Controleur Midi

[Alysa Guillama]

Iwasn't sure where to post this idea, but here goes...

I just saw this today. An open source app (midi2lr) that lets you control LR via a midi controller. The obvious benefits are that you can have a hardware or virtual (think IPad based) device with dedicated analog controls (sliders, buttons, toggles, etc.) custom tailored to interact with AP.

Hmmm.... this is interesting... we approached another company that made specific controllers for photo-editing software a while ago and nothing came of it, maybe we could do something ourselves to enable MIDI controllers instead?... We'll have a chat in the office about it when we get a minute - thank you! :)

@Happy Kitten: Glad to hear this may be something of interest to the team. It easily could be an additional SKU complementing your other products. I'd definitely be interested in contributing to a MIDI2AP open-source project/effort. Could your test harness (which I assume is API driven) be extended/re-worked to facilitate a quick prototype/POC?

I just found out about MIDI controllers being used for Lightroom, and that would absolutely get things done faster. Plus I am feeling wrist strain more and more after hours of using a mouse every day so that alone would be worth the investment for me.

The full Resolve control panel is $30k, but there are cheaper and less space-consuming panels, like the ones from Tangent, or Blackmagic Design's own recently released Mini and Micro panels, which come in at roughly $3000 and $1000 respectively if I recall correctly.

They are all centered around trackballs for a traditional three-way Lift/Gamma/Gain color corrector, which Affinity currently lacks, but it would be a very useful feature even without a control panel, so it would be worth adding anyway.

This is the one thing that stops me using Affinity Photo for everyday use. My workflow with Lightroom controlled by the Native Instruments Maschine is so fast and intuitive that I can't leave their horrid pricing structure. Ironically Adobe didn't even invent it.

Yeah, 0-127 would kind of defeat the object. I was thinking about the midi controllers these days that 'endless' knobs, but then they would still just max out to 127 once you'd turned enough, then any further turning would do nothing :l

There shouldn't be an issue with MIDI value ranges. You can check out this link on midi2lightroom.com for a detailed explanation. The gist is that the interface controls the settings based on the type of "function" being mapped. Control settings/values are user-definable so can map to -M to +M as needed. The software interface also sets the controller's value/knob when switching between photos, ie. syncing knob's value auto-magically to match the photo's current values.

Not having any detailed knowledge of the midi interface/specs, I can't speak directly to your question of 128 value support. However, it would seem the actual resolution supported is greater than 128 discreet values based on actual usage. As Dan Moore writes, "the difference now is that midi controllers like the X-Touch Mini use encoder knobs which turn indefinitely and use an LED fan to indicate value. When connected to Lightroom using Midi2LR the encoder knobs update from photo to photo based on the given property." Effectively, using midi2lr and Behringer X-Touch Editor (PC only), one can set arbitrary value ranges: 0 to 100, -100 to 100, 0 to 16,387 with step/scale values. The step/scale effectively controlling the "sensitivity" of the knobs. Since the knobs turn indefinitely the mapping software controls the range of values being transmitted.

And then buy a bunch of buttons, knobs and rotaries and build your own controller, just like you want it! All it requires is that board, wires and then wanted buttons and other parts. Not even soldering is required (if someone is so afraid about that).

All it requires is that Affinity Photo would recognize a normal USB joysticks with 8 analog axis, 32 buttons / 16 rotaries and even one 8-way hat. And have support to have multiple of those devices (not just one).

Hmmm.... this is interesting... we approached another company that made specific controllers for photo-editing software a while ago and nothing came of it, maybe we could do something ourselves to enable MIDI controllers instead?... We'll have a chat in the office about it when we get a minute - thank you!

I'm also an LR user who would like to switch to Affinity Photo and one of the reasons I did not do it yet is an ability to use MIDI controller. I'm using Behringer Xtouch mini and I must say it is 2-3 times faster with the controller to edit photos in LR. It would probably be even more when using it on a daily basis.

I would like to be able to control a cue list or submaster via midi control. Basically in the end I would like to be able to send an audio signal to a midi controller which can either bump subs or trigger a cue list to go on the ION.

His box may or may not do what you want, but he's pretty great at helping solve these kind of midi questions. The box has multiple inputs / outputs that depending on firmware do all sorts of protocol changes. (Midinotes to DMX, Midinotes to DMX Scene, DMX to MSC or Midi Notes, RS-232 to DMX etc...) It may also be overkill.

