Korg PA3X with FCB1010

[Rob Sherratt]

Recipe for a Home made $50 MIDI Trace Analyzer, using an old Windows XP laptop:

Get a USB2-MIDI interface e.g. like this one. You need a MIDI interface with "female" sockets into which your USB cables will plug. There are also many USB2-Audio interfaces that also have MIDI sockets and these will work fine as well.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIB-M-Audio-Mid ... 337f6cfd0f

Install MIDIOX (it's free), connect your footpedal to MIDI IN on the USB adapter, connect MIDI OUT from the USB adapter to MIDI IN on your Pa3x, and look at the trace screen in MIDIOX. It will show you exactly what messages are being sent and on what MIDI channel they are sent. You get MIDIOX here:

http://www.midiox.com/

Best regards,
Rob

[hotkey]

Hello Ghoulman,

FCB is little more complexed for programming.
You have to check also MIDI channels on your keyboard.
You have to define one MIDI channel for Control channel on the Keyboard (as I remember from somewhere MIDI channel 7 would be fine).
You are put Program change messages on this channel, in other way you put program change on MIDI channel1 where it can be some part from keyboard tracks...

I would say to you apply some MIDI2USB cable, I gave maybe 10$,
then get free software FCB1010 PC editor (to make all neccessare changes in FCB1010),
install MIDI monitor program (to see what really happens),
then someone could also help with some settings (sysex file).
Also I can send to you mine, and you can adapt it.
Without this mentioned stuff we can hardly help, sorry.

Without the software you have to step long time to the FCB...(without real feedback).

But... FCB1010 is fantastic with PA keyboards!

Regards,

[Ghoulman]

Well... i can't get now one midi interface because all the shop's near haven't. But i've get a EDIROL FIREWIRE FA-101 from a friend...

I've already installed the drivers for EDIROL (i use MACBOOK PRO) but now to configure the FCB1010 i'm using WINDOWS 7 on a desktop pc...

On my PA3X i've selected the next channels to MIDI IN:

1 - Global (with this i can use my accordion connected using right-hand)
2 - Chord (Accordion - left-hand)
3 - Bass (Accordion - left-hand)
7 - Control (i think this is the function to control by midi channel)...

I've tryed to put the START/STOP function (PC#103) and in Global Settings on FCB1010 Midi Editor the channel 7 ... but doesn't work... i'm doing anything wrong...

Behringer should have a better manual and software to configurat it easier...

The MIDI EDITOR Software numer is 2.99-2 and the firmware detected on software is 2.5.1E.

[Ghoulman]

Recipe for a Home made $50 MIDI Trace Analyzer, using an old Windows XP laptop:

Get a USB2-MIDI interface e.g. like this one. You need a MIDI interface with "female" sockets into which your USB cables will plug. There are also many USB2-Audio interfaces that also have MIDI sockets and these will work fine as well.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIB-M-Audio-Mid ... 337f6cfd0f

Install MIDIOX (it's free), connect your footpedal to MIDI IN on the USB adapter, connect MIDI OUT from the USB adapter to MIDI IN on your Pa3x, and look at the trace screen in MIDIOX. It will show you exactly what messages are being sent and on what MIDI channel they are sent. You get MIDIOX here:

http://www.midiox.com/

Best regards,
Rob

I'll try this software from midiox and i'll tell you something... Thanks!

[Rob Sherratt]

@Ghoulman@

The Edirol FIREWIRE FA-101 is a nice piece of equipment.

To use it with MIDIOX on a Windows 7 desktop PC, the Desktop PC must have a Firewire interface, and this is not common. If your desktop PC does not have a Firewire interface then I would not proceed further down this route, it is not worth the cost and complexity of buying and installing a Firewire card.

There is most probably MIDI analyser software available to run on your MacBook Pro. I assume it is a version that has Firewire port, not all MacBook Pros have Firewire as standard any more. It is a great computer but I don't have one and I don't know the answer about using a MIDI analyser on it, so you will have to search the Internet yourself.

I may be able to help you more when you can post on the forum the results of tracing the MIDI messages coming from the FCB1010.

One thought - you MUST have MIDI clock sync being generated and transmitted by the Pa3x. The FCB1010 needs to see an external MIDI clock sync signal before it will transmit. There is a setting in Global on the Pa3x for this. You need two MIDI cables connected, both FCB1010 MIDI OUT to MIDI IN on the Pa3x, AND MIDI Out from the Pa3x to MIDI IN on the FCB1010. It will not work with only one MIDI cable. That is because it needs to listen to MIDI clock sync on its MIDI IN port.

