Looking for preset layout suggestions

Q & A for building and interfacing your rack gear with Ground Control Pro and GCX-based systems.
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AllanWilliams
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2013 11:12 pm

Looking for preset layout suggestions

Post by AllanWilliams »

I'm using the GCPro and looking for suggested presets and layouts for them that people find most useful.
What sounds are people setting up, how do they have them organised, and why they have them the way they do?
I've always been a pedalboard minded tap dancer, but want to shift my thinking to a more preset oriented arrangement to get the real versatility out of my system and wanting to get some recommendations on how to (or how not to) sort and arrange those sounds.

midifail
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2013 2:59 pm

Re: Looking for preset layout suggestions

Post by midifail »

Do you have Amp Switching included in your Midi System?

Right now,I have it set up like this:

I´m using the 4 Preset Mode on my GCP. With the Preset-Buttons i recall the Presets of my Timeline Delay.
The IA-Switches 5 to 7 are set up to control the switching Options on my Guitar Amp (Channel, EQ on/off, Reverb on/off ) and are set to Xmit with Preset. IA 8 engages or bypasses my Timeline - set to Xmit with Preset, too.

IA 1 -> 3 control the Looper Functions of the Delay (Rec/Play/Stop) and IA 4 is Tap Tempo.

The Tap Tempo Box i build is connected to Pedal 2 Input and controls the Solo Boost of my Amp.
Pedal 1 Input is used for an Expression Pedal. This usually controls the Dry/Wet Mix of my FX.

This Setup lets me recall dramatic Changes in Sound (from Clean with Delay and Reverb to Lead with no FX an EQ engaged) with the press of one Button, but is flexible enough to change nearly every Element of my Sound on the fly and react to the People i´m playing with.

Before this Setup, i had the Footswitch of my Amp next to the GCP.
This gave me three more free IA Switches, which i used for Undo/Redo for the Looper an Infinite Repeats for the Delay.
After some time, i recognized, that this Functions were not as important to me as being able to store Channels and EQ for my Amp.
Still missing some more IA Switches, though.

AllanWilliams
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2013 11:12 pm

Re: Looking for preset layout suggestions

Post by AllanWilliams »

Hi Midifail.
I do have amp switching. My physical setup is 3 midi devices:
1. a Mesa Mark V amp, 3 channels via a RJM Mini Amp Gizmo (in GCX emulation mode)to do the channel switching and access to Solo on/off, Reverb on/off, EQ on/off and Mute on/off.
2. I have a GCX switching on/off my favourite stomp boxes. They aren't all in there at the moment but the ones that are: Red Witch Empress Chorus, EVH Phase, EVH Flanger, TC Flashback delay, Seymour Duncan DeJaVu delay. BB Boost and Keeley Mod Boss DS1 to go in just in case I have to play through a clean amp.
3. Eventide Ecplispe which is actually switched in/out from the GCX and selectable presets through the midi channel obviously.
Volume pedal and TC Polytune in line from the guitar to the GCX input.
GC Pro at the front to run the midi side.

Got a world of capability. Being new to the midi side tho, I'm trying to get my head around how to best organise presets in a way that is effective, efficient and easy to remember and handle in the heat of a gig.

midifail
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2013 2:59 pm

Re: Looking for preset layout suggestions

Post by midifail »

Since you have more on/off Functions than Switches on the GCP, you need to work with Presets.

Leaving the Eclipse and those Booster and OD out, you have 2^12 Variations, which is 4096 ways of combining these Functions.
The good news: Many of them do not make sense.

The question is: How much of these Functions do you need to change on the Fly?
I´d try to program Presets for every Sound used in a certain Song and put these on the bottom Row of the Switches.
Arrange these in a logical way - Intro, Verse, Bridge, Solo etc.
Next is to answer the Question, which Functions need to be changeable on the Fly:
Do you always use Channel 2 with EQ for your Intro-Sound?

I´d take a piece of paper and write down, which Functions should be changeable without reprogramming the Preset.
Do this for every Sound you have.

Those Functions with the most demand for being changed, should get a IA-Switch.
Everything else is recalled with Presets.

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