Program changes (one more time...)

Elektron Gear Octatrack
#1

Hi there,

I’ve searched the forum but didn’t really find an answer to this one. (Sorry if I missed it, hate wasting your time!)

I understand the “PC per part” concept. But I don’t understand why the OT seems to remember what the last PC sent was, and decides NOT to send it if it’s identical, REGARDLESS of the part change.

Example: I have my Digitone set to A01.
The OT is on A01 too, and uses Part 1. I program a PC on a OT miditrack, say 100 on channel 10 (DN’s autochannel).
I hit start on OT, the DN changes to G05 as expected.

Now I start building my song, and change patterns on the DN, say the next in line, so G06.

I now change to B01 on the OT. No PC’s were programmed in Part 1 of the new bank. So the DN remains on G06. As expected.

Now I go back to A01 on the OT. I would expect the DN to change back to what I wanted to be the starting point: G05. Nope: nothing changes: DT remains on G06. If I now change the PC on the OT to anything else, and hit start again, the DN will change accordingly.

So basically the OT remembers, the previous PC it sent, even if I change banks/parts in between and makes a decision accordingly, to send or not to send.

What I want is that when I switch to a “song” (I currently use a bank per song) I can program PC’s (or whatever my other devices need to change their config) on the OT so that I have always the exact same starting point for that song, all synths being ready to go.

But because of this “memory” thing this will not work: the OT doesn’t know if I have changed stuff manually on the other devices, so it all becomes arbitrary.

I want the OT to send ALWAYS when I change banks. (Not necessarily when I change parts inside a bank though)

Did I miss some setting somewhere?

Thanks!
Dirk

PLock program changes in octatrack
#2

So for that, you changed the program to G06 on the DT, not via the OT?

Sorry if you did this already…but in the OT MIDI playback/note setup page, did you set the bank number as well as the program number?

#3

Yes.

No, only the Program number, the DigiTone doesn’t use Bank Change messages

#4

Sorry I don’t have a DT! It might be worth trying though - what happens if you set a bank number on the OT? EDIT_ probably bank 0.

#5

Oh I notice didn’t follow the Elektron naming protocole, I am talking about the DigiTone, not the DigiTakt, I will correct the messages above from “DT” to “DN”, sorry for this

OT MKII - Sending Program Changes
#6

Tried but as I expected it doesn’t make a difference. The OT only sends out a PC if it’s different from the last one it sent, regardless of Part changes. Makes it pretty useless for a “total recall” system.

#7

Don’t despair, @sezare56 or @PeterHanes will be here at some point to sort it out.

5 Likes
#8

Me too!
The only workaround I know is to send notes and map them with a midi processor.

#9

It seems like I just can’t get rid of that computer in my set-up… :frowning:

#10

No computer for me!

#11

What midi processor do you use?

#12

Mostly Event Processor Plus, maybe the simplest. @ericd also bought it, I hope he’s still happy with it…
Deeper editing with RK002, Bomebox seems very interesting too (I just tried the software).

Midi Processors with Octatrack

#13

Yes, the Midi Event processor plus is very simple to use and does exactly what I wanted (allows OT to send program change per trig). I haven’t delved into the deeper programming potential yet.

It is a little pricey , I managed to get a second hand one on ebay so keep an eye out.

2 Likes
#14

The way I read the example you gave earlier in the original post, it seems to contradict what you request that I quoted here.

If you enter the same Program Change number for every Part in a particular Bank, and have a different Program Change in every Part in the second Bank, then switching to a Pattern in the other Bank should act as you request.

#15

n No, I must have been unclear then. The problem is that once a certain PC has been sent, it won’t be sent again unless it’s a different one, we do understand each other here. But what you say is basically: “then make them different” but I don’t want to. I want to be able to change banks/patterns on other devices while jamming then do a “total recall” using the OT as master device. I have actually 7 midi devices that need PC’s (or some other flavor of patch-switching message). I just want every device to be reset to initial state, once, and evertime I need it, whatever I have done to them in the meantime.

Because if, for instance, I use the same bass patch #1 on my AS-1 for several pieces involving different OT banks (different songs) but I change this bass patch during song A (because, for instance I live-sampled it and want to use the AS-1 for a new sound #2 ) then when I change banks (new song, same bass patch ) on the OT it will NOT send the PC #1 again because it has already been sent and the OT doesn’t know I changed it manually on the AS-1.

For this to reliably happen, everytime guaranteed, I would need to send a bogus PC to each device from the OT and only THEN the real PC sequence. That’s a workaround I could do without.

That looks like a nifty device… can we have several different processings we can switch to by midi?

#16

Look here for a good overview of what the MIDI events processor can do:
http://midisolutions.com/EP_Guide.htm

#17

The only way to do this would be to use the Program Change on every pattern change facility of the OT but only activate it when needed.

That would be very much a workaround for your situation and probably inconvenient.

#18

32 events limitation, 8 variables, incoming / outgoing ranges, switches but it takes 1 event per function. I think RK002 and Bomebox are more flexible, if you have kind of programing abilities / logic…

#19

The Bomebox looks really cool. I now use a iCM4+ from iConnectivity, plus LiveProfessor software running on a laptop which does all I need but I’d really appreciate not needing a laptop at all (even if I have the very capable and inspiring Equator softsynth running on it with a Roli Seaboard to control it. But that’s another story). I’d need some more DIN inputs but we can expand the BomeBox using Din-to-USB adapters. I’ll take a serious look at the Midi Translator Pro software. Thanks for pointing this out.

#20

You can download the demo and check the interface which let you program the Bomebox.

I also have ICM4+ but I didn’t configured / used it. I also have a 8x8 A880, and an MEP4 so I’m pretty confortable with midi outputs!

I like to use Octatrack with 1 or 2 other machines and record them, so for the moment I don’t need all that arsenal I’ll keep anyway!