How Do I Change Master FX Params via MIDI Data?

[Basspig]

Context: I'm working with Cakewalk Sonar and performances are recorded as MIDI inside Sonar project files.

This far, I've discovered that I can control track EQ with NPRN values. I experimented by manipulating the controls on the Pa5X while Cakewalk was recording MIDI data.

However, I get no data when I manipulate the Master FX parameters.

The most important one is Wet/Dry setting. I want to be able to have the MIDI project set this at start of play.

I see there is a way to assign it to a CC#, and an "Amount" to the right of that, but after trying to set it and sending the corresponding controller number, I see no change in the wet/dry value.

For example, set it to listen on CC#12 then add CC#12 to the MIDI event list in Cakewalk Sonar. Set a value anywhere from 0-127, play the track. The tracks momentarily light up to indicate reception of MIDI data, but the value of Wet/Dry does not change.

Ultimately, I would like to be able to:

Choose reverb type
Set all params, like time, damping, etc.
and choose wet/dry ratio

--all with MIDI commands at start of song play.

I could not decipher anything out of the manual on how to do this.


As an addendum, is there a way to monitor the incoming MIDI messages? My Kurzweil K2600 has a utility menu where I can see the incoming MIDI data and it helps a lot in troubleshooting.

[smstome]

Desired settings can be stored as songbook entry and recalled via midi at the start of the play.
Page 325 user manual.

[Basspig]

I never thought of that. I guess the mixer FX settings are stored in there as well as the notes.

I just tried saving my "songbook" entry, but how do I determine what "number" it is so that I can select it via MIDI?
Each songbook entry shows a name, but I see nothing numeric.

Just for sake of experiment, I set up the NPRNs #99 val of 2 and #98 val of 64, then followed by CC#06 val of 00 and CC#38 val of 77. Sent it to MIDI channel 16 (after setting up MIDI to receive control on 16) and nothing happened other than the lights blinked under each track. No change of songbook occurred.

[smstome]

Songbook - Entry Edit- you can assign custom number to your song in upper right

<a href="https://ibb.co/Cb3Zs1H"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Pcvnzm6/Whats-App-Imag ... -13-AM.jpg" alt="Whats-App-Image-2024-10-16-at-9-32-13-AM" border="0"></a>

Example to select entry 1569 send the following Midi-Message: NRPN MSB = 2 NRPN LSB = 64 DataEntry MSB = 15 DataEntry LSB = 69


The song number will display if you setup songbook preference.

<a href="https://ibb.co/6vXW68K"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Jx3sXqY/Whats-App-Imag ... -41-AM.jpg" alt="Whats-App-Image-2024-10-16-at-9-53-41-AM" border="0"></a>

Now the list will show 'Number'

<a href="https://ibb.co/HKWPC3g"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/8mWxbt8/Whats-App-Imag ... -52-AM.jpg" alt="Whats-App-Image-2024-10-16-at-9-53-52-AM" border="0"></a>

[Basspig]

Still not working even though I assigned my songbook entry as "1" and set the prefs so that Name-Artist-Num is shown.

The manual says this:

"Pa5X must receive on the special Control channel the NRPN Control
Change messages #99 (MSB, with value 2) and #98 (LSB, with value 64) in fast
succession, as an initialization string. This string must be sent only once, unless
another NRPN control is sent on the same MIDI channel before selecting a differ-
ent SongBook Entry.
After the initialization string has been sent, you must send the selection string,
made of two Control Change messages: CC#06 (Data Entry MSB) for the thou-
sands and hundreds, and CC#38 (Data Entry LSB) for the tens and units"

I've tried it that way and your way, and nothing happens when I send the data.

In Cakewalk Sonar's Event List, I have Kind is NPRN, Data is 99 and then there's an unmarked field and that's got a value of 2.
The next event is NPRN Data 98 and 64 is in the unmarked field.
Then I have CC#06 with value of 0 and CC#38 with value of 1.

Alternatively, I tried using an NPRN event in place of the two CC events and ut 0 and 1 as the data.

Neither one changed the songbook entry when playback starts.

[smstome]

My way is nothing different than what is mentioned in the manual.

You must be missing some step.
*Pa5X Settings - Midi In - Ch16 - Control
*Songbook must be saved after number entry.
*The midi out channel in your DAW should be assigned to Pa5X Ch16

For song number 1 , it should be as below


<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/KbVzB66/Screenshot-202 ... 045534.jpg" alt="Screenshot-2024-10-17-045534" border="0"></a>



Note:-
You are writing NPRN.
It is NRPN (Non-Registered Parameter Number)

[Basspig]

That's what I'm putting into Cakewalk's Event list, just like that. And it's all on Ch 16 and the MIDI setup I activated is one with ch16 set to receive control data. I'm quite certain the Korg is set up correctly.

What I'm not sure about is whether the data is formatted right in Cakewalk.

The columns are:

Trk | HMSF | MBT | Ch | Kind | Data | (blank)
16 00:00:00:00 1:01.000 16 NRPN 99 2
16 00:00:00:03 1:01.000 16 NRPN 98 64
16 00:00:00:03 1:01.000 16 Control 6 0
16 00:00:00:03 1:01.000 16 Control 38 1


I hope this makes sense!


Yeah, I'm nearly blind with double vision, cataracts and floaters. Even a 32" monitor isn't enough!

[smstome]

I have a template for you.

If everything is setup right, the below midi file will callup
Song no 1. at Bar 1
Song no 2. at Bar 4
Song no 3. at Bar 8

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dn5uSR ... drive_link

[Basspig]

Thank you. This works, but looks completely different that the manual describes. It's MUCH simpler! Only oner line with 320 in the Data field and the book number in the unmarked field in the Event list.

Now the only problem is that when the Pa5X is set to receive on ch 16, my sound levels for most instruments are very low. If I go back to the default MIDI setup, my audio levels are correct again, but then I lose the ability to load the songbook mixer setups.

[Basspig]

For reasons I cannot understand, this ability to call up songbook by MIDI stopped working today. Pa5X is not calling up the songbook like it did yesterday and the day before that. I cannot find a reason why.