Blofeld - change multis using program changes

The Lounge Other Gear
#13

Ugh, just tried it and it doesn’t seem to work.

Blofeld is set to channel 11, but since I’m in Multi Mode, I am using channels 11, 12, 13, and 14. I set one of the CCs on the MnM to CC # 0 (using channel 11) in order to control which Multi to use. That didn’t work, so I tried every channel to see if global settings were controlled with another channel.

I’m able to automate all four WXYZ modifiers, so everything should be set correctly. I’m also using the latest firmware. So unless something changed between firmware 1.15 and 1.23 that removed the ability to control which Multi you’re using, it should all work.

Anyone know what I might be doing wrong?

#15

Well, you don’t want one channel conflicting with another channel. So, in order to avoid one channel stepping on the toes of another, you ensure that each instrument has its own channel.

If anyone has a Blofeld and could test controlling Multis with MIDI, that’d be fantastic.

#16

…unless you want to play it multitimbrally on one channel…

#18

Well, the Blofeld is fully polyphonic, so if you want to play chords, you can just play them.
But as far as multitimbrality on the Blofeld goes, you can specify the channel on each part, so could easily play different sounds at the same time straight from a keyboard.

TBH, I’ve owned a Blofeld for a few years and barely even tried out multi mode- I kept turning the wrong knob and losing my work, so said screw it. Also, since it is possible to have a LOT going on even playing a single note, I never felt the need to go multi, but that’s just me…

#19

I’m just curious how this is supposed to work. It looks like you can do it, but maybe it has to do with the way the MnM deals with CCs? Bank MSB sounds like it is simply just CC#0, so using CC#0 should work to change which Multi you’re using.

In any case, I emailed Waldorf, so hopefully they can point me in the right direction in how I can control which Multi is selected via MIDI. I’ll chime back in once I hear from them.

#20

And yes, I solved it!

Apparently, you need to send a CC message using CC#0 at a value of 127 and then you send program change messages. And voila, it works!

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Digitakt & Blofeld (multi mode) MIDI
Blofeld love
#21

Nice, glad you got it figured out. I’m not sure when or if I will need it, but it is good to know that it works. Thanks for sharing the solution.

#22

kinda sucks that i have to lose one of the mnm’s ccs (and program changes) to change multis. oh well, it’s better than having to change each individual sound on all parts of a multi.

#23

Zfigz I try too to change multis with program change…I’ve done the firmware upgrade but now, where I assign the value of 127 to a CC#0 ? I have a blofeld desktop but I don’t see any parameters on display that let me do this…

#24

You send the MIDI message from another device to the Blofeld.

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#25

I use Radias I have a MIDI MAP CC# with paramName: and CtrlChg# : this is on 000 and in the param name is in ‘‘portament’’ but I don’t have any place where I can assign a Value of 127 (except in some sounds parameters I can but I don’t think is that the place) can you explain to me a little more? Maybe if you done this it will be helpful to know how you did…Anyway I have also a Gaia and in this one I can’t change nothing about MIDI CC parameters. I hope that there is a way on the blofeld or on a Vst that control Midi maps…

#26

Make sure that you’re send CC#0 using a value of 127, and then immediately send a program change via the global midi channel. That will change which multi you’re using.

#27

This is clear but where I assign this value of 127? In the Blofeld or in the other instruments? And after all I can’t assign a Value of 127 from any synthesizer I have. Can you explain to me exactly how did you do and where did you go to send this value?

#28

The original poster is changing the Multi on the Blofeld using MIDI Bank Change and Program Change commands from another instrument such as a sequencer.
If you want to do this, you need to have an instrument that can send the two MIDI messages. I don’t have a Radias, but I guess that it can do this if you map one controller (maybe a button or a knob) to CC #0 and make it send value 127. The you should probably change the Program on the Radias to the value that you want in order to send a Program Change message to the Blofeld.

#29

It would be different for the piece of gear you’re using to send the CCs/Program Messages…so, you’ll just have to figure that one out on your own.
Again, you must set the controller to send CC#0 (MSB) and send a value of 127 with CC# and then send Program Changes to change your Multi.

#30

Well, I will try. But I don’t have any section with the name ‘‘MSB’’ that I can see…thank you however guys, I try to solve this problem.

#31

Just send CC #0 with a value of 127, then the Program Change message. You don’t need to worry that the former is labelled “MSB” in the MIDI specification.

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#32

Yes, the problem I have is that I don’t know where I can do that…I search on web and on the radias panel to know

#33

Hi,

I’m also trying to change a multi via an octatrack with no luck. I do what you say: assign a cc#0 with a value of 127 + change bank (nothing happens) or program (only changes the preset, not the multi). Is there any particular place or way to do it?

Thanks :slight_smile:

#34

Had some trouble with this, after long debugging I figured this out and decided to post it in this old threat as a kind of reference. I own a Blofeld (v1.25) and an MPC 1000 /w JJOS 2 >v3.5.

Some machines (like the MPC 1000) offer to send Bank Changes with program changes. And they send it as CC#0: 127 + CC#32:0 + PC#n. The Blofeld does not seem to like the extra CC#32. A workaround is to send only the CC#0 -> 127 and the program change on the global channel from a sequence.

On the MPC (1000, at least) there’s a little field to send PC with optional bank messages. Indeed the MPC does send the extra CC#32:0 message. Do not use this field on MPC for Blofeld Multi or program changes.

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