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Hey guys, i am searching hi and low for the answer to this question.

I am using a TC Helicon Voiceworks with RB.

1. What i want to know is can i turn the unit on and off with CC from a midi track in RB?

2. Can i tell the TC unit which patch i want by the same method?

Now if this is possible, does anyone know what the CC commands are and where to insert them in the events list?

A complete list of all available commands is typically posted towards the last pages of user manuals.

In the MIDI world, it is often that case that there is not a separate CC command to turn something off. Instead, the same command that turned it on is used to turn it off, typically with a different CC number. For example, a CC with a value of 1 might turn it on, the same CC with a value of 127 might turn the same thing off.

The user manual is the place to find out how to run your new goodie. Well worth the time spent in studying it and trying to figure out all that stuff.

Also, if TC has their own user forum, that might be the better and faster place to find out specifics for the thing than here.


--Mac

Rob,
I already answered some of these questions in your other post.

you CAN change patches the same way you would set the patch on any synth. In RB there is a patch change dialog box. In either RB or BIAB you can change the patch or send CC commands from Piano Roll mode

There were several threads a while ago in which all of this was discussed in detail. Rather than rewriting the same stuff, use the forum search to find the following topics:

TIN CAN HARMONIES
(it has step by step instructions for using continuous controllers in piano roll mode... but be aware that the device being discussed is a digitech, so the CCs are different. Except for the GM CCs, manufacturers tend to use proprietary CC numbers for their devices. You'll need to refer to your manual to see which CCs are used for each function on your unit )

LATEST BUILD AND TC HELICON VOICELIVE
this thread contains one description of how to change patches, but not the best or simplest way

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the following snippet is taken from the tech faq, and it tells how to change a patch at arbitrary places in a song :

141. How can I insert a patch change in a specific chorus or change to a non-General MIDI patch at any bar?
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The Edit Settings for Current Bar dialog allows you to change to a GM or GM2 patch at any bar in your song, however the change will apply to all of your choruses. If you want the patch change to only happen on one of your choruses, there are a couple of options. The first option is to "unfold" your song into one long chorus. The Edit | Unfold command can do this for you. The other option is to use the Event List window to specify the patch change at a particular bar. You can also use the event list to specify a patch change to a patch on a higher bank. Here are the basic steps for using the event list to insert a patch change for any track:

If the track that you want to insert the patch change on is the Melody or Soloist track:

Open the Notation Window, viewing the track of interest (Soloist or Melody) and position yourself where you want to make the patch change.

Open the Event List Editor by clicking the [#] button and fine-tune your position in the event list if necessary.

If your patch is a General MIDI patch, skip to step 5. If you want to choose a patch on a higher bank, click on [Insert] and select Control Change. Choose Controller 0 (MSB Bank Select) type the MSB Bank number for your patch, and press OK.

If your synth uses Controller 32 (Bank select LSB) click on [Insert] and select Control Change. Choose Controller 32, type the LSB Bank number, and press OK.

Click on [Insert] and select Patch Change. Choose the patch or Program # you want and press OK.

If the track that you want to insert the patch change on is not the Melody or Soloist track:

You also use the Melody or Soloist track event list to insert the patch changes as described above, but note the following:

You need to change that track to a multi-channel type track to prevent all events from being re-channeled to the Melody or Soloist channel. To do this, go to Melody or Soloist | Track type, and select multi-channel.

When you insert the Control and Program (patch) Changes, you need to specify the correct channel for each event you insert. You can find out what channel each of the Band-in-a-Box tracks use by going to Opt. | Preferences | Channels.

Don't know if this will apply to this unit or not but thought I'd pass it on as maybe it's what he needs. I had a Digitek Vocalist. It would change patches via CC commands BUT it wouldn't go into bypass via CC so the only way to turn the harmonies on and off was the Foot pedal. Of course I was not satisfied with that. I wanted complete automation SOOOOOOOOOOO Patch #127 was some useless chipmunks thing. All I did was edit this patch so it had no harmonies, relabeled it bypass and saved. When I'd want the harmonies to come in I'd insert the appropriate CC # and when I wanted them to stop I'd enter CC#127. This may help.

I have tried this and nothing works so far. I willtry to get a hold of the tech department on monday and see if I am missing on thing. Mac, i have the CC commands manual, but the only option for on /Off is CC 110 off 0 - 63 on 64 -127 none of this yield results. Also to add patch info i need to know the bank assignments and that is also not in the manual. I will get back as soon as i learn anything, in the mean time Pat I will re-read those post to see if I am being dense.

Okay i got it Pat made me think in the other thread, it was the route to synth setting on RB that was keeping the midi from reaching the Voiceworks unit. Now i have to figure out the patch assignments and i have it.

For others on voice works it is CC 110 and as mac said below 64 to turn off and above to turn on the unit.

patch assignments in BIAB show the GM patches by default... but actually patches are just called by number.

The patch list in the manual shows them in the numeric order you would call them.

So to call the first patch (HIT VOCALS) select the first GM patch (acoustic piano),
to call the the 11th patch (FAT LEAD+3rd) select MUSIC BOX (the 11th GM patch)
to call the 35th patch (3 BELOW) select PICKED ELEC BASS (the 35th GM patch)

I think you can actually make a patch list so the patch select dialog box shows the voiceworks patches by name instead of the GM patch names, but I usually just use the manual's patch list as a reference. I find myself using the same favorite patches most of the time, and I just use CC to change the key and harmony type.

btw, congratulations on toughing it out until it made sense. It can be a confusing setup... so many things can keep it from working. But once you have it... MAN! It opens so many doors! Now you know how to totally control ALL your MIDI compliant devices!

Thanks that makes sense. I will just print out the patch list and go from there.

Thanks I really appreciate you hanging in there with me. I got it all working.

I look forward to really dialing some of these tunes in so that they sound so sweet. I can change patches, and such to make the sound sound more real live.