Voodoo Lab

I need some help on figuring out if I am doing something wrong with the Ground Control Pro.

I have a Ground Control Pro configured for instant access, buttons 1 through 8 for instant access and the and the buttons on the bottom row for program changes.

My setup consists of a Randall RM4 preamp with four channels and a Digitech GSP1101 that I use as a multi-effect rack unit. The Randall RM4 is configured to listen to MIDI channel 1 and the GSP to listen to MIDI channels 16.

I configure the Ground Control Pro to send CC commands 1 through 8 via the 8 instant access switches to the GSP, and send Program Changes 1 through 4 via the bottom four Program Access buttons to the RM4.

It all works just fine.. I can turn effects on the GSP on and off using the instant access switches and I can change to the preamp I want to use on the RM4 using the program change buttons on the bottom row.. no issues there.

The problems is that if I am current on the clean channel (program 1) and turn one or more effects on, for example Instant Access switch 1 turns the Noise Gate on, the LED for the Instant Access button 1 is lit, indicating the Noise Gate is engaged… so far so good…
But if I then send Program Change 3 to the RM4 to use the crunch channel, the LED for the Instant Access button 1 goes off.. .the effect is still on and active on the GSP, which is what I want, but the LED is not on… and if while on Program Change 3 (Crunch) I step on the Instant Access 1 switch, it will turn the LED back on but won’t turn the effect off… I have to step on the switch again to turn the effect off… it seems that stepping on the Instant Access switch just “syncs” the status of the current effect (or just send a “on” command but it has no effect on the GSP) and then I can turn the effect on and off as expected.

This happens even if I go back from Program Change 3 (crunch) to Program Change 1 (clean).. so once I turn an effect on, as soon as I send a Program Change, even if it is the same one the controller was on, the LED goes off.

What I am after is to control my preamp via the Program Change switches independently of the effects being controlled via the Instant Access switches… So if I turn effect on CC1 on, it should stay on even after I step on any of the Program Change switches.

Have I misunderstood the Instant Access feature?
Am I doing something wrong?

When I power up the Ground Control Pro it displays the message “Ground Control Pro By Digital Music – Version 1.12”… do I have an outdated firmware chip?

If I can’t address this simple setup, that would be a deal breaker for me.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Try this:
Step on Program Change 3 (Preset 3), then step on IA 1 so that it lights up. Hit Edit > Bank Up > Bank Down > Edit and Save (or whatever it prompts you to do to save - I don't have my GCP in front of me).
Now when you leave Preset 3 and come back to it, IA 1 should be lit and stepping on it should turn the light out and turn off the Gate in the G Major.

Thanks for the suggestion but not really what I am looking for or what I want to do...

I control the RM4 Preamp with the Program Control switches... and I control the Multi-effects rack unit with the IA switches....
What I need is complete freedom.. if for some song or a Jam I had turned on the compressor and the TS while on the preamp channel 1 (Program Controll switch 1) and then want to change my tone to the preamp channel 3 (program control switch 3), I want the GCP to remember I had the compressor and the TS IA switches on... Is that not possible? you would think that the IA switches being global, they would keep their "state" as I go from one program change to another... that is what I am after.

Sorry, I misunderstood.
Presets within the GCP will remember only what you program into them, including whether an IA switch is on/off.
If you modify a GCP preset by stepping on an IA switch, the only way it'll be lit when you change presets is if it's programmed that way already.
It sounds like what you want is for the preset switches on the GCP to behave as IA switches, which they won't do.

jecastellanos wrote:I need some help on figuring out if I am doing something wrong with the Ground Control Pro.

I have a Ground Control Pro configured for instant access, buttons 1 through 8 for instant access and the and the buttons on the bottom row for program changes.

My setup consists of a Randall RM4 preamp with four channels and a Digitech GSP1101 that I use as a multi-effect rack unit. The Randall RM4 is configured to listen to MIDI channel 1 and the GSP to listen to MIDI channels 16.

