How do you select a song on the BeatBuddy using the Aeros as Master?

Aeros Loop Studio Help, Questions and Bugs
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Thanks Brennan – I had just figured that out. Yes – that was exactly what it was. Appreciate the prompt reply. (I’m a newebee, so I’m still getting the hang of it. I’m definitely leaning toward using the Aeros as the master, but this does introduce some complexity, which I’m still working out.

Could you give me some advice on how best to implement the ability to send PC messages from the Aeros to the BB in order to select the song on the BB automatically? I understand the principal, but what is the easiest way to set it up?

Thanks again.

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Hey there,

I split the topic since it was getting off-topic from the original

Basically, the BeatBuddy has a specific song select MIDI message that opens a song on it. By default, it listens to both MSB and LSB to choose a folder and PC to select a song within the folder. PC commands can be sent on their own to select a song within the currently open folder.

So, on the Aeros song, you would identify what MSB LSB and PC commands would be needed in order to open the specific beat/song inside a specific folder, say Rock 1 works best for your song.

You would scroll down to the MIDI Out Control song setting and enable it, then use the three settings MSB, LSB and PC (or any combination of the 3) to set those values. Hit save to save this preference to your Aeros song. Now, every time you open the song it will send these values and open the specified BB song

Read more about the Aeros and BeatBuddy in their manuals

Thanks for the question, let me know if this is helpful!

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That is very helpful. One last question (this is probably somewhere in the BB manual). How do I identify what MSB/LSB is associated with a specific BB folder, and which PC is associated with a specific BB song?

Thanks again!

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Here is the explanation from the MIDI section of the manual:

Folder/Song Select

  • You can select a BeatBuddy folder and song with the MIDI Bank Select (combination of CC:0 [MSB] and CC:32 [LSB] and Program Change (PC) messages Depending on your settings for the Song Select, the BeatBuddy is expecting different things. Go to Main Pedal > MIDI Settings > MIDI In > Program Change to choose the behavior.

Default

  • The folder is selected with the Bank Select Message (Bank MSB and LSB) and the song is selected with the Program change. MSB selects the Bank, LSB the folder withing the bank. Every MSB bank has 128 folder each.
  • PC command selects the song within the current open folder
  • This gives a potential of 128 MSB x 128 LSB = 16,384 different folders with 128 songs each (selected by the Program Change [PC] command).
  • The order of the folders / songs are sorted by the BeatBuddy Manager. The order of the folders / songs corresponds to the number used by the MIDI messages +1.
    • This means that Program Change (PC) Message must have a value of 0 to select the first song in the menu.
    • We know this is confusing – but MIDI was designed by computer nerds, not normal people like us, and computer nerds like to start with 0 instead of 1.

Aeros Mode

  • The folder is selected using only LSB 0-110, these correspond to the first 111 BeatBuddy folders. LSB 111-127 open playlists 1-17.
  • The order of the folders / songs are sorted by the BeatBuddy Manager. The order of the folders / songs corresponds to the number used by the MIDI messages +1. The Playlist song select starts on LSB 111 which corresponds with Playlist 1.
    • This means that Program Change (PC) Message must have a value of 0 to select the first song in the menu.
    • We know this is confusing – but MIDI was designed by computer nerds, not normal people like us, and computer nerds like to start with 0 instead of 1.

Default Example:

Folder/Song Bank MSB (CC:0) Bank LSB (CC:32) Program Change (PC)
Folder 1 - Song 1 Value 0 Value 0 Value 0
Folder 1- Song 2 Value 0 Value 0 Value 1
Folder 3- Song 3 Value 0 Value 2 Value 2
Folder 129 - Song 4 Value 1 Value 1 Value 3

Aeros Mode Example:

Folder/Song Bank MSB (CC:0) Bank LSB (CC:32) Program Change (PC)
Folder 1 - Song 1 N/A Value 0 Value 0
Folder 1- Song 2 N/A Value 0 Value 1
Folder 3- Song 3 N/A Value 2 Value 2
Playlist 1 - Song 1 N/A Value 111 Value 0
Playlist 2 - Song 1 N/A Value 112 Value 0
Playlist 2 - Song 4 N/A Value 112 Value 3

Please note that the BeatBuddy’s song does not change until the Program Change message is received, i.e. bank messages alone are not enough to change a song.

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