Control Switcher question

[peepee]

I have a Mesa Roadster, G Major 2 in a rack, plus GCX and GCP, and a couple of pedals.
With my previous amp, which just had two channels, I had the Instant Access buttons set up to control four of the G Major effects (IA 1-4), amp channel switching (IA 5), pedals (IA 6 & 7) and solo boost (IA 8), which worked really well.
When I got the Roadster, I had to re-arrange things because it has four channels, so I had to lose three of the IA switches to control amp channels 1, 2, 3 & 4. This works but isn't ideal, as I'd like to control the effects as well.
So I bought a Control Switcher thinking that I would be able to free-up the IA buttons for the effects; I was thinking that I could send MIDI commands with programme changes rather than having to assign IA buttons to the four channels. I think I might have made a mistake? I see how the Control Switcher will work with IA set-up, but I don't think it can change channels without being assigned to IA switches - am I correct?

[JohnClark]

The Control Switcher can be programmed to respond to Program Change messages and/or Control Change messages. Straight out of the box, the Control Switcher will auto configure itself when used in a properly configured Ground Control system setup as an unused GCX. Check out the Use With Ground Control Pro section of the Control Switcher manual first and let us know if you have any questions. Because you already have one GCX, you will likely run the Control Switcher last in the MIDI chain and control it as if it were the first four loops of a second GCX unit.

I hope that helps!

[peepee]

Hi John,
Thank you for your help with this. I initially set up the Switcher as "GCX 2" in the Ground Control Pro, running at the end of the MIDI chain, after the G Major 2. Everything worked perfectly in the sense that I could allocate an IA switch to each of the four Switcher functions, but doing it this way I couldn't figure out how to do what I set out to do, which was to send a PC or CC message from the Ground Control without having to use up IA switches.
To clarify, my idea is to allocate the 8 IA switches to other functions (effects etc) and use the bottom four switches of the GCP, in each Bank, for each of the four channels.
After a little experimenting, I have had some success by removing the Plug & Play functionality (de-allocating the Switcher as GCX 2 in the GCP) and setting it up as a MIDI device in the GCP, with its own MIDI channel, then setting up the PC/CC functionality in the Switcher and sending a CC message with each of the four bottom-row switches in GCP. However, I'm obviously doing something wrong, because instead of getting a response with the CC # 80-83, as expected, I'm getting a response but with a completely random number, eg. channel 1 is CC 01, channel 2 is CC 82, channel 3 is CC 64 and channel 4 is CC 84!
While it's working how I want like this, it doesn't make any sense to me so I'm nervous that I've done something horribly wrong!

[domct203]

I have the same setup (GCP, GCX, G-Maj, Control Switcher).
http://www.voodoolab.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2996

My Control Switcher works "in the background" as you originally intended. I set my units per the GCP manual.

Maybe try setting it up again. It worked first try for me, and I was just following the manual.

Dom

[peepee]

Dom,
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Super-neat set-up you've got there!
Your GC Pro is exactly how I'd like to set mine up. If possible, please could you talk me through how you set-up the Control Switcher/GC Pro so that the four switches on the bottom row change channels (presumably with a CC message?). I'm fine with setting the Control Switcher as GCX-2 on the GC Pro, but I'm getting a bit lost with how to actually get the bottom-row switches to actually send a programme change message to the Control Switcher.

[domct203]

I pretty much followed the steps for CONTROLLING THE GCX GUITAR AUDIO SWITCHER on pg. 19 of the GCP manual. I assume that your control switcher is device "GCX-2". Don't get hung up on CC values, the setup is much easier without them as the units are designed to work together. It's kind of WYSIWYG.

My gear is at our practice studio so I can't do hands on, but I know the manual worked 100%.

My Device setup is:
Device 1 = GCX (GCX-1)
Device 2 = G-Major
Device 3 = Control Switcher (GCX-2)

My MIDI chain is GCP ==> GCX ==> G-Major ==> Control Switcher

Select preset #1. Enter EDIT mode (hold EDIT button until a MIDI device is displayed).
Press SELECT down to scroll down to "GCX-2".
Press GCP button (1-4) that selects correct channel for this preset.
Press EDIT button, select "YES/+" to save the changes.

Repeat for presets #2-4.

The amp channel info is now saved with the preset info, completely independent of the IA button settings. No CC info needed!

Your IA button setups (WHAT they control) are part of the global "SETUP" mode, not the Preset "EDIT" mode. Only the button's status (on or off) are part of the Preset "EDIT" info. Default IA setup is "Device 1"

See pg. 10 for more IA info.

I hope this helps,
Dom

[peepee]

BINGO!
Thank you so much, Dom! Your explanation made perfect sense and everything now works as intended. And so easy when you know how!
I owe you a pint - look me up if you're ever in the UK.
All the best,
Piers

[domct203]

Happy to help! Rock On!

Dom