• Registered: 2012-02-04
  • Posts: 11

Topic: Patch changer tip

I just thought I'd throw out a tip on an elegant solution to fluidly changing patches. I've been using a Tech 21 "midi mouse" (link below) for probably 8 years now. I think I started using it with the VoicePrism then the Voiceworks and now my VoiceLive2.

It does one thing and does it well. It allows you to change your patches by staging the next one you want to use and then recalling it with one tap of your foot when you're ready. This is sweet because you can stage a NONCONSECUTIVE patch as the next song in your set and do it at a time other than after the song you've just performed. For instance, I'm the lead singer in my band and I'll start the show on patch 11, but the next song on the list is patch 28. Before the show starts I'll have 28 ready to go. Then during the second song I'll look at my set list and see that the next song is patch 4 so I'll scroll to that patch on the midi mouse at some point during the song (usually an intro or solo of the current song).

It's about $100, runs on a single 9V that lasts me a year, and hooks up via a midi cable from the midi mouse to the midi in port of the VL2.

http://tech21nyc.com/products/effects/midimouse.html

Last edited by abzurd (2012-02-07 18:13:13)

  • Jeepers
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  • Registered: 2012-02-03
  • Posts: 51

Re: Patch changer tip

Those are awesome and handy - used them when I did more electronic music and needed control over rack gear -

But there is an even easier solution with the VL2 -   There are almost 200 empty slots in the VL2 for patches - just build your set up there somewhere!  Then you can use the VL2's already built-in switches for preset up/down instead of having another switch do the same thing.

To re-organize your presets, hit 'store' on a recalled patch and change the number at 'store to' to put them in order....or even use Voicesupport!

  • From: Victoria, BC
  • Registered: 2011-07-25
  • Posts: 739

Re: Patch changer tip

Heya,

Just like Jeepers said, using VoiceSupport is perfect for what you're currently using the MIDI mouse to do. Before your set, just re-order the presets in the order you'll be playing the songs that night and "appy changes". Voila! All of your presets are consecutive and you can just step through them in order.

Cheers,
Craig

Craig @ TC-Helicon's Website

  • Registered: 2012-02-04
  • Posts: 11

Re: Patch changer tip

To each his own, but sorry guys, I completely disagree. I'm not going to reprogram my VL2 before every show then stick to that exact list. We skip, change the order of, take requests and otherwise don't go right down the list. If the VL2 had a "scroll feature" that would be great, but it doesn't so I made it so it does. I bought the VL2 to enhance my performance not relegate it to a static list.

I love my VL2, but there are 3 things that have annoyed me from day one. In order they are:

1 - The harmony button is in a very silly location, dead center of the unit. You must look down every time you hit the harmony or you end up hitting the step or double button instead of, or in addition to, hitting the harmony button. The logical location is on one of the bottom corners where the foot could overlap with "air" and not interfere with other buttons

2 - The solution to #1 is an external pedal, but with the latest firmware I can no longer go patch to patch without harmonies on by default. I have to step on the external pedal prior prior to using the patch to unlatch the harmony. I'll probably go back to the previous firmware

3 - Lack of scrolling function as mentioned earlier. Having this flexibility is important to me.

Last edited by abzurd (2012-02-08 13:19:28)

  • Jeepers
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  • Registered: 2012-02-03
  • Posts: 51

Re: Patch changer tip

You are right - to each his own, its not really about agreeing or disagreeing at this point - just points of view, right?  I'm glad to see someone else put a MidiMouse to good use!!

I'm just saying - no need to reprogram anything - even if it takes seconds!   If you played 25 songs and had 25 presets you use, by grouping them somewhere else on their own you are still only going up and down a few presets even if you do skip them - I've never had to go more than 3 or 4 presets up or down, even with an impromptu set change or request thrown in.   I don't necessarily have individual patches for every song - there are 6-8 that cover a lot of tunes between turning effects blocks off, then I jump to the other ones that require something really specific...

  • Registered: 2012-02-04
  • Posts: 11

Re: Patch changer tip

Jeepers wrote:

You are right - to each his own, its not really about agreeing or disagreeing at this point - just points of view, right?  I'm glad to see someone else put a MidiMouse to good use!!

I'm just saying - no need to reprogram anything - even if it takes seconds!   If you played 25 songs and had 25 presets you use, by grouping them somewhere else on their own you are still only going up and down a few presets even if you do skip them - I've never had to go more than 3 or 4 presets up or down, even with an impromptu set change or request thrown in.   I don't necessarily have individual patches for every song - there are 6-8 that cover a lot of tunes between turning effects blocks off, then I jump to the other ones that require something really specific...

I've had my presets grouped together for 10+ years on whatever it is I've used for harmonies. It's simply not good enough for me. With 200 active songs and 45 being played on any given night, I have maybe 50 active presets. A good bit of the time I just step up or down the patches with the VL2, but also a good bit of the time I stage the next patch, which could be 40 patches away. It's nice to be able to stage these when nobody is looking at me versus at the end of a song.

I will say VL2 is nice in that I can use a general patch where the harmonies are derived from the guitar input. I run an aux send from the mixer into the VL2 and with bass, guitar and keys in it. It works well for a lot of songs, but not all and keeps the patch changing down.

Last edited by abzurd (2012-02-09 05:51:48)

  • Jeepers
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  • Registered: 2012-02-03
  • Posts: 51

Re: Patch changer tip

Good idea for sure then with that many tunes!!! whew!  It just always sounds to me like people don't organize their presets and complain about the difficulty in getting from preset 3 to preset 189 or something....sounds like you've got it under control!

And if your VL2 is past a year and out of warranty...and you are feeling a little daring...it's pretty easy to open it up and re-wire the switches to assign them where you want!!  The wires that go to them don't carry audio, so if you have to cut/lengthen them there is no shielding to worry about...all the switches are the same - just 2 wires to each switch.

I put the 'Shortcut' switch in the bottom right as I feel the same about it as you do about the Harmony...impossible to tap a tempo without my heel down.

Last edited by Jeepers (2012-02-09 06:30:57)

  • Registered: 2012-02-04
  • Posts: 11

Re: Patch changer tip

Jeepers wrote:

And if your VL2 is past a year and out of warranty...and you are feeling a little daring...it's pretty easy to open it up and re-wire the switches to assign them where you want!!  The wires that go to them don't carry audio, so if you have to cut/lengthen them there is no shielding to worry about...all the switches are the same - just 2 wires to each switch.

Yep, I got one of the first VL2's so that's a damn good idea that I never considered. I still would rather have the sustain pedal as I can tuck the VL2 up against the monitor and nobody sees it, but I don't see the current functionality of hitting the pedal happening. I may turn all the harmonies off on the patches forcing me to tap the harmony button before they'll work with the pedal. The benefit there is that forgetting to do that and not having harmonies is less noticeable than starting a song or talking between numbers with full harmonies on. I also may just try and go back to the previous firmware.

BTW, since upgrading the firmware last week, every other time I turn on the VL2 I get loud constant sound that can only be described as "bagpipe like". I'm wondering if it's because I have the pedal plugged in when I'm booting it up. Oddly though I can turn it off and back on and the sound is gone.