New firmware/software for the GCPro

[srommes]

Alright, so after experimenting with my GCPro/GCX etc. set-up last night it looks like what I am looking for is "blind" Control Change messages, which the GCPro is not capable of. So I guess my options are to buy another GCPro and use it to control the other 1/2 of my rack until the update is made available. Once the update is made available I'll be golden with the additional two banks of 12 cc's. The other option is to buy a Liquid Foot Pro which has 16 cc buttons available plus additional "blind" Control Change messages, but is considerably more expensive.
John, do you expect the update to be made available within the next couple of months? I'm not looking for a definative date, just something to help me sway my decision as to which route to go? Thanks for all help!!

[JohnClark]

If you are wishing to control your Axess switchers then the GCX emulation described absolutely works as the blind controller numbers you need with no update or ship jumping necessary. For instance as of v1 rev3 of the CFX4 and v2 rev3 of the GRX4, the manuals state this under the Notes section...

4. For DMC Ground Control users:
CC1 = GCX#1 Loops 1 - 4
CC2 = GCX#1 Loops 5 - 8
CC3 = GCX#2 Loops 1 - 4
CC4 = GCX#2 Loops 5 - 8

An example of implementing this information would be to you set your CFX4 to CC3 as described in the Edit Operating Mode section of its manual, and set the GRX4 to CC4 as described in the Edit Operating Mode of its manual. By doing this, as well as enabling GCX#2 within your Ground Control Pro, you will have control over the four switches of the CFX4 via GCX#2 Loops 1-4 and control over the loops of the GRX4 via GCX#2 Loops 5-8. The Switchers will need to be set to MIDI channel 16 (they both default to this) and you will want to make sure you have not named any devices within the Device Name/Channel section of the Ground Control Pro to MIDI channel 16. We will get you up and running!

[JohnClark]

One feature I'm hoping for is a bit of programability for the expression pedal ports, as well as being able to possibly calibrate an expression pedal.

I have an expression pedal with a toe switch, would like to basically set the toe switch as an IA button (momentary switch on the pedal, configured as latching in the preset). That way, can use the expression pedal as a volume, then hit the toe switch, go to wah, then have it reset per preset. I can get it to behave like a traditional wah now since it has a latching switch, so the value gets sent to my controller and I can click it on and off, but it's nice having it all reset on patch changes on my Axe FX.

The Ground Control Pro v2 software will have some taper curves as well as a switch setting so it can reliably read a momentary switch... currently the Expression Pedal ports will only accept a latching switch as the "bounce" of a momentary switch is misinterpreted as input data due to the Expression Pedal port's sensitivity required for the intended purpose of connecting a sweepable pedal. You could probably do what you wish IF the MIDI device being controlled allowed for such control.
Example: Say you connected the Treadle of your pedal to the P1 jack on the Ground Control Pro and the Switch in this pedal to the P2 jack on the Ground Control Pro. What you describe would require that the AxeFX would always load a patch with Volume set to be controlled via the Control Change assigned on P1, but once the toe switch connected to P2 is depressed, a different Control Change is sent that tells the AxeFX to instead affect a Wah rather than Volume using the same Control Change number P1 is assigned to send.

[srommes]

John,
I fully understand that I can control both the GRX4 and CFX4 with a number of different cc's groups (80-83, 84-87, 88-91 and 92-95) as well as with program changes. I appreciate your explanation but the issue isn't the number of cc's available per preset but rather having control of their status with each preset change. For example, with my set-up on every preset I have my GRX4 using cc's 80-83, CFX4 using cc's 84-87 and my GCX using cc's 88-95. The problem I have is with the GCPro, I can only control 8 of the 16 assigned cc's per preset, unless I want to activate 2 cc's at once with one button. That isn't an option for me because I may only want 1 of those 2 cc's activated at a given time. What I meant by blind controllers is within the software, you can assign the on/off status of a cc per preset without it being linked to one of the eight buttons on the GCPro. For example, say on any given preset I want the eight buttons on the GCPro to control the on/off status of the GRX4(cc's 80-83) and CFX4(cc's 84-87). I also want to assign the on/off status of the GCX(cc's 88-95) but I don't want to link them to the eight buttons on the GCPro because I don't want there status changed within a preset, only when I change presets. Unless I'm missing something you are saying, I don't see how I can control things in the manner I need with just one GCPro. Thanks!

[JJ Rodriguez]

One feature I'm hoping for is a bit of programability for the expression pedal ports, as well as being able to possibly calibrate an expression pedal.

I have an expression pedal with a toe switch, would like to basically set the toe switch as an IA button (momentary switch on the pedal, configured as latching in the preset). That way, can use the expression pedal as a volume, then hit the toe switch, go to wah, then have it reset per preset. I can get it to behave like a traditional wah now since it has a latching switch, so the value gets sent to my controller and I can click it on and off, but it's nice having it all reset on patch changes on my Axe FX.

The Ground Control Pro v2 software will have some taper curves as well as a switch setting so it can reliably read a momentary switch... currently the Expression Pedal ports will only accept a latching switch as the "bounce" of a momentary switch is misinterpreted as input data due to the Expression Pedal port's sensitivity required for the intended purpose of connecting a sweepable pedal. You could probably do what you wish IF the MIDI device being controlled allowed for such control.
Example: Say you connected the Treadle of your pedal to the P1 jack on the Ground Control Pro and the Switch in this pedal to the P2 jack on the Ground Control Pro. What you describe would require that the AxeFX would always load a patch with Volume set to be controlled via the Control Change assigned on P1, but once the toe switch connected to P2 is depressed, a different Control Change is sent that tells the AxeFX to instead affect a Wah rather than Volume using the same Control Change number P1 is assigned to send.

Awesome, that's all I wanted to know. I believe James Lebihan had contacted you a little while ago about this, I was his customer trying to get this all setup.

[JohnClark]

What I meant by blind controllers is within the software, you can assign the on/off status of a cc per preset without it being linked to one of the eight buttons on the GCPro.

A Ground Control Pro preset does exactly this IF you enable both GCX#1 and GCX#2 within you Ground Control Pro. The state of these 16 loops/switches will programmable within a Ground Control Pro preset regardless of what any Instant Access buttons are set to control. Please give me a call when you are with this gear, if you can, and I will explain as well as walk you through getting this set up correctly.

[srommes]

Will do John and thanks for your patience.