Can the NS2 receive a MIDI CC to change the selected slot?

[JayEn84]

Hey guys, I am currently finding myself a little helpless. So far, when performing, I used my NS2 as a stand-alone solution without any devices connected. Also, I always try to use the A/B slots to save the amount of programs that I need for my songs. An example: Let's assume, I have a song where I need the piano section for the verse and the organ section for the refrain. To achieve this, I create one single program with the piano section activated in slot A and the organ section activated in slot B. During the performance, I switch between the slots A and B. Works like a charm. But was this wrong anyway?

Today, I have connected my iPad to the NS2 for the first time. In the future, I want to use the app Set List Maker to control the sounds of my NS2 during performances. This app is able to send any MIDI program changes or MIDI CCs. Program changes already work. But if I sticked to the procedure described above (using the two slots to achieve two different sounds), the iPad would have to send a command to the NS2 which lets it change the selected slot. Unfortunately, something like slot selection is not listed in the manual's MIDI CC list. But I already did some testing: if I let the NS2 send all control changes via MIDI to the iPad, let the iPad app list all received MIDI CCs and then switch the slots on the NS2, the app receives the commands 68|0 for slot A and 68|127 for slot B. Sending these commands from the iPad to the keyboard takes no affect though.

Any help is gladly appreciated!

[ericL]

If I'm reading this correctly, it sounds like it would probably be easier and more intuitive to continue changing slots via the NS2 panel and just use the iPad app to change Programs. If you're used to doing it this way, why bother with trying to have the iPad do both Program changes and Slot changes? And another thought, if you want the iPad to do all of this for you but it won't send the right commands to switch Slots, then you could simply create additional Programs to cover this.

I do a bit of both, depending on the complexity of the song. For basic stuff (e.g. Tom Petty American Girl), I have Organ on Slot A and Piano on Slot B so I just toggle back and forth. But for a more complex song (e.g. Let's Go by The Cars) where I have lots of things layered together and need to change sounds several times, I created 3-4 different programs that I save in consecutive order on the NS2 such as Let's Go 1, Let's Go 2, Let's Go 3...

There's plenty of memory in the NS2 to have flexibility to do what I've described - I have 2 different bands worth of Programs all waiting for me within my NS2.

[maxpiano]

Slot change CCs must be sent to the Global Channel, while Program Changes work also if sent to the Slot channel, check that i.e which channel is the iPad sending MIDI to. Check also that you have enabled receiving CCs on the NS2 and not just sending (MIDI Ctrl Change mode)

[JayEn84]

if you want the iPad to do all of this for you but it won't send the right commands to switch Slots, then you could simply create additional Programs to cover this.

Thanks for your feedback! That's what I will do if it's not possible to change slots with MIDI. Background is that I will also use a bluetooth pedal board, because my goal is switching sounds and PDF pages using only a pedal, so that I can keep my hands on the keyboard all the time without having to hit any buttons.

Slot change CCs must be sent to the Global Channel, while Program Changes work also if sent to the Slot channel, check that i.e which channel is the iPad sending MIDI to. Check also that you have enabled receiving CCs on the NS2 and not just sending (MIDI Ctrl Change mode)

That's good to know! I just checked that, and it already seems to be set up correctly. The iPad sends on channel 1, MIDI Global on the NS2 is set to MIDI channel 1, and Program Change and Control Change are both set to Send & Receive. Are you able to switch slots with MIDI CC?

[Quai34]

Ask Arlo Leach from Setlist Maker. He's super fast to reply and especially with midi, he's done awesome work for me. I send attached midi preset first to ask my A880 Midi Patchbay to put itself into the program where the Ipad sends the program change, then it sends the CC change because my Matrix 1000 uses only CC change for changing banks, then it sends the program change for the song and finally, it sends via Hexa code the change for the A880 to recall the memory that is required by the song for Which keyboard is the master and controlling Which other ones....
Just to say that my set up is quite complex and I would have never been able to do it without his help. Just send a request, wait one or two days and if there is a solution, he will find it for you.