All three devices can be used to open songs on the Aeros and Beatbuddy using MIDI, here is a helpful guide on how to do this across devices!
Divided into 5 categories:
1. How to set up a song with MIDI Song Select on the Aeros
2. How to open an Aeros song with MIDI Song Select
3. How to automatically open an Aeros song when you open a specific BeatBuddy song with MIDI Song Select
4. How to automatically open a BeatBuddy song when you open a specific Aeros song with MIDI Song Select
5. BeatBuddy Song Select Commands Cheatsheet
1. How to set up a song with MIDI Song Select on the Aeros
Step 1: Open the song, and edit the song settings (click the pencil icon in the Loop Studio Dashboard or use the hands free slideout option).There are three relevant settings: MIDI Song Select and the MSB and PC setup.
Step 2: Enable MIDI Song Select. Once enabled, the user can set which MSB (0-127) bank and which PC command (0-127) will be required to open the song. It is possible to only set the PC value to open a song (v5.1.1 or later).
Step 3: By using a MIDI device, like the MIDI Maestro or the BeatBuddy, capable of sending CC:0 (MSB bank) + PC commands in a sequence, you can open that song at any time.
2. How to open an Aeros song with MIDI Song Select
Step 1: Set a song to respond to a specific set of MSB and PC commands. Read how to do this above. Remember, MSB is represented by the CC command CC:0, the value decides which MSB bank is activated. For example, CC:0 value 4 is MSB 4.
Step 2: Set your MIDI controller to send a CC:0 (MSB) command set with a value between 0-127. In some devices MSB commands are sent differently, refer to your MIDI controller’s manual for more information on sending MSB commands.
Step 3: Next, set your MIDI controller to also send a PC command with a value between 0-127. This should be sent after the MSB command, if sent before the MSB command, it will not work.
Step 4: Send both the MSB and PC commands (in that order) to a MIDI channel the Aeros is currently listening to. Make sure the Aeros song you are trying to open is set to the same MSB and PC values you are sending.
Step 5: Your song will open.
3. How to automatically open an Aeros song when you open a specific BeatBuddy song with MIDI Song Select
Step 1: Identify the BeatBuddy song’s MIDI Song Select message, this will tell you what message the BeatBuddy will send. If the BeatBuddy Song/Folder Select setting (Main Pedal > MIDI Settings > MIDI Out > Song/Folder Select) is set to Aeros mode, the BeatBuddy will not send the LSB command and will send an MSB command of the same value instead.
Step 2: Set the Aeros song to open to the same MSB, LSB, and PC commands sent by the BeatBuddy. To do this, go to the song settings and enable MIDI Song Select. Once enabled, the user can set which MSB (0-127) bank and which PC command (0-127) will be required to open the song. It is possible to only set the PC value to open a song (v5.1.1 or later).
Step 3: Hit Save to save the change on the Aeros
Step 4: Open the song on the BeatBuddy to open the desired Aeros song
Example
Step 1: My BeatBuddy song is in Folder 3 and it is song 2. This song would open to MSB 0, LSB 2, and PC 1. These are the same commands it will send if Song/Folder Select is set to default, if set to Aeros Mode it will send MSB 2 and PC 1 instead. It switched the values of MSB and LSB and did not send the LSB value.
Step 2: If the BeatBuddy Song/Folder Select setting was in default mode, I will set the Aeros to open to MSB 0 and PC 1. Using Aeros Mode, the Aeros Song Select should be set to MSB 2 and PC 1
Step 3: Hit Save on Aeros
Step 4: Open the song on the BeatBuddy to open the Aeros song.
4. How to automatically open a BeatBuddy song when you open a specific Aeros song with MIDI Song Select
Step 1: Open the song, and edit the song settings (click the pencil icon in the Loop Studio Dashboard or use the hands free slideout option). There are four relevant settings: MIDI Out Control and the MSB, LSB and PC setup.
Step 2: Enable MIDI Out Control.
Step 3: Identify the MIDI Song Select command that will open the BeatBuddy song, the command is based on the location of the song in the folder in the SD card filesystem.
Step 4: Set which MSB bank (0-127), LSB bank (0-127), and which PC command (0-127) will be sent out the Aeros’ MIDI Out port when you open the song. It is possible to send any combination of one, two, or all three commands.
Step 5: Open the song again to send the MIDI Out Control commands as they were set
By using a MIDI device, like the MIDI Maestro or the BeatBuddy, capable of sending CC:0 (MSB bank) + PC commands in a sequence, you can open that song at any time.
5. BeatBuddy Song Select Commands Cheatsheet
Incoming MIDI Song Select
The BeatBuddy can be set to respond to commands as it does by default or it can be set to Aeros mode. Aeros mode allows the BeatBuddy to ignore MSB commands for more versatility when choosing songs on the two units independently while both devices are on the same MIDI channel.
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 128 - Song 1 | Value 0 | Value 127 | Value 0 |
| Folder 129 - Song 1 | Value 1 | Value 0 | Value 0 |
| Folder 129 - Song 4 | Value 1 | Value 0 | 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.
Outgoing MIDI Song Select
Song/Folder Select (Main Pedal > MIDI Settings > MIDI Out): The BeatBuddy can send song select commands from the midi out port when a song is opened. By Default, the BeatBuddy will send the same MSB, LSB, and PC command that opens the song. This means that if the song is opened by MSB 0, LSB 0, and PC 0 then the BeatBuddy will send MSB 0 LSB 0 PC 0 when the song is opened. To use best with the Aeros, try Aeros mode. Remember the BeatBuddy’s MIDI ID is set by the position of the song and folder in the list.
- Disable* - The BeatBuddy will not send any Song Select commands. This is disabled by default.
- Default - The BeatBuddy will send an MSB, LSB and PC command
- Aeros Mode - The BeatBuddy will send an MSB and PC command. The true MSB value is negated and is substituted by the LSB value. So a song with a Song Select Message of MSB 0 LSB 125 PC 5 will send MSB 125 and PC 5. The Aeros only uses MSB values to open songs.
Remember, the BeatBuddy will send whatever command opens it when that song is opened
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 128 - Song 1 | Value 0 | Value 127 | Value 0 |
| Folder 129 - Song 1 | Value 1 | Value 0 | Value 0 |
| Folder 129 - Song 4 | Value 1 | Value 0 | Value 3 |
Aeros Mode Example:
| Folder/Song | Bank MSB (CC:0) | Bank LSB (CC:32) | Program Change (PC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folder 1 - Song 1 | Value 0 | N/A | Value 0 |
| Folder 1- Song 2 | Value 0 | N/A | Value 1 |
| Folder 3- Song 3 | Value 2 | N/A | Value 2 |
| Playlist 1 - Song 1 | Value 111 | N/A | Value 0 |
| Playlist 2 - Song 1 | Value 112 | N/A | Value 0 |
| Playlist 2 - Song 4 | Value 112 | N/A | Value 3 |