MIDI Mapping Vfx Control in Cross 3.0

[bostonDJ]

Geez FigDJ that was quick. How did you learn this? Is there a book out there to learn mapping? I can interject some CC (control change) MIDI messages via the MIDI keyboard to control some nuances like tremolo, volume change, LFO's etc...basic stuff but mapping looks difficult.

Thanks a million FigDJ. I have been meeting with brides & booking weddings as of late and am pretty wiped. I just downloaded the zip file and will try it tomorrow.

Also, Dan Clark deserves alot of Karma too for he has helped me from the beginning with MV. This is the first time I ever used a DJ controller in my DJ setup so its been an experience. I came from the days of records, 45's, single cassette, tape and finally 2 PC computers. My business is still going strong so I need to keep up with the technology. Gotta keep re-inventing but it is still about the heart & soul...the Music!
You guys are great and thanks for all your help. Tell me how I can give Karma to you guys? (still don't fully understand the karma thing)
lol...let u know how the mapping works.

[daniel clark]

karma ,,much like life ,was a reward system for helping on the fourm,, its out for repair /updating ,, but like life the rewards still keep coming for good deeds ,
as for the software and the new digital wonders that still amaze ,,just as long in the tooth as yourself ,,but still feel as young as the music is
p s dont forget the feed back ,,will get the mapping solidified for future users ,

[bostonDJ]

Hi FigDJ & all,

I imported the mapping in last night and this is what I experienced step by step.

I loaded 2 videos (mp4's) into Deck A & B and
I loaded 2 songs (mp3's) into Deck C & D.

Hit <Shift><Cue> over jogwheel on LEFT side
LED 6 blinks on both LEFT & RIGHT side
Hit <Shift><Cue> on LEFT side again
LED 6 is solidly lit on both L & R side
(solidly lit may equal your off state)

I am able to control Deck A(video) when 6 is not blinking.
I am able to control Deck C(audio) when 6 is blinking.
I am also able to access & control effects on Player C(audio), reverse button works, scratch in vinyl mode, the effects button on Vfx controller turns the FX button up top in Cross software on & off, volume slider for respective Deck C(audio) works, looping, etc...ALL GOOD

Right Side Deck D(audio) with LED 6 flashing has full control of delay, reverse button, volume slider works for respective Deck D(audio), crossfader between C & D audio works as above. ALL GOOD...EXCEPT

Here are the problems:

1) I have to hit <Shift><Cue> from the LEFT side to get Deck C & D to operate.
I cannot do <Shift><Cue> from the RIGHT side. Nothing happens...no response.

2)Problem with the Center Video Screen. There is no Deck A(video) displayed in the center screen. Only Deck B(video) is displayed all the time. This is the screen that is to show what the TV/Monitor will output & display. The video crossfader moves L to R but only Deck B(video) is displayed...all the time. I can see the Deck A(video) on the extreme L screen(yellow border) and it will play when A is active but is never shown/displayed in the Center Screen...only Deck B(video). Seems to be stuck on B video for some reason.

The Extras you coded:

<Shift> + Crossfader responds & works great to control the video fader only L to R

<Shift> + Bass performed on L side only controls the A deck filter regardless whether or not A or C is active.
<Shift> + Bass performed on R side moves filter for deck B when B is active and moves the D Bass/LOW level button, on top of filter button, for deck D when D is active. It should move the D filter button.

I also noticed that when I select the Video Crossfader Transition dropdown list, (below the mixer bass, mid, hi), it sometimes displays half of a list starting halfway down. Sometimes it will display the whole list but populates slow. Never did that before? Any thoughts on that?

In closing, if we can make the <Shift><Cue> to work independently on the L & R side that would be great because we seem to have control of all the effects.
Also if we can get the video on Deck A to show up in the Center Screen we should be good because the video crossfader moves. I can then test the video crossfades & transitions to make sure the 2 videos operate correctly.
We are getting there! Thanks again.