I don't have a whole lot of experience but the manual states that the 60w only has USB MIDI while the other two have the MIDI DIN plug as well. I believe you can plug a MIDI foot board into the DIN plug. I'm guessing you are stuck with the laptop for the 60w. I believe the Pod Go is the same. I'm pretty sure one of the replies in the 60w or 100w thread you mention went with the 100w specifically for that reason.

There are plenty of MIDI controllers that use USB only, but most of them require a "host" (iPhone, computer, tablet, etc) to handle the USB/MIDI transmission. The Catalyst 60 has a female B connector, which accepts a male B connector coming from a computer/host (A connector side). Without a host, you will need to add a low-cost standalone host, such as a USB Host Controller Board linked below. I use a hobbytronics board sometimes with a Korg nanokontrol and it works great. You may need to shop around for the type of USB controller you need (need knobs? switches? faders? footswitches?).

You really need a MIDI USB to MIDI USB host device, and I can't seem to find any online any more. I'm guessing the market is too small? There are probably some Raspberry Pi or Arduino folks who have made them. You essentially just need a little host board that will accept USB-A input and send MIDI out via a female USB-A (which would connect to the Catalyst USB B in).

Re the Airstep, yes ... their website specifically says it will serve as a USB host, so it should work. Expensive though! My old host board was around $30 (but then had to add a USB connector and a case).

Thanks Soundog. Cheaper (but not much!) alternatives to the Airstep are the Ampero Hotone Controller or the Morningstar MC3. Neither say they specifically act as a host but both can transmit MIDI via USB B so I assume these would work too? Both rely on mains or USB Bus power though, so that's not quite the elegant solution I was after, whereas the Airstep is at least rechargeable (I can't imagine MIDI footswitches use much power?)

Regarding the host-board, I'm still not clear on how that works; is the idea that if you are using a non-host MIDI controller, the host-board goes between the controller and the Cat 60 to make the controller act as the host?

The Ampero has a female B connector, so would be acting as a "peripheral", which you would connect to a "host" (computer, phone, tablet). So no for that one. The MC3 also has a female B, but it has 4 TRS (1/4" stereo jack) MIDI outputs. That's interesting. You would need to contact them to see if it might work to create a TRS to USB cable. I kinda doubt it, but check.

The host board shown is a model made to connect to a 5-pin MIDI jack. And yes it needs a power supply. So power in, then you connect a USB controller up to the big USB A female connector, and wire up a 5-pin DIN connector for the MIDI out.

I'm with you, the Cat 100W might be a lot easier if you don't want to use it with a computer or phone, and for $100 more avoids the headache all together. Plus, the other fellow said you could run it at 50W if needed. Tempting, right?

Very tempting - and you can also run it at 0.5 watts, which on the 60 seemed plenty loud enough for home use. Then I have to work out if I keep the Powercab and use the 100W as a second speaker for a stereo rig, or sell the Powercab and accept the Cat 100 allows me to power-amp my Headrush albeit not as FRFR :oI

My Headrush (MX5) uses TRS MIDI ports, so I'm actually going to try a TRS to USB C cable, with a USB C to USB B (male) adaptor to see if the Headrush will transmit PC messages to the 60W. I'll report back!

Again though both the MX5 and the Morningstar require power (as does the Ampero in fact) so not my ideal solution as the Catalyst seems to be all about being a simple plug-n-play sort of amp, so in keeping with that I would really like to be able to use a simple footswitch (ie one with no power cables etc) in to the amp to access all the 12 channels, and maybe to turn delay on/off - and that's really all I need the MIDI for. So it's a shame that more channels aren't available using the A/B channel-change footswitch...

Can anyone tell me how I can send MIDI in to the Cat 60W USB via a Macbook. I want to test/play around with the MIDI on the amp, to make sure my cables are good before I try the same cables using a MIDI footswitch (which I'm yet to get)

For clarity, I'm using a MacBook Pro, with GarageBand. All I want to do is send a simple Program Change message from the MacBook to the amp. I don't have Logic or anything like that, so it might be that I'm limited by the software. But surely the MacBook is capable of sending a simple PC message to the amp?

Pocket MIDI (to send and monitor MIDI messages). Free. There are also other software MIDI command "senders". I like TouchOSC, but it takes time to use it. If you can fly a commercial jet, I'm sure you could figure it out.

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