make sure that MS is listening to the FC PG messages by selecting the Concert (top of the Patch List) and checking that the Concert Settings for Program Changes are Device "All" and Channel 1-16

I have seems ok

Press some of the pedals on the FC and MS should change patches.

It does not, it only lights up the midi button but no controls(when i asign) nothing lights up. Also I would like to use this pedal for MORE than just patch changes (ie to activate effects, mute channels etc) is this not possible?

sorry, I have been on this 3 weeks now and am beginnign to lose hope, I thought it would be simple enough but obviously mainstage is not seeing any "notes" from th epedal (like no notes here

maybe i am going about this the wrong way or missing a setting in ms.

thx

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Answer 8

CCTM

Level 6

13,159 points

Jan 27, 2016 4:46 AM in response to jcexmusic

Hi

jcexmusic wrote:

Hi CCT

A) Check that the FC is transmitting MIDI PG messages using MS's MIDI message monitor (in the Window menu).

I have and it does (sample) btw, when you say MIDI PG message, what do you mean? does it mean program change message?

Yes

jcexmusic wrote:

C) Make sure that the FC is working on the correct pedal bank using the buttons on the FC.

can you elaborate please? what is a pedal bank exactly? what am i looking for, I am on bank 1 but any bank I chose does not work. It sends a midi message but nothing more. No control of anything on mainstage

If I remember correctly, the FC50 has 5 pedals which do 1-5 and 6-10, and then switches to select different banks

MIDI Program Change messages go from 1-128 ( or 0-127), so you switch banks on the FC to get to other Program Change numbers. Try it and you should see the result in the MIDI monitor.

jcexmusic wrote:

Press some of the pedals on the FC and MS should change patches.

It does not, it only lights up the midi button but no controls(when i asign) nothing lights up. Also I would like to use this pedal for MORE than just patch changes (ie to activate effects, mute channels etc) is this not possible?

Seems to me that you have not made any Patches in the Patch List for that Concert, and then you have missed my Step B

B) Make sure that each Patch in MS is assigned to a separate MIDI PG number: you can do this in one go by selecting all the Patches and using the Action (gear Menu in the Patch List:Reset Program numbers

CCT

CCT

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