I use Midi program change on Elektrons for a few purposes… though, not really “between” Elektrons.
Most recently, I’ve been using MnM’s program change to switch multis on Blofeld.
It works, with a couple quirks. I have to send a CC#0 at 127 for it Blofeld to interpret the change as a multi change rather than a patch change. So I lose one of the 24 (6 tracks x 4 CC#s) total CC#s.
But this functionality is great, as I can basically use the Blofeld going into the MnM as an input of an FX track (usually Dynamix compressor), and the MnM+Blofeld work in tandem for performance. I cue patterns, and they play with multis switched, as they should.
Another quirk is that the Blofeld screen doesn’t register the multi change when received from MnM, so I have to hit its play button twice after switching, to see/edit the actual multi I am in at the time.
But in the end, the program change feature makes using MnM with Blofeld very enjoyable, and the two become one machine, in some ways.
For sound design (to be sampled), I’ve been using program change to switch individual Blofeld patches on a per step basis. (example in this video: https://www.facebook.com/djadamjay/videos/10207165540558342/?pnref=story
P-locking the program change works this way like sound locks. It works well enough, but you can’t shift around banks (again, using CC#0 , but not at full 127) too much. I basically have to stay within two or three banks that are right next to each other.
And lastly, I use program change on Analog Four to send program change to my Nord Drum 1, which is sequenced by A4’s CV track, sending out 4 pulse triggers.
Again, some quirks. The program change doesn’t happen on ND1 until the A4’s “Master Length” in the scale menu is reached. So for Direct Jump it isn’t as automatic as I would like it to be. I only exploit the direct jump feature when moving around patterns in the same tune, and generally the kits on A4 are the same from pattern to pattern. So waiting for master length to occur is not a deal-breaker. But, if I could get the changes to happen instantly with direct jump, I could get more creative in the sound design on A4 on a per pattern basis.
For now, I just try to keep it in Sequential mode when performing, and only use direct jump on A4 when cueing in headphones and trying to find the right pattern to bring in.
I don’t use program change to send from one Elektron to the other. In fact, all my Elektrons (A4, AR, MnM) are set to not receive program change. This is largely because I write whole compositions on single Elektron sequencers, and mix them together in layers for performance. Each one works as a deck, in ways. Like a good old fashioned 3 turntable deep mix.
