Select expression message troubleshooting

MIDI Control
1

Hi All, I have a Dunlop DVP4 Mini expression pedal, and I am trying to ensure that I have a correct understanding about switching between expression pedal messages—using select expression messages—before building a detailed setup on my MC8. I have created two presets to test this, and I am trying to troubleshoot them, but I’m not getting the results I need. I have watched both of the videos on expression pedals carefully, and it seems like I know what I am doing, but switching one target does not release expression pedal control of that target reliably, and I don’t understand why.

I have attached a screenshot of my to expression pedal presets, as well as the two corresponding MC8 presets I have placed in a bank. Below are the things that I have noticed that are happening.

For these examples, expression preset #1 controls the effect blend (wet/dry) on my Specular Tempus (LOOPS VOL) via cc 14. Expression preset #2 Controls the volume of all six tracks on my RC 600 looper (REV BLEND) via cc#2. Individually, I can make each preset work correctly; it’s the switching that seems to be the problem.

  • Each time I turn off my entire system and start it up again, the behavior of the presets is different than after I start using it. Here’s how the sequence looks:
  • LOOPS VOL on my boss RC 600 works correctly when I turn on the system. If I press the LOOPS VOL button, I still have control of the volume of all the RC 600 loops with my expression pedal. Instead, I want the MC8 to treat pressing the LOOPS VOL button to turn expression control of the RC 600 off. I should also say that at this point, REV BLEND is not simultaneously under the control of the exp pedal.
  • Starting from directly after the above actions, when I press REV BLEND, I do get the proper expression control of reverb blend from the Spec Tempus. At this point, I have no control of LOOPS VOL on the RC 600.
  • Then I press LOOPS VOL, but it does not return expression control of RC600 loop volumes to the expression pedal. Also, REV BLEND is still active, so I don’t know how to get REV BLEND to release it’s effect, to give it back to LOOPS VOL.
  • I think I should be able to disengage one of these expression functions by either pressing the respective preset button again, or by pressing the other preset button. I.e. if I press LOOPS VOL, I should no longer be controlling REV BLEND.

Can you help me identify what I might be missing?

Finally, I think I recall that I can program the MC8 give me a clear indication when an effect is engaged versus disengaged. I think there was a video on this, or perhaps a portion of a video. Can you point me toward the video?

Thanks for any ideas!!

—Adam

Expression 2 Presets
Expression 2 Presets1266×1128 140 KB

Loops Volume Bank Preset
Loops Volume Bank Preset1920×1013 112 KB

Reverb Blend Bank Preset
Reverb Blend Bank Preset1920×1016 113 KB

2

Hi, you enabled ‘toggle mode’ on your presets. That’s ok but you have to add a second message to your presets. What you already have should be set to ‘pos 1’ not to ‘both’. The new message has to be set to ‘pos 2’ and should contain a ‘select expression msg’ with none of the boxes checked. Now you can toggle between expression on and off when pressing this preset.
Enable ‘preset blink’ next to ‘toggle mode’ to get an indicator if the preset is active.
Finally go to bank settings and enable ‘clear presets’ this will disengage all presets except the last one you’ve engaged.

3

Yup, that did it, GuitaraWolf! Both presets toggle on/off as I’d hoped, and the one that is toggled blinks when it is on. Even better, I understand how each of the switches contributes to this setup, so I feel confident to dig into designing MC8 banks, setlists, etc. Thanks so much for your concise and well-written solution!!! --Adam

4

Hi GuitarWolf and All, I did run into a follow-up. For the two presets I’ve described above, LOOPS VOL & REV BLEND, I made new banks and copied these presets to those banks, but the copied presets did not allow for expression pedal control. They did function correctly otherwise. It seems like the only new variable is the new banks. I tried the new banks with “clear preset toggles on,” and then off. Neither worked. I also tried copying the preset for REV BLEND into an expression message in the new bank. Same result. Same question as yesterday: what am I missing? Side question: Am I correct that expression presets are exclusive to each bank, meaning that one bank’s expression messages can be different than another bank’s expression messages? Thanks in advance. I think I am learning, but I really appreciate the support! --Adam

5

Yes, you’ll have to set up the expression messages for each bank individually. Note that each set of expression messages (Exp1 - Exp4) is connected to a single omniport. Exp1 will only work with omniport1. Also double check if you copied your expression msg to the correct slot.

6

Now I’ve got it. I made some adjustments, and made sure I noticed when my expression message numbers changed from bank to bank. Now I’m happily building out banks with presets & exp CCs. Thanks tons!!!