Instant access button as tap tempo (Damage Control Timeline)?

[Chugs]

Can anyone help me with this?

I am using a Damage Control Timeline delay with my GCX and Ground Control Pro.

I have successfully figured to how to change and save presets on the Timline using the Ground Control Pro but I am stumped about how to program one of the instant access button to operate the tap tempo on a Damage Control Timeline.
According to the Timeline manual I need to send a MIDI note message for note C0 (0x18) How do I do that?

[Josh Fiden]

Can anyone help me with this?

I am using a Damage Control Timeline delay with my GCX and Ground Control Pro.

I have successfully figured to how to change and save presets on the Timline using the Ground Control Pro but I am stumped about how to program one of the instant access button to operate the tap tempo on a Damage Control Timeline.
According to the Timeline manual I need to send a MIDI note message for note C0 (0x18) How do I do that?

They do in fact use MIDI note messages. This is an unusual choice for guitar gear, as cc and program change are used almost exclusively. At present, the Ground Control Pro will not send note messages. If we get many requests for this, it could be added in a future release. However, unless more manufacturers start using note, it is probably more likely to see a rev from Damage Control to accommodate cc. Sorry about that.

Thanks,
Josh Fiden
Founder / CEO

[Chugs]

I emailed Damage Control who make the Timeline delay and they told me that there is a CC message that will allow me to set tap tempo from my Ground Control Pro.

"You'll want to set up MIDI CC #38 (0x26 if your editor/controller is operating in hexadecimal). Set up the editor/controller to send a value of anything from 0-63 for tap tempo switch OFF and any value from 64-127 for tap tempo switch ON."

I have set up instant access button 7 on midi channel 1, same as the Timeline, and have selected CTL038. How do I input the values for on and off?

[Paul A]

I emailed Damage Control who make the Timeline delay and they told me that there is a CC message that will allow me to set tap tempo from my Ground Control Pro.

"You'll want to set up MIDI CC #38 (0x26 if your editor/controller is operating in hexadecimal). Set up the editor/controller to send a value of anything from 0-63 for tap tempo switch OFF and any value from 64-127 for tap tempo switch ON."

I have set up instant access button 7 on midi channel 1, same as the Timeline, and have selected CTL038. How do I input the values for on and off?

I am also interested in this - I have a Glass Nexus and I am hoping it will work in the same way.

As I understand it, the values for on and off are automatic. Switching the IA switch to on (LED lit) will send the MIDI CC #38 127 message. Switching off will send the MIDI CC #38 00 message.

I think this emulates pushing the buttons on the case.

[Chugs]

That makes sense. If that is true, however, then I must be doing something else wrong as I tried that and it didn't work.

How is the Glass Nexus? All the demos I've heard sound great.

[Josh Fiden]

I emailed Damage Control who make the Timeline delay and they told me that there is a CC message that will allow me to set tap tempo from my Ground Control Pro.

"You'll want to set up MIDI CC #38 (0x26 if your editor/controller is operating in hexadecimal). Set up the editor/controller to send a value of anything from 0-63 for tap tempo switch OFF and any value from 64-127 for tap tempo switch ON."

I have set up instant access button 7 on midi channel 1, same as the Timeline, and have selected CTL038. How do I input the values for on and off?

That's certainly interesting, I read through the Timeline manual on their site and it says nothing about this. You will want to setup the Ground Control Pro instant access button for "momentary". That will send 127 when the button is down and 0 when you release it.

From Setup>Instant Access, you bank down to select the button, then cursor right will get you to the selection of NORMAL, XMIT W/PRESET, or MOMENTARY.

Please post if you get this working. If not, we can contact them and find out why.

Thanks!
Josh Fiden
Founder / CEO

[Chugs]

I just tried that and unfortunately it didn't work.

Here's how I've got it set up in case I am dong in case I've got something setup wrong. (I am able to switch presets on the Timeline via the Ground Control so I am guessing I've got it right.)

Timeline in GCX Loop 8. Midi channel 01.
Midi out GCX into Midi in on Timeline.
Instant access button 7. Midi channel 01 CC#38. Momentary.

[Josh Fiden]

I just tried that and unfortunately it didn't work.

Here's how I've got it set up in case I am dong in case I've got something setup wrong. (I am able to switch presets on the Timeline via the Ground Control so I am guessing I've got it right.)

Timeline in GCX Loop 8. Midi channel 01.
Midi out GCX into Midi in on Timeline.
Instant access button 7. Midi channel 01 CC#38. Momentary.

That sounds like you're doing everything right. I'll research this and post.

[Paul A]

...How is the Glass Nexus? All the demos I've heard sound great.

I really like it, the delay side would not be as flexible as your timeline, but it's really nice being able to dial up all the different mod effects so easily. Reverb is good too.

However, My Glass Nexus is not responding to CC 38 on channel 2 (Timeline's work on MIDI Channel 1, Glass Nexus is Channel 2). From my contact with Damage Control, it seems there may have been a revision of the firmware in the units to permit the CC messages for Tap tempo.

Actually I can see now why they initially went for a note message. On my unit, tapping the tap tempo button sets the speed of the modulation section. To set the delay time, you have to press and hold the tap button, and use the audio strumming feature. In Midi terms, the mod speed is the time between note on messages. For the delay, as long as the unit has received a note ON message, the audio input is for timing purposes, until a note off message is received. effectively you get 2 functions from the same message.

Next question is this, can we update the firmware?

Paul A

[Paul A]

Great News !!

I emailed Damage Control over the weekend and got a very helpful reply from Dave Fruehling. The first reply was on a Saturday evening!

It seems that my Glass Nexus was an early model and that they later changed the internal software to accept tap tempo command from a CC message. Even better news - it is possible to send the new software by a MIDI System Exclusive message.

Dave emailed me the appropriate SysEX on Monday and I have upgraded my unit in a matter of minutes. It now accepts tap tempo from an IA switch (setup as momentary as Josh described) sending CC #38.

Chugs - I suggest that you contact Dave at Damage Control, he can do a similar upgrade to the Timeline!

Kudos to Dave and Damage Control - excellent service.

Paul A