G major-GCX-gcp-mesa

Q & A for building and interfacing your rack gear with Ground Control Pro and GCX-based systems.
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dominof
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:43 am
Location: London

G major-GCX-gcp-mesa

Post by dominof »

Hi guys!
I have recently purchased a g major2 and sold all my analog pedals
Now I have problem to control g major via gcp(dmc period)
Can somebody plus tell me step by step how I should connect it to control my gear?
I have MESA DUAL REC, VOODOO GCX, VOODOO GCP, G MAJOR2
I have seen some YouTube videos and things but it still don't work. Pls help!
Gibson les Paul
Mesa dual rect
GCX
Gcp
G-major2
Vht 2x12

nyteowl
Posts: 1389
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:53 am

Re: G major-GCX-gcp-mesa

Post by nyteowl »

Your basic connections should be as follows:

Using a MIDI Cable, connect the GCPro MIDI Out to the GCX Pedal In
Using a short MIDI jumper cable, connect the GCX MIDI Out to the G-Major2 MIDI In

Connect the Mesa FX Send to the Left (Mono) Input of the G-Major2
Connect the Left (Mono) Output of the G-Major2 to the Mesa FX Return
Adjust the Send Level so as not to overdrive the GM2 Input and adjust the Mix Level as desired.

Basic set up instructions for your GCPro can be found on Page 6 of your User's Manual.

Go into Setup Mode and name your devices. Device 1 should be your GCPro, Device 2 the G-Major2. Follow the instructions on Page 8 to make sure your GCX is set to Off. This will prevent the GCPro's 8 Instant Access buttons from changing their status when you change Presets on the G-Major 2 (see below).

Follow the instructions on Page 10 of your Manual to set up your GCPro in 4 Preset/Bank mode. This will let you to use the 4 large buttons on the bottom row to select presets on the G-Major2 and the upper two rows of buttons to control your amplifier and/or send MIDI CC messages to control certain effect parameters on the G-Major2.

If you make these connections, you should be able to change presets on the GM2. If the preset numbers do not match, i.e., Preset 1 on the GCPro calls up Preset 2 on the GM2, refer to the instructions on Page 7 of your GCPro manual to set the Starting Number, which will fix that problem.

Last but not least, what kind of jacks are on your foot switch cable, mono or stereo? We need that info to determine how to set up your GCX loops to switch channels on your Mesa and/or activate/deactivate the FX loop.
For Sale: Original DMC GCX in Excellent Condition ($275) and a far more versatile SoundSculpture GL also in Excellent Condition ($1750). Free CONUS Shipping.

dominof
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:43 am
Location: London

Re: G major-GCX-gcp-mesa

Post by dominof »

Thanks for ur replay!
I'm using GCX to switch channels on Mesa (loop6-clean,loop7-red channel, loop8-solo)
I have my gcp set as follows:
Device 1- GCX (GCX is set to ON so I can switch channels)
Device 2 - gm2

Gm2 is set on MIDI channel2 but it seems like this two do not communicate with each other as nothing happening when I press buttons on gcp

Gm2 is in loop of my Mesa (parallel) and kill dry is OFF
I Can hear the fx but cannot control it at all via gcp

Gcp is set to 4preset/bank I want to recall user banks from gm2 so I can have for example different delay times on one preset and different on the other during one song

How should I set the INSTANT ACCES BUTTONS on gcp to switch fx on and off?
Gibson les Paul
Mesa dual rect
GCX
Gcp
G-major2
Vht 2x12

nyteowl
Posts: 1389
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:53 am

Re: G major-GCX-gcp-mesa

Post by nyteowl »

Since you've already got the channel switching working, you're good to go there, but it sounds like your GCPro and GM2 are not on the same MIDI Channel.

The instructions on Page 7 of the GCPro manual will explain how to select MIDI Channel 2 on the GCPro for your GM2. Once you get that set, your GM2 should start responding to the GCPro.

In order to turn the individual GM2 effects on or off you will need to program your GCPro Instant Access buttons to send MIDI Continuous Controller (CC) messages to the GM2. The instructions on Page 11 of the GCPro manual explain how to program CC messages into your IA buttons, while the instructions beginning on Page 19 of the G<2 Manual discuss how to turn individual effects on and off from within a preset. You may also be able to program the GM2 to respond to the GCPro IA Buttons by putting the GM2 in "Learn" mode. You'll have to do some experimenting, so let us know what happens.
For Sale: Original DMC GCX in Excellent Condition ($275) and a far more versatile SoundSculpture GL also in Excellent Condition ($1750). Free CONUS Shipping.

dominof
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:43 am
Location: London

Re: G major-GCX-gcp-mesa

Post by dominof »

I'm doing everything by the book and as u said but still this two don't communicate with each other :/ ill check maybe the midi cabe, is bad.
Can somebody pls post a step by step configuration of this two? Gcp and gmajor2 ?
Pls help
Gibson les Paul
Mesa dual rect
GCX
Gcp
G-major2
Vht 2x12

nyteowl
Posts: 1389
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:53 am

Re: G major-GCX-gcp-mesa

Post by nyteowl »

If, after checking the GCX to GM2 MIDI cable, you find these two devices are still not communicating, then it would appear either the GCPro or the GM2 is not configured properly. However, since you say you are successfully changing channels on the Mesa via GCX Loops 6,7 and 8, that tells me your GCPro and GCX are communicating properly, so the problem must be with the GM2.

Again, the instructions on Page 7 of the GCPro manual explain how to set the MIDI Channel for each device your GCPro is controlling, so please check again that you have set the correct channel for Device 2, your GM2.

Page 18 of your GM2 manual describes the MIDI Menu. On the GM2 front panel, under Setup, press the MIDI Button to access the MIDI Menu. Please step through the menu options and verify you have selected the correct MIDI channel on the GM2, have the MIDI Program Change parameter set to ON, and the Program Bank parameter set to User. Once these settings have been verified and saved, your GM2 should change presets whenever you step on any of the 4 Preset buttons on the bottom row of your GCPro. If the GCPro and GM2 preset numbers do not match, please refer to my earlier post for instructions on how to fix that.

If you have verified all your cables are good, all the connections are properly made, and all the parameters are configured properly and still find these two units are not communicating, I would suspect your GM2 may be faulty. However, this is rarely the case, and the problem usually lies with a bad cable or bad parameter setting
For Sale: Original DMC GCX in Excellent Condition ($275) and a far more versatile SoundSculpture GL also in Excellent Condition ($1750). Free CONUS Shipping.

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