I configure the Ground Control Pro to send CC commands 1 through 8 via the 8 instant access switches to the GSP, and send Program Changes 1 through 4 via the bottom four Program Access buttons to the RM4.

It all works just fine.. I can turn effects on the GSP on and off using the instant access switches and I can change to the preamp I want to use on the RM4 using the program change buttons on the bottom row.. no issues there.

The problems is that if I am current on the clean channel (program 1) and turn one or more effects on, for example Instant Access switch 1 turns the Noise Gate on, the LED for the Instant Access button 1 is lit, indicating the Noise Gate is engaged… so far so good…
But if I then send Program Change 3 to the RM4 to use the crunch channel, the LED for the Instant Access button 1 goes off.. .the effect is still on and active on the GSP, which is what I want, but the LED is not on… and if while on Program Change 3 (Crunch) I step on the Instant Access 1 switch, it will turn the LED back on but won’t turn the effect off… I have to step on the switch again to turn the effect off… it seems that stepping on the Instant Access switch just “syncs” the status of the current effect (or just send a “on” command but it has no effect on the GSP) and then I can turn the effect on and off as expected.

This happens even if I go back from Program Change 3 (crunch) to Program Change 1 (clean).. so once I turn an effect on, as soon as I send a Program Change, even if it is the same one the controller was on, the LED goes off.

What I am after is to control my preamp via the Program Change switches independently of the effects being controlled via the Instant Access switches… So if I turn effect on CC1 on, it should stay on even after I step on any of the Program Change switches.

Have I misunderstood the Instant Access feature?
Am I doing something wrong?

When I power up the Ground Control Pro it displays the message “Ground Control Pro By Digital Music – Version 1.12”… do I have an outdated firmware chip?

If I can’t address this simple setup, that would be a deal breaker for me.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

You and I have the same problem.....
I too just added the GCX/ground control combo to my rack which is built around an RM4.
I'm using 2 Xpressions though for effects but I'm set up basically the same way you are and am having the same issue.
I don't think the answer has been hit on yet here....so I'll be curious if anyone else chimes in.

Here's a couple of things I'm going to check to see if I can get it to function properly. First, this issue made me wonder if changing the IA from "latch" to "momentary" would make any difference? I have a single program on the Xpressions set up to provide Chorus, verb, delay, etc, then use the IA buttons to turn the effects on and off stomp box style.
Like you, when I turn on chorus say while using module one (RM4), then hit the program button to switch to another module, the chorus stays on but the LED goes out.

It also makes me wonder if I should take the Xpressions midi change command out the preset button too? I currently have the program change buttons set to change the RM4 channels on 1....but I also have the command for the Xpressions (via 2 & 3) to stay on the single preset that I've set up for effects. Yours may already be that way but I'm going to make the change and see if that helps my dilemma any.

Please keep me in mind if you come across a fix in your experiments.....I would love to get this resolved as well and I don't think it's an issue of misguided expectations. The ground control's midi implementation guide is rather vague on some subjects.
Really cool system though! Loving it besides this little glitch (which may just be a newbie oversight on my part).

By the way, although I have a few modded modules, I have found the stock "Clean" module to be an exceptional Pedal host for overdrive and distortion pedals and have incorporated a Zen drive and Xotic BB into my rack rig now that I have the GCX. It seems every drive pedal I put in front of that stock clean sounds awesome.

Try changing the IA continous controller mode to NORMAL or XMIT W/PRSET

(gcpro_manual, page 11.)

FallenAudio wrote:Try changing the IA continous controller mode to NORMAL or XMIT W/PRSET

(gcpro_manual, page 11.)

To add to this, have a look on page 14 of the GCX manual, as stated;

"The GCX responds to MIDI Control Change messages sent on channel 16 only."

Seeing as your Digi GSP is also responding to cc's on this channel, it may be something to look at or least try your GSP on a different midi channel.

edit to add; also be sure your 1-4 presets aren't sending a program change to your GSP.