BCR Performer 1.6

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 10:18 pm

djsynchro wrote:Ok I got Midi Yoke going dumped sysex preset 3 (because i want to use the buttons to control shit) I got Midi going to Live etc. but the display only turns knobs on the top 8 encoders, lower ones, I do get Midi going to live and it maps in Live but no change on the GUI... any idea?

Could you rephrase that please? I'm not sure which bit isn't working.
Which preset selection method are you going for? Push-encoder? That requires the first sysex file.

If you plan on just using one preset and use the 8th encoder as you normally would, you're probably missing a button to select preset 1, which causes GUI updates.

Anyway, the next version will have a better preset selection management and should refresh itself without glitches. I hope to have it out within a few weeks.

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 10:20 pm

CHARLIE! wrote:This program looks outstanding.

However, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to set it up. I tried following the instructions on the download page but did not have very much success.

Is there any chance someone could write up a complete idiots guide to using this?

The next version will come with a video tutorial on how to set it up and how to install sysex files to the BCR. Hopefully in a few weeks.

synnack · Post by **synnack** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 10:30 pm

Any chance we'll see an rss feed on covert ops some day?

Would be a great way to stay up speed on what you release/post.

CHARLIE! · Post by **CHARLIE!** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 11:29 pm

hoffman2k wrote:
CHARLIE! wrote:This program looks outstanding.

However, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to set it up. I tried following the instructions on the download page but did not have very much success.

Is there any chance someone could write up a complete idiots guide to using this?
The next version will come with a video tutorial on how to set it up and how to install sysex files to the BCR. Hopefully in a few weeks.

That would be massive. I tried following the instructions and got caught up at some point. I loaded the blank sysex but overall I wasnt really understanding how to make it work.

djsynchro · Post by **djsynchro** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 12:03 am

i dumped another sysex preset and now all GUI knobs respond when I turn knobs... OK I will re-read the threads tomorrow, not sure how it's all supposed to work and then i'll be back with more questions. looking great so far! Happy X-mas

musiker01 · Post by **musiker01** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:11 pm

Hi Björn,

I just bought a BCR 2000 and have checked out your app. It looks great and I think it's going to help me a lot. So, thank you very much!

There are still some things that don't seem to work though. One thing is, I can't get the text label files to load.

The more serious problem is this:

You can do what you wish to do, that is having your encoders on channels 2 and leave everything else on channel 1 to be used with the BCR Performer. The application will only use the messages it needs. And all the controllable parameters are on channel 1.

At the moment, the signal goes as follows: BCR > application > Live > Application > BCR

As it stands, you could just enable the BCR as a remote input in Live and assign those parameter on channel 2 to whatever you want. But you'll have to disable this input when you assign parameters with the BCR Performer. Because otherwise Live will receive the message on 2 channels. Channel 1 and whatever preset the App is set to.

I want to have the four buttons on the lower right side control some standard functions like Click or Overdub toggling. So I programmed them on the BCR to send on channel 11 and assigned them in Live. Then I deactivated the 'remote' buttons for the BCR in Live's preferences and activated them for the Max runtime 1. This way I assigned my other controls through BCR Performer.

Now, in order to have access to my global parameters I have to activate the BCR 'remote' buttons again. But when they're enabled, and I've switched to preset 2 in BCR Performer, Live receives the control messages on midi channel 2 from BCR Performer AND on channel one from the BCR itself.

Am I doing something wrong here? I think, having some controls that stay the same with each preset should be a common request.

Here are some ideas for the documentation/video:

Initially, I planned on using the other three banks of push encoders available with every preset on the BCR. But having used it for a while I can really see why you decided against using them. Still, from how the application looks and behaves it's not quite clear to me what it does in this concern.

I found out that in order to change presets you need to set the 'midi from keyboard' dropdown to some midi source and send CCs 127 and 126 from there on channel 16. In my case this would be the BCR itself but it could be any midi source. Right? This also might be worth mentioning in the docs.

Again, thank you for sharing your stuff.