Best regards,
Rob

[Ghoulman]

I have a t2ph1 from Asus... Have FireWire connector. It work because I've already tried and it detected the fcb1010

[Rob Sherratt]

Great! You are almost there ... So the next step is to configure MIDIOX to tell it the device port names for the EDIROL MIDI IN and MIDI OUT. I think MIDIOX gives you a list of detected devices to choose from.

[Ghoulman]

Well, Rob Sherratt,

I'm a MAC user since 2010... But i've several machines running WINDOWS because i worked on informatics a few years ago...

I've the EDIROL running, installed and working with the PC and FCB1010...

I tried to see the FIRMWARE from my FCB and it says 2.5.1E... so is well connected... I've connected both midi cables... FCB MIDI IN to EDIROL MIDI OUT and FCB MIDI OUT to EDIROL MIDI IN...

You said may be able to help me more when i can post on the forum the results of tracing the MIDI messages coming from the FCB1010.

How i do that?

Like in the previous post, i've put the CONTROL function on channel 7 on my PA3X ... and i've activated the midi clock SYNC (CLOCK SEND) and the CLOCK SOURCE from EXTERNAL MIDI...

is that you refer on last comment?

Cumps

[Rob Sherratt]

I've the EDIROL running, installed and working with the PC and FCB1010...

I tried to see the FIRMWARE from my FCB and it says 2.5.1E... so is well connected... I've connected both midi cables... FCB MIDI IN to EDIROL MIDI OUT and FCB MIDI OUT to EDIROL MIDI IN...

This is the cable arrangement you need, three cables:

FCB MIDI OUT - EDIROL MIDI IN
EDIROL MIDI OUT - Pa3x MIDI IN
Pa3x MIDI OUT - FCB MIDI IN

On the Pa3x ensure MIDI Clock SYNC is set to INTERNAL
On the Pa3x ensure that MIDI Clock Sync is being transmitted on MIDI OUT
(this is a setting you have to make in GLOBAL)
In MIDIOX, set it so MIDI IN is Repeated to MIDI OUT
Start MIDIOX so it is tracing MIDI IN
Ensure MIDIOX can see the MIDI Clock Sync messages from Pa3x, that will be repeated by the FCB
Then set MIDIOX to not show Clock Sync messages any more
Then press your FCB buttons
You should see MIDI messages from the FCB on the MIDIOX trace screen when you press the FCB footswitches etc.

Once you can see the MIDI messages from the FCB, write them down and post them in a message here.

Regards,
Rob

[Ghoulman]

I've already connect:
FCB MIDI OUT TO EDIROL MIDI IN
EDIROL MIDI OUT TO PA3X MIDI IN
PA3X MIDI OUT TO FCB MIDI IN

3 MIDI cable have been used.

On the PA3X in the GLOBAL: MIDI

CLOCK SEND is activated;
CLOCK SOURCE is Internal;
LOCAL CONTROL ON is activated;

I've installed MIDI-OX and on options-MIDI devices I've selected MIDI INPUT FA-101 MIDI IN and MIDI OUT FA-101 MIDI OUT.

I think that is the part you said about "in midiox, set it so midi in is repeated to MIDI out."

The rest about ensure midiox can see the MIDI clock sync I can't find how to do it. :/

[Rob Sherratt]

Set up a routing from
MIDI INPUT FA-101 MIDI IN to MIDI OUT FA-101 MIDI OUT
Just drag a line between the two

In the MIDIOX monitor window you will see everything the FCB is transmitting. Press a few footswitch keys. Copy and paste the MIDI messages into a new forum message.

If you don't see anything then the FCB is not transmitting anything, maybe because it's programmed wrong or has a fault?

To prove MIDIOX is displaying MIDI messages, temporarily connect
Pa3x MIDI OUT to Edirol MIDI IN (1 cable only)
Set the Pa3x MIDI Map to "External Sequencer"
Play a few styles.
You will see lots of data.

Regards,
Rob

[AntonySharmman]

Rob ... The MidiMan !!!

[Ghoulman]

Wow...

I really didn't think configuring the FCB1010 was so complicated...

To set up the routing from Input Ports to Output Ports is just drag a line between FA-101 MIDI IN to FA-101 MIDI OUT... it did it automatic, just was too linked to MIDI-OX Event Port... but you didn't mentioned so i've taked the line between FA-101 MIDI OUT to MIDI-OX Event Port...

when i connect everything... (including the FCB) the FCB's display was with a 88 blinking and 2 dots... but then i've pressed some FCB's switch and the middle dot gone and the 88 became a 00 blinking... now i think have everything done like you said...

have the next information when i press the fcb's switch...

