Radias as FX processor

[diegombass]

Hello!

I use my bass guitar with the Radias, triggered by the envelope follower, and I wanted to change a lot of parameters of the sound while I'm playing.

We know that the radias cuts the sound when you change the program, so it was not the solution.

First of all, I though to change those parameters with a MIDI CC message. But there are so much parameters to change in just one button: filtertype, Waveshape, IFXs, etc, and very difficult to program the MIDI controller.

The next thing I though was to set differents sounds to each timbre. There is 4 timbres and I don't thing I'm going to play with more than four sounds in the same song.
So, I discovered that selecting timbre one, I hear only the timbre1 sound. Only with a different MIDI channel in each timbre.
The problem is to select the timbre without hands!

Can somebody understand my english and have an idea to help me?

Thank you and sorry for my english.

[diegombass]

I will try to explain it in another way, the thing is:

"You can also use the envelope follower function
(included in the program parameters) to send
note-on/off data to the internal sound generator
according to an audio signal being input to the
RADIAS. In this case, the note data will be sent on
the MIDI channel of the timbre selected by the
TIMBRE SELECT [1]–[4] buttons."
RADIAS OWNER'S MANUAL

So, in this manual I can't find the way to select a timbre by pushing a footswitch, through a MIDI message or through the assignable footwitch. Is it possible or do I have to open my Radias and bypass the connection of the timbre select buttons through a 4 switches pedalboard? Would it be easy?

I wish you can understand me and help me.
Thanks.

[meatballfulton]

The timbre select can be controlled by transmitting a NRPN. Details are on p.3 and 4 of the MIDI Implementation document.

The problem is that an NRPN is a set of multiple CC msgs:

Timbre 1 = CC99: 5 CC 98: 0 CC 6: 0 (off), 127 (on)
Timbre 2 = CC 99: 5 CC 98: 1 CC 6: 0 (off), 127 (on)
Timbre 3 = CC 99: 5 CC 98: 2 CC 6: 0 (off), 127 (on)
Timbre 4 = CC 99: 5 CC 98: 3 CC 6: 0 (off), 127 (on)

They need to be sent in that order.

There are numerous ways to send NRPNs, although the simplest and cheapest ways involve a computer and software. There are hardware solutions but none are cheap.

[diegombass]

Thank you very much for the feedback.
Now I'm studing the NRPN... If I could I will make a NRPN footswitch controller with Arduino, but I need to talk with a friend to make the programation...

Thanks!

[diegombass]

I've tried to set my AKAI MPK49 to switch the timbres by NRPN:

"The endless knobs on the MPK49 may also be used as an increment/decrement NRPN function. This allows you to use the knob to increment and decrement through parameters as opposed to sending an absolute value."

I've put 005 to the MSB and 000 to the LSB, in the first knob, for the timbre 1, 005MSB and 001, in the second knob, for the timbre 2...

And when I turn the knob, Radias do nothing ¬¬. I've tried with others NRPN parameters and still doing nothing.

Maybe the Radias don't receive NRPN messages by MIDI in?

Thanks a lot!

[pillbug]

I have a Yamaha MC-06 foot controller. It's like a pedalboard with MIDI switches on it. It came with the Yamaha FX500 multi effects rack and the pedals allow you to switch individual effects on/off within a program, or, send a program change to the unit. So, something like this might work with the Radias? I will have to try it when I get back home.

[meatballfulton]

Maybe the Radias don't receive NRPN messages by MIDI in?

Of course it does, since an NRPN is just a string of CC msgs.

[diegombass]

Hi!

Pillbug, surely your foot controller works with the Radias. If it sends MIDI messages it will do. You have got just a job: to program the controller. If it has NRPN and you know how to program it, it should work with switching the timbres.

Not in my case
I've downloaded a MIDI monitor to see what message am I sending from the AKAI MPK49 to the Radias, but I think it is a little bit strange.
In the manual sais that NRPN messages are Increase/Decrease messages, and the MPK49 sends this:

-When increasing the knob, always the same values:
Port Status Data1 Data2 Chan Event
1 B0 63 05 1 Control Change
1 B0 62 00 1 Control Change
1 B0 60 01 1 Control Change
1 B0 63 7F 1 Control Change
1 B0 62 7F 1 Control Change

-When decreasing the knob:
Port Status Data1 Data2 Chan Event
1 B0 63 05 1 Control Change
1 B0 62 00 1 Control Change
1 B0 61 01 1 Control Change
1 B0 63 7F 1 Control Change
1 B0 62 7F 1 Control Change

I think that data1 and data2 are in hexadecimal. So, I understand first and second CCs, but not the third, fourth and fifth...

I'm testing with the akai to know how the Radias receive these messages and, because of this, build my own controller. But maybe I must try with a software controller, instead the MPK49, to send these NRPN messages to the Radias.
Can anybody recommend any software to do that?

Thank you!

[diegombass]

Finally I have opened my Radias and I have solded 8 wires, 2 by timbre.
I was thinking about doing in the NRPN way, but I don't like the idea, because you must switch off a timbre and switch on another to change your sound preset.


On this way I have get the most out to this sencence of the manual:

"When a note-on is sent, the note number specified by
“Trigger Note No.” will be sent on the MIDI channel of
the timbre selected by the TIMBRE SELECT [1]–[4] buttons
to the internal sound generator."

The change of timbre/sound preset is inmediate, and you can still hear the echos, delays or reverbs that you have played with the last timbre.


Now I'm thinking about creating something like a Moog Taurus to control an arpeggiator or to latch a note, like the taurus.


In any case, thanks for your help!

[xmlguy]

Hi diegombass,

I think your controller is not programmed to send the correct sequence of midi CC Events. A proper sequence looks like the following:

St D1 D2
B0 63 05 --- CC: NRPN MSB
B0 62 00 --- CC: NRPN LSB
B0 06 7F --- CC: Data Entry MSB

Notice that the third event is different than yours. It should be sending a CC 06, but yours is sending a CC 60. You may have transposed the digits when you were programming the controller, but you must send CC 06, which is the Data Entry MSB CC.

All it takes is one bit to be wrong for it not to work correctly.

[axxim]

Finally I have opened my Radias and I have solded 8 wires, 2 by timbre....

For what did you have soldered the 8 wires?

[diegombass]

Hi diegombass,

I think your controller is not programmed to send the correct sequence of midi CC Events. A proper sequence looks like the following:

St D1 D2
B0 63 05 --- CC: NRPN MSB
B0 62 00 --- CC: NRPN LSB
B0 06 7F --- CC: Data Entry MSB

Notice that the third event is different than yours. It should be sending a CC 06, but yours is sending a CC 60. You may have transposed the digits when you were programming the controller, but you must send CC 06, which is the Data Entry MSB CC.

All it takes is one bit to be wrong for it not to work correctly.

Thanks for your help, but I cannot program my controller, I cannot assign any value to send in NRPN mode.

In any case, it is not usefull yet, because I have solded the wires.

For what did you have soldered the 8 wires?

I have done it because I need to push the timbre select buttons without hands. I want to foot select the timbres.