Cheers,
Axl

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:44 pm

I'm currently working on a new version with a bunch of fixes and improvements.
The GUI for the 4 encoder groups should work properly now along with a few other glitches I solved.

Using global controls (ie. ch 11) along with all the messages on ch 1 does work less smoothly than I planned. I'll look into it.

A small note for people who worked hard on their labels. I will release a version with these fixes, but I may do the version after that from the ground up which will break compatibility with the labels. All the options are going in a different window so you don't have to look at the preferences during your performance.

On a slight development sidenote, I just perfected a MIDI Snapshot system that stores and sends 16 presets containing all CC and Note values. It is used in the following scenario:
You have a big Live Set and like to practice it often and make slight adjustments to it. When you play a few songs, your set is "dirty", meaning that you can't save it without setting all the parameters you tweaked back to the position they were at when you started. If you made some changes like adding clips or changing parameters with the mouse, you have no choice but to manually set everything to the correct values again.

That is where the MIDI Snapshot system comes into play. You can store up to 16 snapshots that contain 128 notes and 128 CC's over 16 channels.
Its meant as a tool for the exact purpose I mentioned. You could use this to trigger 16 different setting of knobs on a synth like a 303 emulator, but its a bit too big for Live usage. So I'll try to add it as part of the BCR Performer, since its essentially a feature to aid you to perform.

Anyway. back to the cave.. If I forgot to answer any questions, you'll have to forgive me. I'm of the opinion that my energy is better spent making sure that when you use this application, everything makes immediate sense.

- Bjorn

borg · Post by **borg** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:49 pm

just wanted to say thanks for this and got it working straight away... some little akwardnesses I can't really remember exactly (red square round controls and other elements moving on screen than on the controller...) but when tested further when I have the time I'll report back...

Bedankt meneer operateur!

musiker01 · Post by **musiker01** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:05 pm

hoffman2k wrote:I'm currently working on a new version with a bunch of fixes and improvements.

Great. I'm looking forward to it.

borg · Post by **borg** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:09 pm

as some seem to have a problem with this...

sysex librarian is an easy tool to get the sysex files to your bcr. read the manual to get your bcr in receiving mode and select the file in librarian and send... easy as that.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/13726

musiker01 · Post by **musiker01** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:53 pm

Hi,

Since yesterday I have a problem with BCR Performer that I didn't have before. If I turn knobs or push buttons and then change (Performer) presets the app seems to forget the position of the faders. When I switch back to the original preset everything is reset (knobs hard left, no button led on).

Does anybody know why that happens?

Cheers,
Axl

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:41 pm

I'm sorry for everybody having issues. While the application does work, the current version basically has all added features hacked in.
I'm currently writing a version from the ground up having learned from past mistakes and I picked up a few techniques to make everything much more smoother.

Programming the BCR will not be an issue anymore. I managed to work out an elegant way to program the BCR from the application. Instead of messing with Sysex files, all you'll have to do to program the BCR is to push a button. Isn't that awesome?
Many more good stuff like this coming up. I'm on a roll today.
I hope to have at least a beta version out by next week. I kinda need this to control my set..

steffensen · Post by **steffensen** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:12 pm

Good news, thanks!

bagginz · Post by **bagginz** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:40 pm

hoffman2k wrote: I'm currently writing a version from the ground up having learned from past mistakes and I picked up a few techniques to make everything much more smoother.

Programming the BCR will not be an issue anymore. I managed to work out an elegant way to program the BCR from the application. Instead of messing with Sysex files, all you'll have to do to program the BCR is to push a button. Isn't that awesome?
Many more good stuff like this coming up. I'm on a roll today.
I hope to have at least a beta version out by next week. I kinda need this to control my set..

Excellent.

Thanks for all your hard work so far, it's much appreciated

cheers,
bagginz

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:52 pm

I should have a beta up this weekend. I'm finishing up the preferences window today.
And given the latest buzz, this application may be part of Live soon. (lol, had to double-check if i wasn't dreaming this)