AT5 Using MIDI and Foot Controllers: AmpliTube 5 Tutorial Ep. 06

[@kevinkirkwood8387]

Absolutely AMAZING videos. The amount of things I've picked up from them is incredible. The amount of things I have been able to use from the pace and clarity has helped this caveman learn a thing or two. That being said I own the same Cyber Controller and I gave up on it. It works fine on my Cyber Twin, but when connecting to my computer only the effects on and off button works as I would like. Every other button sends messages of zero. Im not finding any info on changing that. I have watched all of your previous videos in this series but if you said how to take care of that i missed it. Do you have a better or paid platform for assistance if at all possible? I would be more than happy to pay. Even using a mac and a cable with in/out 5 pin to usb. It works fine with my studio logic keyboard and picks up every button including working on my expressions flawless but only the effects on and off are doing what i would like. Thank you again, incredible videos either way!

[@UncleTodMusic]

Thanks for the kind words and for watching! Your cyber controller should work like mine. The same commands it sends to your cyber twin should be sent to your computer. You can only toggle on/off effects with the one button BUT the ten buttons should let you pick among 127 different presets. And you can use the expression pedals for things like volume or gain control and wah. I even use the expression pedals to turn on/off effects so they can act like toggle buttons. You CAN NOT use the program change buttons to turn on/off effects or do anything that requires a Control Change (CC) message coupled to a varying data byte. They are hard-coded to send the Program Change (PC) message with a single varying data byte. (Well that's a small lie since they also prefix the PC message with the Bank Select CC message but always with a hard-coded value of 0). If you mean those ten buttons only send CC with data byte 0 then that is how this foot controller works. If your ten preset buttons don't send any data byte other than zero then something is wrong. I would think it wouldn't work with your cyber twin if there was a problem with your foot controller. The fact that the EFFECTS button works, means your cable is good and you have everything connected to AT5 correctly. Maybe verify with a program like MIDI Monitor that the PC message is going out and the data byte is always 0 for every button.

[@kevinkirkwood8387]

That makes sense. Thank you again! I was about to drop more money on a different interface. Up and running like a charm. I really didn't want to get a new controller, I'd put money it winning a head on collision with my wife's suv.

[@carl-gustafdentredje2192]

Thanks man I learned a lot from this, now's the hard part of actually getting it to work with my brains.

[@damiangardiner1318]

Man, that video was amazing! Going to get myself the behringer midi pedal board and start exploring. I think there will be a lot of referencing this video.

[@RayC234]

Dude, Wow honestly Thanks Again for these videos although this one is over my head right now it will be absolutely handy in the near future.

[@UncleTodMusic]

You’re welcome. Thanks for watching. Yeah this one got a bit technical but I didn’t know how to explain some of the behavior without going behind the scenes. Really I mostly just use Presets with PC messsages and simple pedal control. After figuring out the global Wah thing, I think I will set up that and a global volume pedal. AND put them in the right slot!

[@Pomberizer]

great videos, just finished watching them! thanks a lot!!!!

[@Lets_go_shred]

Man, so love your channel. These videos have been a fantastic resource! Just wanted to say thanks

[@UncleTodMusic]

You’re welcome. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching.

[@enricofiori7641]

Thank you very much, this is a very useful and clear video!

[@Uegd67hju]

Good stuff. I'll be sharing some of your videos to a facebook Amplitube group. Lots of people there asking questions that you just answered!

[@UncleTodMusic]

Thanks.

[@digitalchris6681]

Excellent upload! I can't claim to understand all of it, but enough for me to intend to buy a midi pedal controller thingy tomorrow. Wish me luck!

[@UncleTodMusic]

Good luck. Using pedals is great fun after a bit of practice.

[@digitalchris6681]

@@UncleTodMusic I bought a £30 SubZero midi controller (9 sets of dials, buttons and sliders) and am now remotely controlling every aspect of my pedals and amp. I position it vertically so the knobs make it seem as if I'm using a real amp. So much easier than having to mess around with a mouse!

[@StephenRybacki]

This is absolute MIDI gold sir. Brilliant!