TIMESTAMP IN PORT STATUS DATA1 DATA2 CHAN NOTE EVENT
FS1 00007271 1 2 C6 66 -- 7 --- PC: FX 7 (ECHOES
FS2 000075FB 1 2 C6 00 -- 7 --- PC: ACC. GRAND PIANO
FS3 000078E9 1 2 C6 00 -- 7 --- PC: ACC. GRAND PIANO
FS4 00007C16 1 2 C6 00 -- 7 --- PC: ACC. GRAND PIANO
FS5 00007F81 1 2 C6 00 -- 7 --- PC: ACC. GRAND PIANO
FS6 000082EC 1 2 C6 00 -- 7 --- PC: ACC. GRAND PIANO
FS7 000084A1 1 2 C6 00 -- 7 --- PC: ACC. GRAND PIANO
FS8 00008678 1 2 C6 00 -- 7 --- PC: ACC. GRAND PIANO
FS9 0000881C 1 2 C6 00 -- 7 --- PC: ACC. GRAND PIANO
FS10 00008C33 1 2 C6 00 -- 7 --- PC: ACC. GRAND PIANO

FS1,2,3,4... means FootSwitch 1,2,3,4 from FCB.

I've opened the MIDI PORT ACTIVITY and everytime i press a FCB's switch blinks the red light in the port number 7 at INPUT PORTS and OUTPUT PORTS...

Is also blinking all the time the first red light and the RT light of INPUT PORTS 01) FA-101 MIDI IN and the the first red light and the RT light of OUTPUT PORTS 02) FA-101 MIDI IN.

Is that correct?

Grateful for the help so far given.

Best Regards.

[Rob Sherratt]

It's great progress so far, you now have a fully working MIDI Analyzer and it will help you greatly in the coming months. MIDI is extremely complex, it's almost like another programming language, and you are taking the first steps towards understanding how it works.

Anyway, MIDI has the capability of transmitting on up to 16 "channels" numbered from 1 to 16. It is conventional for "drums and percussion" to use channel 10, and for "lead keyboard" to use channel 1.

The Pa3x keys will almost certainly be transmitting and receiving on channel 1.

What I suggest first of all is that you program the FCB to use Channel 1 and not channel 7, and set it to generate some "program change" messages so that you can use it to change the selected sound that you are playing on the Pa3x keyboard.

Get used to selecting any factory sound on the Pa3x using the FCB to send program change messages from 0 to 127. Next, experiment with the combination of a "double message" called a Bank Change followed by a Program Change. This will allow you to access the full library of sounds on the Pa3x. The Bank Change message will cause the Pa3x to switch to a different sound bank, e.g. from Piano to Organ or to Woodwind etc.

Configure the Pa3x using the Global setting to allow it to display the MIDI Program Change and Bank Change numbers for each sound. Look it up in the manual, I can't remember where the setting is offhand, but I have my Pa2x configured to do this.

Most MIDI messages are channel specific, they only affect the channel they are transmitted on. But the Pa3x allows an exception to this rule. The Pa3x will accept a control message such as "Start Style Play" and "Change Style" that affects the complete operation of the instrument. But to enable this to happen, you have to instruct the Pa3x on which MIDI channel those messages will be received.

So supposing the FCB is transmitting on MIDI Channel 7 and sending a "Style Change" message (equivalent to a program change). The Pa3x must be programmed in the Global - MIDI input mapper so that MIDI channel 7 is configured to accept a "Global control" command for the whole Pa3x. The default case is that such "Global control" messages are not accepted.

Regards,
Rob

[Ghoulman]

My intention is not select remotely the sounds from sounds bank and the styles from styles bank...

I don't use more than 4 sounds per style and to select sounds i'll use STS1 STS2 STS3 STS4... To select the styles i'll use it by my hand on keyboard.

The MIDI PROGRAMA CHANGE and BANK CHANGE is a kind of this? - 121.010.000 for a Grand Piano RX? (For example)

I would like use the 1st channel for Global, is the channel i use with my acordion... it will be connected on MIDI IN at the FCB... so will be Channel 1 for acordion and can be the Channel 7 for Control because it's free.

I've seen at the Advanced Edit Manual V110 the next CC# and PC# to use what i want...

CC#
11 – expression
64 – damper

PC#
80 – Intro 1
83 – Variation 1
84 – Variation 2
85 – Variation 3
86 – Variation 4
87 – Fill 1
88 – Fill 2
89 – Fill 3
90 – Fill 4
91 – Break
92 – Ending 1
95 – fade in/out
103 – start/stop

CC#0 – CC#32
PC#64 – STS1
PC#65 – STS2
PC#66 – STS3
PC#67 – STS4


This is the most functions i will use...

I would like to use more 6 functions, but they are not available in midi functions (i think)... PAD1, PAD2, PAD3, PAD4, PAD STOP and HARMONY.

But that if i can't put at midi i'll use with the EC5... is a possibility...

Best Regards.