Blofeld - change multis using program changes

zfigz · 2015-04-24T14:37:21.000Z

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.

Zymos · 2015-04-24T14:52:23.000Z

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

Zymos · 2015-04-24T15:58:06.000Z

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…

zfigz · 2015-04-24T17:17:28.000Z

""zfigz"":

Found this

http://waldorf-music.info/de/57-news/news/335-new-blofeld-firmware-v115

Looks like it was added back in firmware v1.15.

[ul]
[li]Changing Multi Programs via Bank MSB (CC#0) value 127[/li]
[/ul]
I’m assuming that you can change multi programs using the main midi channel using CC#0. I just wish I could use program changes as this will make me lose one CC on the monomachine…oh well, at least it can be done!

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.

zfigz · 2015-04-25T11:19:45.000Z

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!

glaciertree · 2015-04-25T11:29:17.000Z

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.

zfigz · 2015-04-25T14:18:20.000Z

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.

Liseros · 2015-04-26T19:28:11.000Z

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…

PeterHanes · 2015-04-26T21:33:48.000Z

""Liseros"":

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…

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

Liseros · 2015-04-26T21:48:47.000Z

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…

zfigz · 2015-04-26T22:39:26.000Z

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.

Liseros · 2015-04-26T23:00:58.000Z

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?

PeterHanes · 2015-04-27T00:08:06.000Z

""Liseros"":

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?

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.

zfigz · 2015-04-27T13:58:07.000Z

""Liseros"":

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?

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.

Liseros · 2015-04-27T15:47:27.000Z

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.

PeterHanes · 2015-04-27T15:55:40.000Z

""Liseros"":

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.

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.

Liseros · 2015-04-27T16:19:02.000Z

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

impbcn · 2016-03-01T11:00:36.000Z

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

cecil · 2020-01-21T19:34:42.310Z

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.

cecil · 2020-05-09T19:25:41.045Z

Even more complete: to change a Multi and then a Part’s program change inside the Multi:

On a MPC track set to the global channel: insert a CC#0:127 and a PC with the number of the Multi
for the next step: to give the Multi change some time, go one beat later!
To change a Multi’s part program: on another MPC track, on the Part’s midi channel insert a CC#32:X (where X is the bank number) and a PC with the number of the part’s patch

Extra note: when programming bank & program changes in a sequence, it is good practice leaving a few ticks between the bank change & program message.