[@steve_one]

Excellent video, thanks

[@GamesfromtheFront]

This has been a great series. Thanks for posting. One extension that I'd be interested in is how to manage, say, six pedals with a MIDI foot controller. I have a controller somewhat similar to yours but with so many pedals (say distortion, chorus, flanger, wah, etc.) it is hard to build in the flexibility I desire. Maybe this is where a ton of presets comes in. Cheers

[@UncleTodMusic]

Yeah my controller favors presets (128 of them) so I set up a preset for each part of a song that needs a new sound. The Rocktron Midi Raider seems like a much more flexible approach I've never used it but I did read it can be set up with varying combos of PC and CC messages, including one with 24 banks of 5 presets and 10 toggle switches. ~$350 on Amazon Manual available in advance on their site. www.rocktronusa.com/uploads/2/2/2/5/22258814/midi_raider_manual_r4.pdf

[@andrews574]

Great Video. A lot of the complicated MIDI functions/workarounds could be simply fixed if IK Multimedia would just add a scenes/snapshots feature. Unfortunately, this is what is keeping me from pulling the trigger on purchasing AT5.

[@UncleTodMusic]

They have a wish list topic anchored on their forum page. It is currently 25 pages long and we can only hope they read it but you might post a detailed version of what you are looking for there. forum.ikmultimedia.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=26237

[@JTB--]

Excellent Video and info. Much of this stuff went over my head though with the settings stuff. Just got the AXE I/O and AmpliTube 5 MAX and can't figure out how to get the expression pedal going to the AXE I/O to work with the Wah in GarageBand. It works fine in AmpliTube 5 just going to the monitor speakers by right clicking and learning.... but it's not that easy in GarageBand and probably most DAW's. I'm stuck 😩

[@UncleTodMusic]

I’ll have to try my controller in GB and see if I can learn anything that might help. I might also try MainStage as I think it’s more designed for live playing.

[@JTB--]

@@UncleTodMusic That would be awesome. I'll try mainstage today and see if it's easier than GB to set up. Thanks 🙏

[@UncleTodMusic]

If you own MainStage there is a learning curve and I seem to have forgotten most of what I learned (AT5 took over my brain). I did have a setup where expression pedals were working and there are steps for learning the pedals. I think I gave up on MainStage because it would crash at inopportune times. It does seem difficult to do this in GB. If you want a complicated "solution" look at this video - it requires a 3rd party program and writing AppleScript kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJm0hJeeeMqSh6s I also tried this in Reaper (a DAW) and while it wasn't simple it requires no scripting and no extra apps. I will try to put together a video on how to use your midi foot controller with AT5 and Reaper. If you want to record and control the Wah in real time, this strikes me as the best solution. I suspect it's doable in other DAWs like Logic or ProTools.

[@JTB--]

@@UncleTodMusic Thanks Man. Appreciate Ya

[@hugosouz]

Man, you dont know how I tried to change this receive channel, thinks a lot

[@marconatalino]

Same here, i've spent so many hours on this! Reading the manual, reinstalling midi loopers etc. Thank you Tod!

[@aoaq42]

great infos - thanks

[@MostlyElectrolytes]

Haven't played with Amplitube 5 too much yet, but back in the olden days I used to be able to set my wah bypass to a value of like 0-5 for off and then anything from 06-127 was on. This way if I don't have to burn a switch or do a tap dance to engage the wah....roll it all the way back and it's off, as soon as I engage it's on for the range of 06-127. Not sure if this still works....

[@UncleTodMusic]

I have not yet seen a way to tell the bypass switch to respond to certain range values with a specific state. Would be nice though. I do often reverse values so that Min is 100% and Max is 0%. This turns bypass into a more natural on/off switch. I mention that in my video on One Trick and Model Presets. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXvddmNjhZtgpLM

[@balderpihl6386]

Can you do a demostration where you show the switching between pedals/presets.

[@UncleTodMusic]

I'm not sure if it satisfies what you want but in my review of the Synido Z1, I show where I hit a button that sends a Program Change message and both Reaper (in the foreground) changes to a particular track and AmpliTube (in the background on the bottom) changes to the preset for that song. I'll give you a link to the start of that part of the demo but it might be confusing to be dropped into the middle of the video, I just don't want you to have to watch the full review just to see a button switching presets. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoW7nXRraLaVf5Y

[@balderpihl6386]

Thank you. Another question, my solo 4th gen interface from focusrite, does not have a midi option. Can i connect the midi into my computer?

[@UncleTodMusic]

@ Yes.

