FG as a midi controller

16 Mar 2009, 23:19

Hey all,

I've had a search for previous threads on these issues but can't find anything - sorry if this has been covered before, because I fear it could be basic stuff I don't know.

1) I want to use the FG as a midi controller - complete with knobs and sliders - for software instruments in Reason and Logic. Is there anyway I can map these?

2) When sequencing the G in a DAW (I use Logic) it can be achieved with external midi or by using the FG editor as a software instrument (which gives you real time control over knobs and sliders even with the local off). Question is: what does everyone else do? Have you experienced pros and cons of each method?

Appreciate your thoughts - cheers!

Bonython

Re: FG as a midi controller

17 Mar 2009, 04:23

1) Initiate a new live set and go to the [control] screen, I believe it's button F4. There you can set all the midi CC messages that you want your sliders and knobs to send when you touch them.
Look up in your Reason/Logic manual which functions listen to which midi CC messages.

Yeah, that is actually a cumbersome way to install everything. Some software sequencers have a "learn" function so it's the other way around: they adapt to the incoming midi CC message.

2) I use external mode and no virtual plugin instance.
This is because everytime I change something in the plugin there's this bar that says 'please wait'. That's killing my inspiration.

Re: FG as a midi controller

20 Mar 2009, 23:05

Hi r4uz,

Thanks for your reply. What you said makes sense and I've been able to tell Reason to "listen" for control data, e.g. CC74 on its Subtractor frequency filter slider, and I've assigned slider #1 on the FG to CC74.

However, although I can play a note in Reason with the FG keys, I'm getting no activity inside Reason at all from the slider #1 (in Live mode as you say). I'm connected with USB.

I realise this could be a setting in Reason or on the Fantom, but I want to make sure I have my FG settings right...

Maybe I need to adjust my FG system settings? I've tried local on/off (no effect, as I'm not taking audio out of the FG for this exercise). I've tried adjusting Control Change channels from 16 to 1.

Any extra help would be magic...

Thanks!!

Re: FG as a midi controller

20 Mar 2009, 23:44

Wow - I worked out how to do this and it's so easy. I ended up watching Dan's midi controller video again which is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SapclBJwt8&feature=channel_page.

I'm not sure why I hadn't tried exactly this before - or maybe I thought I had... anyway, never doubt that Dan's the man

So, I used STUDIO mode EXTERNAL. Keyboard Sw Ch1 on... And the controllers just work (i.e. they control paramaters like cutoff inside my Reason software synth). I can then program different control change numbers in Reason and the FG F4/Control section to get the 4 x knobs and 8 x sliders doing what I want for that sound so I can complete my Reason homework