Problem w Prog Change on 3rd pty synths

[johndunn]

There seems to be a problem with most 3rd party synths responding to MIDI Prog and Bank change.

I know to number both the Program list and the Banks, and I have no trouble with this on the standard Scope synths or on the Modular synths. But most 3rd party synths simply don't respond to the MIDI change messages.

Anyone know what's going on?

[Shroomz~>]

It's most likely that the devices' midi inputs haven't been connected to their PresetList by the developer. Without an internal connection between the device midi input & the preset list, the preset list has no way of receiving midi data & program changing won't work. There should also be a connection made for midi ch selection. Some of my early/old free devices might have this problem if they weren't updated.

~Mark

[johndunn]

Thanks for explaining this...I wasn't sure if there was some magic trick I didn't know about that would make them work. Now I know there isn't and if MIDI Program change is required (as I do because I control everything algorithmically), the synths with this issue simply will not work for me.

Of the recent synths I've tested, all of the Creamware/Sonic Core synths work fine, as do all of John Bowen's synths.

The rest, not so much. These include:

CwModular DxCwn
Neutron Paradox
Arden Xor
Celmo Blue Wave

...all broken as far as MIDI Program Change is concerned. A pity because they are otherwise very cool synths.

[Shroomz~>]

Hi John,

I just checked & you're correct about Paradox. I sent Neutron a message to let him know about this in case nobody had already told him.

~Mark

[ReD_MuZe]

tx will post a fix soon

[johndunn]

Hi John,

I just checked & you're correct about Paradox. I sent Neutron a message to let him know about this in case nobody had already told him.

~Mark

Thanks. I usually try to notify the synth developers directly, and in the case of the Paradox I wrote a note last week in the synth's intro thread. Mostly my emails or posts on this over the past year or two have been ignored. I assume it's largely because algorithmic control is way, way in the minority so MIDI automation issues just don't get the attention of more mainstream issues.

But to some extent I think it's a chicken and egg problem. If more 3rd party synths supported automated Program & Bank change, more algorithmic composers (there are a few, and Scope is easily the best platform for it) would be buying those synths and/or making those donations.

FWIW I do try to get the Scope word out to the (mostly old fart academic types) who are the super users of my algorithmic software. So maybe the chickens will eventually come home to roost. Especially once XITE and SPF v5 is released, and Scope doesn't look so much like an abandoned product.

[Shroomz~>]

Thanks. I usually try to notify the synth developers directly, and in the case of the Paradox I wrote a note last week in the synth's intro thread. Mostly my emails or posts on this over the past year or two have been ignored. I assume it's largely because algorithmic control is way, way in the minority so MIDI automation issues just don't get the attention of more mainstream issues.

I doubt very much that anyone has ignored emails or posts on this issue deliberately & if they did, it's not likely that they would be ignored for any reason related to algorithmic control. Program changing of presets is an absolute essential both for keyboard players using Scope synths & for musicians or producers sequencing Scope devices from Cubendo, Logic or whatever.

If more 3rd party synths supported automated Program & Bank change, more algorithmic composers (there are a few, and Scope is easily the best platform for it) would be buying those synths and/or making those donations.

Well, you listed 4 synths that didn't work with program changes & 3 of those 4 will be fixed. I'm not sure if Celmo is still supporting his Scope devices though, so there's the possibility that one won't be fixed.

[johndunn]

Well 3 out of 4 is pretty good if it happens. Especially those three. Each one is a terrific synth, that goes well beyond something you could cobble up as a Modular patch. I look forward to being able to use them. Thanks for your traction on this.

[Neutron]

Paradox is fixed now, please re-download it.

[johndunn]

Works great, both Patch change and Bank change. Thanks! Now perhaps if you can find time you might take on the other questions I had asked when you released it a couple weeks ago? Perhaps in the original thread....

http://forums.planetz.com/viewtopic.php ... 92#p242778