Digitech GSP 1101 & VL Ground Control Pro HELP!

[Jeremy]

Hey all,
I recently purchased a used GSP 1101 unit from a fellow canadian and am having GREAT difficulty trying to get it to work properly. It has the C48 firmware.

I run a Rivera KR 100 rig with a Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro and a Ernie Ball Volume pedal (expression pedal) to control everything (Rivera, Eventide Timefactor, Axess GRX4 & Digitech GSP1101). I've setup the GSP1101 to be the 4 cable method (before amp, and in effects loop) to use only the effects and none of the Internal Preamps.

The first 'hurdle' I'm facing is that I am trying to set it up as 4 presets/bank allowing me to have the 8 Instant Access switches. I've managed to get a Whammy preset created but cannot figure out for the life of me how to get it setup as an Instant Access switch and work with the Expression Pedal?? I can going the PC route in a Preset, but I also want it to work via CC so I can call it up anytime like a 'Stompbox.' It just seems that the Expression Pedal is not working and I'm not sure if there is something I have to do with the GSP1101...... I also cannot locate a menu or parameter to assign individual presets a CC message #, it only seems to be global?

Second 'hurdle' is that I created a EH Phaser preset to use, and everytime I call it up on a Preset (PC message) it's silent. For some reason the Pre-Volume keeps defaulting to 0 even though I save it as 99...... I have no idea what the heck is going on there either......

Please help!

[JJ Rodriguez]

I bet the guy who sold you that 1101 was a handsome devil.

Unfortunately I never tried my GCP with the 1101 since I had the Control 2, but I had difficulty getting IA to work (The toe switch on the control 2) with the 1101. I know it's possible... but programming the 1101 is tricky. You might have better luck at the Digitech user forums: http://www.mustbebeta.com/generalforum/

[Jeremy]

I bet the guy who sold you that 1101 was a handsome devil.

Unfortunately I never tried my GCP with the 1101 since I had the Control 2, but I had difficulty getting IA to work (The toe switch on the control 2) with the 1101. I know it's possible... but programming the 1101 is tricky. You might have better luck at the Digitech user forums: http://www.mustbebeta.com/generalforum/

Hehe, he sure is! I'll be checking there next and a Guy on HRI suggested I download the C48 Patch Editor so I'll try that avenue as well to see if I can create some sort of luck with this badboy!

[JohnClark]

The CC/Controller Map section of the 1101 manual seems to at least get you to the menu for assigning CC numbers for various functions.

[Jeremy]

The CC/Controller Map section of the 1101 manual seems to at least get you to the menu for assigning CC numbers for various functions.

I've managed to get myself a Phaser to work and a Tremolo setting. I still cannot figure out the Whammy though. I am trying to have my #1 IA a Whammy setting but the Expression pedal doesn't work when I activate it? Is that something I have to program through the GSP 1101? I have the Whammy functional in one of my presets.

Also, I have the Phaser working as #2 IA but when I have call it up in one of my presets, it doesn't turn off when I switch to the next preset?

[JohnClark]

The Expression Pedals are programmed within Ground Control Pro presets. You will likely also need to do some programming on the 1101 in order for it to know what to do with the messages.

For the Phaser example I guess I need some clarification...

Also, I have the Phaser working as #2 IA but when I have call it up in one of my presets, it doesn't turn off when I switch to the next preset?

Do you mean that the Phaser effect within the 1101 does not shut off when going to the next preset or that the Phaser button on the Ground Control Pro does not shut off when going to the next preset?

[Jeremy]

The Expression Pedals are programmed within Ground Control Pro presets. You will likely also need to do some programming on the 1101 in order for it to know what to do with the messages.

Hmmm, so to get the Whammy to work as my IA switch #1, I'll have to figure it out through the GSP 1101 correct? I'll go through the Manual to see if it helps with that then.

Do you mean that the Phaser effect within the 1101 does not shut off when going to the next preset or that the Phaser button on the Ground Control Pro does not shut off when going to the next preset?

Yes, the Phaser effect within the 1101 going from one preset to the next does not disengage. For example (how I have it setup):
Preset1: Rhythm channel w/ Lo-Fi effect (Axess GRX-4 loop #4 programmed as a GCX loop)
Preset2: Rhythm channel w/ Phaser (GSP 1101)
Preset3: Rhythm Channel (Dry)
Preset4: Clean Channel (Dry)
When I go from GCPro Preset 2 to 3, the Phaser (within GSP 1101) does not shut off which I find odd, as it should disengage without having to create some sort of Bypass preset correct?

[JohnClark]

You will need to find the bypass CC# for the Whammy and assign that to Instant Access button 1 just as you did for the Phaser. If it is not working then you likely have the CC# for the treadle position since Whammy is a real time sweepable effect.

You may want to set the Phaser Instant Access button to "XMIT W/PRST" or Transmit with Preset. This will allow you to assign the proper state of the Phaser with each Ground Control Pro preset.

[Jeremy]

Hey John,
I am still having no luck getting the Expression Pedal to work through the Instant Access switch...... The GSP1101 manual is extremely vague on MIDI programming. Hell I can't even access all of my Instant Access effects from one band to the other as the GSP1101 isn't setup for Global so I can't figure out how to program that either.....

This unit is becoming quite infuriating. All I've done is struggle with it for 3 weeks now.

[JohnClark]

I think this is perhaps a terminology mixup...

The Ground Control Pro Instant Access button will send the bypass/enable Control Change message that will turn the effect on and off.

The Expression Pedal will send the real time data to sweep the Whammy effect using a different Control Change message. Also, the Expression Pedal's function is programmed per Ground Control Pro preset. If you have not programmed the current Ground Control Pro preset then nothing will happen when sweeping the Expression Pedal. In order to program the expression pedal target device and function, look up the Using Expression Pedals section under Edit Preset in the Ground Control Pro manual.

If that does not help you then answer these two things for me and I will try to walk you through the Ground Control Pro setup steps...
1. What is the Control Change command for controlling the bypass of the Whammy on the 1101?
2. What is the CC command for controlling the Whammy sweep on the 1101?