[bostonDJ]

Sorry...under Problems should read Deck B &D

1) I have to hit <Shift><Cue> from the LEFT side to get Deck B & D to operate.
I cannot do <Shift><Cue> from the RIGHT side. Nothing happens...no response.

In other words I have No control of the R side at all...nothing. <Shift><Cue> from the Left Side controls all 4 decks!!

[FigDJ]

VFX4DV2.zip

Hit <Shift><Cue> over jogwheel on LEFT side
LED 6 blinks on both LEFT & RIGHT side
Hit <Shift><Cue> on LEFT side again
LED 6 is solidly lit on both L & R side
(solidly lit may equal your off state)

Here are the problems:

1) I have to hit <Shift><Cue> from the LEFT side to get Deck C & D to operate.
I cannot do <Shift><Cue> from the RIGHT side. Nothing happens...no response.

Fixed

2)Problem with the Center Video Screen. There is no Deck A(video) displayed in the center screen. Only Deck B(video) is displayed all the time. This is the screen that is to show what the TV/Monitor will output & display. The video crossfader moves L to R but only Deck B(video) is displayed...all the time. I can see the Deck A(video) on the extreme L screen(yellow border) and it will play when A is active but is never shown/displayed in the Center Screen...only Deck B(video). Seems to be stuck on B video for some reason.

<Shift> + Crossfader responds & works great to control the video fader only L to R

Have not figured out this one It may or may not have to do with MIDI but lets solve one problem at a time.

<Shift> + Bass performed on L side only controls the A deck filter regardless whether or not A or C is active.
<Shift> + Bass performed on R side moves filter for deck B when B is active and moves the D Bass/LOW level button, on top of filter button, for deck D when D is active. It should move the D filter button.

Fixed I think!

I also noticed that when I select the Video Crossfader Transition dropdown list, (below the mixer bass, mid, hi), it sometimes displays half of a list starting halfway down. Sometimes it will display the whole list but populates slow. Never did that before? Any thoughts on that?

This one might be a 3.0 bug. Nothing to do with mapping.

Please give a try to this new file and report back.
Let me know which issues are still bad and which are fixed. Again I am sorry for the errors but working together we can get to the solution.

[daniel clark]

but working together we can get to the solution.

[bostonDJ]

OK, everything looks & works great now. Thank you!

The only thing I don't like too much is the Brake effect and how to work it. The book says you have to set the amount button beforehand, pretty much at 1:00 o'clock on the Vfx , then select the Brake effect in the FX drop-down box up top. It does stop quickly based on the Amount button time but you have to re-select another effect like Bliss or Delay to resume the song again. Granted the song & waveform keep playing while song is 'braked'.
(Ex. if you are playing a song lets say with Delay set, then you have to boost the Amount button to 1:00 to prepare for the upcoming Brake effect, it messes up the current song playing with Delay set...seems like a sloppy way to go about setting Brake)
Is there a key configuration we could program on the Vfx to Brake then Resume Song?

When I used the old Vfx software I could hit <Shift><Play/Pause> buttons and the song would break on a dime. I would then just hit <Play/Pause> again and song would resume. If we can't get the MIDI implementation chart for the Vfx to see how that was done, how do I do a clean brake effect in Cross??? Thoughts?

Also, in the Preferences-->General tab there are 2 settings & 4 illustrated knobs for 'Player Start Time' & Player Brake Time'. What do these do? Can't find any info in manual on it..tried fooling with the brake time knobs but don't hear any difference.

Lastly, in Preferences-->General tab what does the Sync Link check box do? Should I keep the EQ setting on P-2000 rather than MV classic? And over in the Preferences-->Video tab-->Blend Mode tab what is the diff between Blended & Layered? Doesn't seem to have an effect on my mp4 visuals and nothing in manual on it.

Other than the above brake issue I think I'm good to go on the Vfx for awhile. I thank you guys for your prompt service! lol
Let me know what else you need on my side to test the Vfx further...so far looks good.

[FigDJ]

OK, everything looks & works great now. Thank you!

Glad to hear it, there is more that could be mapped but I get to that in a few minutes.

