I need a good, simple guide on learning and implementing MIDI. I would like to store and recall presets for Ghosts (plus CB Lost & Found, CB Mood MK2, Eventide H90 and other pedals using a pedal switcher). I have tried multiple times to start learning, and each time I got overwhelmed and stopped. I am ashamed at not being able to learn this, and I am convinced it can’t be that complicated and yet here I am.
Can you recommend a good starting place?
Start by sharing your setup, what you’re using to pass and send midi, etc.
Try this, explaining is clear.
Do you already have a MIDI controller or a MIDI-capable loop switcher? If so what’s the make/model?
Storing and recalling presets via MIDI is probably the simplest task in MIDI setups, but a couple of basic notions need to be understood.
That video linked above by Scott Uhl is excellent, and he’s a fantastic teacher - has a great talent of explaning complicated things in a very easy to digest and concise manner.
Think of MIDI as your e-mail communication with colleagues at work.
The MIDI Channel will be the e-mail address, so you know for sure who gets the message.
MIDI Messages are… well, your e-mail messages) They tell your colleagues what you want from them.
How exactly you create such an email and where you put the email address, and where you put the message, depends on you MIDI controller.
I have a Morningstar MC6 controller w/ ML5 loop switcher. I bought them used, and have yet to use them,
I think I need to start with some more dummy-level understanding. I would eventually like to use guitar > [Beano] > [TB MKI] > Morningstar ML5 > CB Preamp MK2 > CB L&F > Ghosts > CB Mood II > Tone King Imperial pre > power amp > speakers.
Totally doable.
There is gone be a slight learning curve but nothing crazy; first learn how messages works for midi in general (see video), it’s very quick and simple
MC6 can do almost anything imaginable in MIDI ) Even if it’s the Mk1. Beware though that MC6 Mk1 will require you to use a dedicated editor, you can fund this info on the MS website.
The learning curve will be a bit steep, because it’s a very powerful controller.
Morningstar have their own video tutorials that are great, I recommend checking them out.
My advice to approach MIDI is the following:
Lay down what you WANT first. Don’t try to “encompass everything”. You can start with some very simple and basic “needs”, and then expand and learn afterwards. Your current midi controller will certainly NOT be a limiting factor ))
Think of it as “figure out what you want your colleagues to do upon receiving your e-mail” ))
Think of it “What words should you then send to your colleagues by e-mail so that they do what you want”.
After you did the first two steps - start learning your MIDI controller documentation. This is the most time-consuming part. Think of it as "how to use your e-mail client to send an e-mail to your colleagues with the right words so that they do (hopefully)))) what you want them to do.
If this does not work - come back here, we’ll try to help)
while OP is exploring, can i hijack the thread to ask if i understand right that midi has worked fine on ghosts for people? just got mine, and am struggling; successfully changed the midi channel on the pedal, but seem to be struggling to save presets via PC messages.
before i throw up the play-by-play, have i got the basics right? find the settings i want while in live mode, then switch to preset bank, then send a PC message with the number of the preset slot i want to use? is that the process, or am i missing something/doing it wrong?
If your description is correct, then no, this is not the process to SAVE a preset via MIDI. What you describe is the procedure to CALL a preset via MIDI.
I highly recommend reading very carefully the Ghosts manual. Jaak has done a great job of compiling a very comprehensive document.
To save a preset, you need to send a PC message, WHILE the Ghosts is in Preset mode (hold the Layers button for 3 sec).