What is the problem?
As a live performer, I want to recall Scene via a MIDI program change message sent from my sequencer or master keyboards, so that I can easily and reliably transition to a new song in my performance.
What should this feature achieve?
The feature is simple on the outside: Synth listens for program change messages on a dedicated “control” channel, and changes scenes accordingly.
The control channel can be added as a setting in Menu → MIDI, possible values are:
- off (default)
- USB #1…16
- Jack #1…16.
However, since scenes are referenced by name, and do not exist in numbered slots (as is the case in most in other devices), scenes need to be mapped manually to program change numbers,
The mapping view would probably be similar to program change mapping within a scene, but with 128 slots instead of just 8.
Challenges
In practice, this can lead no a number of conflicts and other problems:
- MIDI channel conflicts
- backup and program mapping conflicts
- losing changes in the current scene
As a user, I have certain expectations how device would react to such conflicts, or even bring them to my attention.
MIDI Channel Conflicts
MIDI channels for synth 1-3 are stored in a scene, and there is no simple way to prevent the control channel from overlapping with one of the synth channels. And it might even be desired that the control channel is the same as a synth channel and does not block another MIDI channel, because I guess most people have not use for changing individual sounds inside a scene.
Also a conflicts will only ever affect the scene itself, and not have side-effects on other scenes. So my expectation is, channel conflicts happen, and are ignored by Synth.
Making and Restoring Backups
Especially users who perform live need a backup that actually works, some have the habit of removing everything that os not required for a performance, but also want to get that back later without messing everything up.
As a user, I want to be able to backup and restore the mapping of scenes to program change numbers, so that I can create a backup copy of my live set,.
As a user, I want to be able to delete scenes from the SD card without corrupting the mapping, i.e. when a scene is not present on the SD card, a corresponding program change is ignored, however, when the scene is later restored to the card, sending the program change message again should recall that scene.
As a user, when I review the mapping, missing scenes should be clearly visible, so that I can decide whether that is fine, or I need to restore the scene.
When an error message is presented, the message should give me all information I need to decide what to do.
Losing Changes to a Scene
As a user performing live, I don’t want Synth to show a dialog when I trigger a scene change via MIDI, I just want the scene to change.
Are there any workarounds?
Yes, loading scenes manually.
Any links to related discussions?
No.
Any references to other products?
Many synthesizers and Grooveboxes that allow for program changes to change “scenes” (i.e. sounds and effects setup for several parts), from the top of my head:
- Elektron Analog Four, Digitakt, Digitone, Syntakt, Analog Rytm (probably others, too)
- Waldorf Blofeld, Microwave Series, Q Series
- Roland SH-4d
Conflicts are avoided by using a different paradigm: scenes and presets are not stored by name, but in numbered slots, alphabetical lists for selecting sound (if any) are created on the fly.