Can't get basic MIDI control working on my BeatBuddy 2

BeatBuddy 2 Help, Questions, and Bugs
1

Hi,

I’ve spent hours trying to get basic MIDI control working on my BeatBuddy 2 (firmware 1.0.1) with no success. I want to skip to the next song in the playlist. Absolutely nothing responds — not CC 119 scroll, not CC 29, not CC 111 for pause/unpause, not anything.

Setup:

  • BeatBuddy 2, firmware 1.0.1
  • WIDI Master (Wired MIDI Thru ON, blue LED end into BB2 MIDI In)
  • MIDI+BTLE app on Android
  • Tried MIDI channel 1 and Omni on the BB2
  • Tried sending commands from both the player screen and the folder browser
  • Tried raw hex B0 77 01 (CC 119 value 1) and B0 6F 7F (CC 111 value 127)
  • WIDI Master flashes confirming it receives the BLE signal, but BB2 does not respond

I also want to flag that the near-total lack of working third-party MIDI documentation for the BB2, combined with how seamlessly the $300 MIDI Maestro apparently handles this, makes it feel like third-party MIDI control may be intentionally difficult. I’d love to be proven wrong.

Can you please advise what I’m missing?

Thank you

2

For advancing songs on the BeatBuddy 2, you can use the following MIDI command:

CC 119 – Value 0 for Scroll Down (Next Song/Folder), Value 1 for Scroll Up (Previous Song).

The BB2 reacts to these MIDI messages the same way, whether you’re using the MIDI Maestro or any other app. Our full MIDI commands sheet is public, and all relevant documentation is in the manual.

We don’t have tutorials for every app, but we’re happy to help with your setup. In this case, it seems the BeatBuddy 2 might not be receiving the MIDI command correctly, or it’s on the wrong channel.

To resolve this, please send us a detailed video of every step you take, the MIDI connections, starting with restoring the default settings on the BB2. This will allow us to recreate the issue and assist you accordingly. Please send it to support@singularsound.com.

3

Hi @emallove

I can assure you that MIDI control works on the BB2. I wrote an app, BBFF, that uses MIDI to control the BeatBuddy.

Many people use OnSong to trigger MIDI on their BeatBuddy with great success.

You need to check that the BeatBuddy is configured to receive and process PC and CC messages, that it’s listening on all or the specific channels you’re sending on.

Troubleshooting MIDI can be quite challenging because of the various paths it might take. It’s best to start with a working system that shows the BB is receiving and processing MIDI correctly (the Maestro might be that) and then work on the sending side

4

Just wanted to report back here as well that we’ve been able to resolve the issue.

The problem was that the WIDI Master was connected to the BeatBuddy 2 incorrectly. After switching the connection between the MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports, everything started working as expected and MIDI control is now responding correctly.

5

I did the exact same thing….MIDI IN to MIDI IN NEVER WORKS OUT to IN works.

6

You’re probably already doing this but start off by connecting just the MIDI patch cable from your MIDI Out to your MIDI controller and to just the MIDI In on your BB2.

Do not connect anything to the MIDI In on your Maestro or controller. Test to see if this works.

If it does, it means your MIDI controller and BB2 are working properly.

7

It’s working now!

Here are my notes:

  • Close WIDI Master app while using BBFF. Only use WIDI Master to adjust devices settings. Close it during during BeatBuddy performance.

  • Disable clock sync (otherwise I was getting some strange 3 BPM default tempo?)

  • BBFF shows two devices to connect to: “Volcano - MIDI controller” and “WIDI Master”. Only connect to WIDI Master.

  • On BeatBuddy2 pedal:

  • On BB2 pedal: MIDI OUT → Output Types is set to “MIDI-OUT”.

  • On BB2 pedal: MIDI OUT → Channel → Channel 1

Here’s a video documenting some of the troubleshooting process: Here’s a video documenting some of the troubleshooting process: youtube (dot) com slash playlist?list=PL-4UKtV6SuGNH39yLdiZqzRtvD817a7ih