• Registered: 2012-06-23
  • Posts: 4

Topic: UCX Free Submix MIDI Control in Standalone Mode

Hi everybody,

I have seen different posts on controlling TotalMix via MIDI or OSC, but haven't found any topic matching my problem:

I want to use my Fireface UCX in standalone mode as a portable digital mixer that can be controlled via MIDI messages. Unfortunately I cannot use the Submix View because all channels are routed to different submixes and I need to be able to control their volumes simultaneously.

Is there, or will there be a possibility to control every point in the mixer matrix via MIDI CC in standalone mode?

I tried one solution: sending two messages for every fader movement. First select the submix (e.g. "ch13 cc106") and then set the volume (mackie control: "ch1 pitchbend"). Like this, it should be possible to change two submixes at the same time. It works, but fast fader movements introduce a noticable lag of up to 1 second, because the submix is re-selected many hundred times per move. Did anyone try something similar?

And I could not get that submix CC to work when USB is not plugged in. The mackie control "REC/RDY" button mentioned in the manual didn't work either. The corresponding message should be "ch1 note on C-1". Is that right?

Best regards,
Sebastian

2 Reply by dmhost (edited by dmhost 2012-09-21 16:23:22)

  • Registered: 2009-07-15
  • Posts: 5

Re: UCX Free Submix MIDI Control in Standalone Mode

Hello Sebastian, I was just about to post the very same request, when I stumbled upon your post!

I would LOVE to have this feature as well. I am a hardware integrator working on a very large production, and have been dreaming of doing the exact same thing you have done. Imagine 4 to 6 musicians, each one controlling their stereo mix via MIDI mixers and the awesome sound quality and flexibility of Fireface UFX as the brain. In fact I see so much potential with this usage that it would be feasible for a 3rd party to create an external product which interfaces with the RME stuff to do exactly that...
I do have a proof of concept working, which just like your method, quickly selects the correct submix and then makes the appropriate fader changes. The PROBLEM is that if musicians are trying to change their submix simultaneously, it becomes very slow and basically unusable/unstable.

Here is my question to RME: Is there any way you could please add to the existing MIDI control of TotalMix FX to enable DIRECTLY modifying all settings within a submix without having to "select the submix" first? It would be even more awesome if at the same time the controls for panning (and fx?) could be handled as well, without having to simulate paging through like a Mackie Controller.

I might be able to guess why RME has not done this yes (beside them focusing on OSC)... it would require many more MIDI messages, probably more than what exists in the default CC's of the MIDI spec. That's why I believe the best way to implement it would be using sysex messages where there are NO limitations on parameter lengths. This would also allow software/hardware developers to make controller maps which are specific to RME's awesome hardware. See my mockup below for the DREAM situation:

[img align=C]http://rme.s3.amazonaws.com/rme-dream.jpg[/img]

Any chance on this RME?