Settings Scanner
The RD-2000 is a nearly ideal MDP2 target, since every parameter can be directly addressed by Sysex, or individually requested to update MDP2 settings. (Although a few are stored in different format, and need to be transformed — more on this in another Tip.)
However, the RD-2000 seems to choke with more than eight simultaneous Sysex requests. And multiple buttons to load a tab are clunky.
Solution one was to use both On and Off action of the sub controls to read two values per sub (separate Midi on and off settings), with the user button action providing the time delay. This allows up to 16 settings with one button.
I tried with StreamByter, but this would be lots of coding to determine which Sysex to delay. And delays are cranky at present.
Solution two: use the “Snap to Value” super control property with a Named Ticks subcontrol to load settings.
- “Scanner” knob, type sysex, V in sysex for the memory locations you are scanning
- Named ticks, with the Midi Values filling in the required V above (I have used one and two byte Vs)
- Repeat the first value in the list as the last value - the scan “parks” on this value, and will miss headed other direction
- Remember that Midi is seven bit, and built in spreadsheet hex functions will give incorrect values for two or more bytes
- Midi receive off, do not select “send on only”
- “Relay” button
- Toggle
- Midi off: 0, on: 128 (to scan entire range of sub control)
- Midi receive off
- Super control, sub control is “scanner” knob above
- Snap to value, choose appropriate value (I usually use 2 sec). Do not select “send on only”
This gives a single control that can send an arbitrary number of sysex requests at a measured rate.
The scan transmits in both on and off directions. (Momentary does not give useful results.)
The “scanner” messages are fixed format, with different values substituted for the V. If you have different message formats, add additional “scanner” sub controls for the different format types.
You may have a few values to load that are different length, or different format.
- Do not make these other buttons sub of the “relay” button, or they will busily keep sending the same value during the scan.
- Instead, make a “master” load toggle, with the “relay” as a sub, along with the other items being loaded.
- These other subs have to be toggle, if needed, use the same on and off value.
- Again do not select send on only, since they have to send on both on and off actions.
- Midi Receive off on master, unless you want to trigger a load remotely.
Bonus:
- instead of having to craft NN individual sysex load buttons, you now have a single button, loaded from spreadsheet. Even if you do not need the time delay, this can simplify layouts. For example, a 6 x 8 mixer panel matched with just two controls.
- interesting effects — I load a 8 x 6 mixer relay in columns, then across the bottom row.