The only thing I don't like too much is the Brake effect and how to work it. The book says you have to set the amount button beforehand, pretty much at 1:00 o'clock on the Vfx , then select the Brake effect in the FX drop-down box up top. It does stop quickly based on the Amount button time but you have to re-select another effect like Bliss or Delay to resume the song again. Granted the song & waveform keep playing while song is 'braked'.
(Ex. if you are playing a song lets say with Delay set, then you have to boost the Amount button to 1:00 to prepare for the upcoming Brake effect, it messes up the current song playing with Delay set...seems like a sloppy way to go about setting Brake)

That does not have anything to do with the MIDI map but more with the inplementation of FX in Cross. A developer would have to shime in for that.

TIs there a key configuration we could program on the Vfx to Brake then Resume Song?

When I used the old Vfx software I could hit <Shift><Play/Pause> buttons and the song would break on a dime. I would then just hit <Play/Pause> again and song would resume. If we can't get the MIDI implementation chart for the Vfx to see how that was done, how do I do a clean brake effect in Cross??? Thoughts?

Also, in the Preferences-->General tab there are 2 settings & 4 illustrated knobs for 'Player Start Time' & Player Brake Time'. What do these do? Can't find any info in manual on it..tried fooling with the brake time knobs but don't hear any difference.

The knobs in the preference setting have nothing to do with the effects and everything to do with the Play/pause.

You need to adjust those knobs in preferences to increase or decrease the amount of time that the Play/pause button takes to start or brake a track.

For example:
1. Go to preferences and adjust the start and stop knobs for deck A to maximum.
2. Load a track on deck A and press the Play/pause button couple of times and notice the time it takes for the track to start or brake.
3. Go back to preferences and adkust the start and brake knobs for deck A to minimum.
4. Go back to the deck and press Play/pause couple of times.
You will notice that now the track brakes and start instantly.

I think this is what you are looking for.

Lastly, in Preferences-->General tab what does the Sync Link check box do? .

When sync link is enable a slave track follows the master.
Enable sync link in preferences.
Load a track in Deck A.
Load a track in Deck B that is a couple of beats off from the track in Deck A
Start deck A
Start deck B and press sync

At this point track is master playing at XXX BPM lets say 120 and deck B is in sync with deck A at 120 and is not the master.

Now move the pitch fader for deck a which is the master and notice how the pitch value for deck b follows to keep B in sync with A.
When Sync Link is not enabled the following does not happens.

Should I keep the EQ setting on P-2000 rather than MV classic?

This is a matter of personal preference. I prefer the P-2000 setting.

And over in the Preferences-->Video tab-->Blend Mode tab what is the diff between Blended & Layered? Doesn't seem to have an effect on my mp4 visuals and nothing in manual on it.

This refer to the way the video samples are going to be mixed with the main image. Blended uses the transition type selected for the crossfader whereas layered imposes the incoming image over the currently playing video image.

Now my turn
Could you tell me if the rotary knobs in the FX sections are also pushbuttons? if they are then i can map additional command that would be helpful.

[daniel clark]

good info all around fig ,,seems a lot of un asked on my part just got answered ,,

[bostonDJ]

Hi Dan & FigDJ,

Thanks fig for the answers I will definitely try the Sync Link. Yes, all of the big knobs on the Vfx push in...the 3 over the 1-6 Led's on L & R side and the big knob in the middle mixer section (top) next to load A load B. All pushbuttons...

As far as the Brake issue in the FX dropdown in Cross, I guess I will have to live with it. I tried playing with the 4 start/stop track buttons in Pref-->General tab but seems to take at least 6-7 seconds for song to end with all 4 knobs set to min...weird...I will play more. The Brake in the FX dropdown actually responds faster with the Amount button so I can live with that for awhile.
I will also have to start looping all my mp4 visuals to repeat because the less I have to <Shift><Cue> to control video the better. Just control audio and use the <Shift><Crossfader> to control video...nice feature...getting used to it.
Thanks guys...let me know what more magic we can do!