[@isaacyates5782]

Just wondering wether it is possible to use a non footpedal midi controller like the akai mpd218 drum pads or a midi keyboard as a makeshift midi footpedal?

[@UncleTodMusic]

If you want to change presets with such a device it needs to be able to send a Program Control Message with a data byte between 0 and 127. That data value determines which preset is selected. If you want to turn on/off a pedal or changes a knob or toggle value it needs to send a Control Change Message with a data byte. Various pedals can have different requirements but for example a CC message with a data byte of 0 often turns off a pedal and a value of 127 turns it on. When you hit a drum pad I think it's pretty typical for the data value to represent velocity (how hard you hit it). It would be hard to send a precise value but some effects will turn off with a value in a wide range. For example 0-64 for the data byte might turn it off and 65-127 might turn it on. So hitting a pad hard would turn it on and tapping it lightly would turn it off. If you have such a device I would suggest getting a program that monitors midi (like the MIDI Monitor program I demoed in this video) so you can see what it sends. Then use the appropriate keys/pads/knobs to control AT5.

[@isaacyates5782]

Wow thanks for the reply didnt exect that much haha. My device can send program control messages however it cant be customised to 0-127 from what I can tell. Is there any software that can work as a middle man and convert note messages into program control messages?@@UncleTodMusic

[@coqbofunk]

Hello, very good video, I found the problem with sidebar #2, it can be corrected in some way, since I try to make several presets with program change and within them use the change control, but that thing of pressing the pedal twice to return to I don't like synchronizing so far I haven't found the solution, can you help me?

[@UncleTodMusic]

I discuss how to keep your pedal board LED in sync with AmpliTube in the first half of _AmpliTube 5: One Trick and Model Presets (Ep. 07) kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXvddmNjhZtgpLM and you can use the trick from there to help with your issue too. I’ll assume, in your first preset for Song A you use a switch and turn on a pedal and leave it on. Then you go to the preset for Song B which has the pedal off. If this preset has the same min/max settings as Song A, the first press of the switch won’t do anything. HOWEVER, if you now reverse the Min/Max values for the pedal in Song B from what they were for song A it should put your pedal back in sync. This means that a single press of the pedal WILL toggle the AT pedal. Unfortunately, if you have an LED on your physical switch it will now be out of sync with the LED on AT5’s pedal. Still you only have to hit the switch once. It also means you HAVE to go from Song A to Song B. The min/max value in Song B relies on the fact that Song A left the pedal in a particular state. If this was confusing maybe it’s worth a short episode.

[@kingyonder]

Amazing video .... Please I want to ask if it's possible to configure a guitar rig control 2 midi pedal to amplitube 4. Its really something I am struggling with and I found no one's giving solutions to that problem, I'll really be happy to have you help on that..... Thanks alot

[@UncleTodMusic]

Sorry, but I've never used AmpliTube 4, nor do I know what a "guitar rig control 2 midi pedal" is, and you didn't specify what platform you're on.

[@kingyonder]

@@UncleTodMusic sorry, the right spelling is kontrol 2 not control 2.... Please you can check it online, it's by native instrument. Thanks

[@ChxrryBlvssom]

i have a small footswitch only 2 buttons ! can i connect that with a usb to 3.5 to my pc and just do it like that ? cause my mtrack solo doesnt have any midi in or out jacks :/

[@UncleTodMusic]

If your pedal uses MIDI over USB it should work. I have several MIDI devices that don't use the 5 pin MIDI connector and it's convenient as they get power and send/receive MIDI data over USB.

[@Nick-so1ff]

great video, but i have a question if i have a concert can i use the pedalboard with amplitube?

[@UncleTodMusic]

Sure. I’m not sure what your specific concern is. I see no difference between practicing and a concert. I set up each song with one or more presets and I can also have a single on/off effect button and two expression pedals with each preset. Expression pedals can also be used to turn on/off effects. When using AT5 as a plug in for other software you’ll have to test. I have a video on how to use it with Reaper but I never did figure out how to get the pedal board to work in GarageBand.

[@les7118]

Is it works with your controller in live mode? Or live for their proprietary irig controller only?

[@UncleTodMusic]

Great question, wish I had thought to address this in on my videos. Your MIDI foot controller will work in Live mode. A caveat though: the usefulness of the user interface in Live Mode is limited. You can see which preset you are on, and change presets, which is nice. But the pedal area is just a group of blank boxes. Pedals you have added don't show up there, but you can still control them with your own MIDI controller.

