So I have written and erased a couple of versions of this reply. This version I am trying to be as fair but pointed as possible.
You can read my full comment below, but the gist of this is: what is a rough timeline for providing expanded MIDI CC functionality and ability to assign a custom MIDI channel to Aeros, as I need to decide whether to hold tight or sell this thing?
A couple of months ago, based on this thread, I decided to pull the trigger and bought the Aeros and Maestro. I had been watching the Aeros a while. It seemed like it had the potential to be the best looper for my needs. The form factor is perfect in terms of size, has the option for multiple loops, and was built to have MIDI capability. Sadly full MIDI implementation was not a priority on release, so I waited. In the meantime I settled on using Loopy HD, an iPad app that allows up to 12 loops and can be run remotely by MIDI CC’s. I invested in an RME Babyface to move audio in and out of the iPad from my rig.
My setup is that of a one band band. I play guitar, sing, and use a set of bass pedals to provide backing bass or synth. Adding looping was inevitable, and allowed for even more complicated performance. but triggering loops with my feet proved challenging with all the other things I had going on. I discovered that I could program MIDI instructions that could run parallel with either a drum backing track, or if using a live drummer, with a click track. All of this starts when I select the next song on my setlist on Bandhelper. Now I am able to loop either guitar lines that I layer, or more complicated bass lines by dropping the guitar an octave with my Whammy Pedal.
The software setup has had challenges. Ipads, despite being preferred gear for live musicians, have long had issues with Midi clock stability. I have also seen some occasional problems with program crashes, which sucks during a performance, especially since the sound routing into an iPad and back out means you can lose ALL guitar sound, not just loops. So no way to play it off. I also wanted to be able to do some traditional looping with a foot controller for fun, and had not been successful getting that to work with Loopy HD. I had reasonable success with the Pigtronix Infinity looper prior to Loopy HD, but it was too limited with only 2 loops, so I started looking back at the state of MIDI development for the Aeros and found this thread.
It appeared (at least from early moderator comments in this thread) that MIDI implementation had become a focus and was imminent. With everything in lockdown, I decided that it was time to pull the trigger. I would have time to rework my pedal board to accommodate the Aeros and the Maestro, and to re-program my MIDI commands for each song I perform to suit the CCs available for the Aeros. Shortly after I ordered I noted a reply to a question by Brennan, indicating that MIDI implementation was going to be on the back burner while other issues were sorted out. The telling comment was regarding CCs for the hardware buttons on the Aeros: “The Aeros will be able to do these things, but it is not something that we can work on right now.”
So now I have 2 pieces of hardware on my pedalboard that are of little use for my setup, and may remain so for the foreseeable future. I have had to outboard my RME Babyface so I can resume use of Loopy HD. My question is what to do? Should I sell Aeros? Maestro may have some use to me as a MIDI controller. I may try controlling Loopy HD with it. I would love to hear a “no wait…in 2 months we should have a MIDI update coming”. As it is I cannot even select a Midi Channel for Aeros, and I am not willing to reprogram all my channel 1 commands for my synth to another channel just so I can play around with what little Aeros can do with Midi this far.
I will say, Aeros is not alone in being slow to adopt remote MIDI control. Pigtronix Infinity initially only used MIDI to sync to MIDI clock, and only later incorporated MIDI control. Once they did it was a relatively capable MIDI device. My frustration is how this forum created false expectations. I should have taken more note of Brennan’s earlier reply about overdub commands not being available, but even that comment stated “we do plan on adding more MIDI commands in an update soon”. SOON. This type of language drove my purchase.
Btw, if anyone reading this has experience with the EHX 95000, especially MIDI control, would love some input, because I am eyeing that as another consideration.
