MIDI MADNESS & Behringer befuddlement

[trustgod]

Greetings,

I do not understand MIDI at all. I received the Behringer V AMP2 as a gift. I purchased the Behringer FCB1010 MIDI FOOT CONTROLLER to switch between banks and presets. I also wanted to use the two expression pedals on the FCB1010 for wah wah and volume. I read the Owners Manuals four times and DO NOT GET IT. I am unable to program the foot controller to function with the V AMP 2.

If anyone owns these products and has successfully got them to play nice with each other - please help me out.

Here's the kicker. I want to set up a DAW in my home. A few forum members have mentioned that I should learn to build my own PC and save money. I have to be honest -I don't know if that is a wise idea seeing as how I can't even figure out how to program a MIDI foot controller. I went to a CubaseSX seminar and it all looked so easy when the Steinberg rep demonstrated the software. Lately I have been reading Audio mags (Sound On Sound, MIX, Electronic Musician, Keyboard, Computer Music, etc) trying to get a handle on everything involved in starting out. I feel overwhelmed.

I will be 42 next week and have been playing guitar, bass, and piano for close to 30 years. It is the desire of my heart to write and record my own music. However, I lack technical and software smarts. Does anyone know of a tutorial or some kind of home study course to teach me the basics and help ease me into home studio recording?

Blessings,

Eddie

 

[knightfly]

Eddie, good to see you're getting your feet wet, even if it's up to the neck... :=) Check out Craig Anderton's Midi for Musicians, it should give you a better idea of the general concepts. I doubt it will cover specific make/models much unless they are really popular, but it will probably help you with basic ideas.

Midi is sometimes best thought of as TV reception. If you have your TV turned to channel 26, but the program you want to watch is broadcasting on channel 12, you're going to miss it. Midi is sort of "Digital Broadcast" - A module can be told to recieve all info on all midi channels, or just some info on all channels, or all info on just one or more channels, etc - Both the sender and the reciever must be talking the same channels/info in order for communication to work. For example, if your foot pedal is sending MIDI Continuous Controller #7 on Midi channel 12, then the V-Amp must be set in its menu to recieve Midi Continuous Controller #7 (CC7, for short) on Midi Channel 12, or there is no communication. For communication to take place, the correct MIDI cables must be connected between units, both units must be configured for the same channels/parameters/controllers, and possibly the recieving device must be told to listen for info (especially patch info, which is sent as System Exclusive info, meaning meant for that device only, everybody else plug your ears)

If you still have my email address, see if you can scan the Midi implementation pages of both devices (probably the back page of the manual) and email them to me. I'll check them out and see what the two can do with each other, and try to find some more/better MIDI books for you. If all else fails, maybe we should hook up by phone and I could talk you through it... Steve

 

[trustgod]

Steve,

Great to hear from you! SonOfSmawg responded to a post I had on CubaseSX at RO and mentioned that he and OPUS were working on a feature entitled "Best Bang For The Buck DAW."
I humbly suggested they collaborate with you.

MIDI is a nightmare right about now. Foolish me; I thought it would be a cakewalk. I actually got out of bed to re-read everything AGAIN ~ noticed I had email ~ and was happy to see it was you.

Thanks for the offer of assistance. Unfortunately I do not have a scanner. I do own a fax machine. I'll take the manuals to work, photocopy them and fax them to you if that is alright. Email me your fax number if you have one. If not I will Fedex the copy to you. I was just about to pack up the MIDI Foot Controller and return it to Guitar Center - that is how frustrated I am.

Of course I have your email. I have not had time to put together my final DAW shopping list - that is why I held off contacting you. Plus, I just purchased a Santa Cruz Pre War Dreadnaught and have been playing the acoustic every free moment. It's a Bluegrass cannon. Loud with great bass response and outstanding articulation. A dynamic dynamo.

Oh, I've been bitten by the Mandolin bug and asked my wife if I could buy one for my 42nd birthday. Really cool instrument.

Your friend,

Eddie

 

[kedman]

Man I thought it was me!!!

Greetings,
I do not understand MIDI at all. I received the Behringer V AMP2 as a gift. I purchased the Behringer FCB1010 MIDI FOOT CONTROLLER to switch between banks and presets. I also wanted to use the two expression pedals on the FCB1010 for wah wah and volume. I read the Owners Manuals four times and DO NOT GET IT. I am unable to program the foot controller to function with the V AMP 2.
Blessings,
Eddie

Hi
I to bought the foot contoller thinking well it's made by Behringer It will work.
I have not actually got it to make a sound yet, and the manual is a joke.
I have a V amp 2.
Cheers
Bob