[@alexejterentev]

How i can recording postprocessed track with midi command? Example Wah pedal in postprocessing.

[@UncleTodMusic]

That's covered in my video "Connect a MIDI Expression Pedal to a Wah in the AmpliTube 5 Plugin in Reaper" kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJCzc5qpq5h8f6c I don't believe you can do this in the AT5 recorder. I think there are too many limitations in AT5's recorder options, so I recommend using the plug-in version in an external DAW.

[@softscienceband]

How can you set up a stomp bypass to turn on and off without an external controller in Logic Pro X. I just want to automate distortion pedal turning on and off. Following your instructions I got to turn on but then it won't turn off. Any help would be appreciated.

[@softscienceband]

Basically I can get it to learn to turn on but not off using a note in the midi piano roll of Logic Pro X.

[@UncleTodMusic]

I don't have Logic Pro X so I can't tell you anything specific for that. My understanding is bypass will turn on with the learned MIDI message and a data byte > 64 and off when it gets that controller message with a data bye < 64 (typically you send 0 for off and 127 for on). If there is a way in the midi piano roll of Logic Pro X to send the note with a low volume (aka velocity) value that might do it.

[@3v0lve_Music]

I use FL so unsure about Logic..but this might be possible by manually creating an automation clip in the track window and draw in the on/off parameters. Probably not the most efficient way, but a possible workaround without pedals.

[@balderpihl6386]

If you do, where do you show how to bypass a complete preset?

[@UncleTodMusic]

I don't think I understand the question. You are commenting on the video about MIDI and foot controllers so I'm trying to use that for context. A PC message has a data byte that specifies the Preset to switch to. So you don't need to go through them in any sort of specific order you can jump from one preset to any other. If you are talking more about using a preset browser built into AmpliTube that's likely another video. The short answer is all presets are just files on your hard drive. Rearranging folders/files on your hard drive changes what shows in the preset browser. I think this is worth a video so I'll do that. But if you play with this before that, BE WARNED, moving files around on your hard drive will affect any assignments you have made in the CONTROL tab on the PROGRAM CHANGE menu. That menu is looking for a file in the original location where it was when you set up the preset. If what you are asking is neither of these cases I need more information on what you mean by "bypass a complete preset". In the video about Model Presets I do show where to go on your hard drive to find the files AmpliTube uses. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXvddmNjhZtgpLM

[@enricofiori7641]

Thank you again, very impressive ! I’not able to send program change messages from cubase to Amplitube 5. Do you know how to do? (whit the version 4 it was possible). Many thanks!

[@UncleTodMusic]

Sorry I don't own Cubase. I did show how to use midi messages from a pedal with Reaper (another DAW) and it wasn't all that obvious (to me). While what I did there was for control change messages it also works with Program Change messages so watching it might help you with cubase. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJCzc5qpq5h8f6c

[@enricofiori7641]

Thank you very much!!

[@poploweTV]

This video is helpful but it doesnt show on how to record a track using the pedal, 😢

[@UncleTodMusic]

That's covered in my video "Connect a MIDI Expression Pedal to a Wah in the AmpliTube 5 Plugin in Reaper" kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJCzc5qpq5h8f6c I don't believe you can do this in the AT5 recorder. I think there are too many limitations in AT5's recorder options, so I recommend using the plug-in version of AT5 in an external Digital Audio Workstation. My DAW of choice is Reaper so that is what I've shown, but the process should be similar in any similarly capable DAW.

[@DaveGrohl.]

My amplitude doesn't have a midi option

[@UncleTodMusic]

How odd. Do you mean when you use the hamburger menu the dialog panel doesn't have an AUDIO/MIDI tab or you don't have the MIDI Input dropdown, or the Control tab doesn't have anything? Are you on AmpliTube 5? Are you using a Mac, PC, iOS, or some other platform?

[@materiaisconstgeo]

👏👏👏👏

[@UncleTodMusic]

☺️

[@steve_one]

Exe

[@jimkonsta5114]

this shit is too complicated

[@UncleTodMusic]

Which is probably why dedicated pedals are still so popular with most guitarists.

[@steve_one]

Excellent video, thanks