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Post subject: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 12:12 pm
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I am mostly complete with a Linux application that can translate MIDI PC and CC messages to the proprietary binary protocol used by the Mustang combo amps. This work draws heavily from the 'PLUG' project and many hours of snooping USB data between FUSE and the amplifier. It is not yet complete, but I have about half of the Fender Mustang Floor MIDI spec implemented and working with my Mustang III and IIIv2. The code can run on a Raspberry Pi, Beaglebone or, if you wish, a desktop machine.

It is probably not a good candidate for performance use yet and does require a bit of experience with the Linux environment. I'm currently driving it from a Behringer FCB1010 (Uno) floor pedal, but any MIDI controller should do the trick.

Project and installation / use notes are here:

https://github.com/snhirsch/mustang-midi-bridge

I would be very interested in feedback or suggestions.


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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 8:10 am
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My latest commit to GitHub implements 99.5% of the Mustang Floor MIDI specification and has been tested against a Mustang III (original) combo amp.

Work remaining:

    Add support for v2 features
    Control of virtual expression pedal position
    Control of tap-tempo
    Provide sysex commands to retrieve preset list

I am a little surprised at the lack of response or comments, but perhaps I'm the only person who finds MIDI control of the combo amps to be useful.


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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:00 am
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Wow, sounds cool man, and quite an undertaking. You mention that you're using an FCB1010: have you found any way to switch amp channels within a preset, or do the design limitations of the Mustang prevent this? Thanks dude.


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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:41 am
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EVH5150I wrote:
Wow, sounds cool man, and quite an undertaking. You mention that you're using an FCB1010: have you found any way to switch amp channels within a preset, or do the design limitations of the Mustang prevent this? Thanks dude.


Unless I'm missing something, the closest you can come to switching amp channels is to adjust the "blend" parameter between extremes on models that respond to it (e.g. British 70s). That can be done easily by sending CC#79 with value of 0 for full CCW and CC#79 with value of 127 for full CW. Or, did you have something else in mind?

Any operation that can be done through FUSE can be reverse-engineered and implemented as a MIDI command.


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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 12:42 pm
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shirsch wrote:
My latest commit to GitHub implements 99.5% of the Mustang Floor MIDI specification and has been tested against a Mustang III (original) combo amp.

Work remaining:

    Add support for v2 features
    Control of virtual expression pedal position
    Control of tap-tempo
    Provide sysex commands to retrieve preset list

I am a little surprised at the lack of response or comments, but perhaps I'm the only person who finds MIDI control of the combo amps to be useful.
Awesome work!

You may have nailed it, in that only a mere subset of Mustang Users are using MIDI control.

Nonetheless, your expansion of the interface capabilities is terrific! Particularly as Fender remains silent (some argue dormant) about Mustang and FUSE development efforts, and they have not released any API.

Great to hear from REMUDA's developer that he looked at what you discovered and released. Perhaps he's been back in touch w/ you by now. I know he's away on vacation.

Hope your and his endeavors will compliment each other to enrichment the other's efforts, achieving improved results for all. All Mustang owners should be thanking you guys for every line of code you write!!

_________________
Mustang v2 III/IV●EXP-1●FUSE●REMUDA
Epi LP Florentine Pro●LP Cstm Pros●LP PlusTop Pro●Sheraton-II Pro
Cstm Strat Vntg Noiseless●Guild D-55
So Creek Cables●BOSS RC-1●RS7500
D'Addario Strings●Vari-Grip●Planet Lock Straps


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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2016 1:02 pm
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MusicLaw wrote:
Great to hear from REMUDA's developer that he looked at what you discovered and released. Perhaps he's been back in touch w/ you by now. I know he's away on vacation.

Hope your and his endeavors will compliment each other to enrichment the other's efforts, achieving improved results for all. All Mustang owners should be thanking you guys for every line of code you write!!

I have been in regular communication with Robert. I released the mustang-midi-bridge under GPL 3 license, so the code itself cannot be used in Remuda unless he chooses to opensource the project. However, I have no claims at all on Fender's control protocol and do hope he uses whatever new information I've unearthed in future versions of Remuda.

We are aiming at two very different capabilities with our respective programs, so synergy is a good thing.


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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2016 8:51 am
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I'm very surprised at how little interest there has been in the Mustang MIDI bridge. Would be curious if this was because (a) people have no interest in controlling combo amps via MIDI or (b) it's too complicated or daunting to setup a Raspberry Pi or Beagelbone and install the software.

In any event, it has opened up a world of possibilities for me in terms of stage setup.


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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 7:01 am
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I get the impression that building and installing the MIDI bridge software on a utility computer is too large of a hurdle for many Mustang owners. Fortunately, thanks to the hard work of 'Codesmart' on VGuitar forums, there is a plug-and-play hardware solution about to become available:

http://www.primovasound.com/midx_20.html

There will also be a firmware update for current MIDX-10 owners to add Mustang support. Primova Sound products are limited production and of extremely high quality. I have been helping with Beta test of the new firmware and it will provide the same functionality of my MIDI bridge code in a no-hassle, no-assembly-required form.

Disclaimer: I have no business involvement with Primova Sound, but have worked closely with Codesmart to verify operation and test at my end.

If anyone wants to take the leap and install my bridge code on a Raspberry Pi, Beaglebone or other small computer I would be interested in hearing about your experience. I did my best to document the process, but it's very hard to know what level of detail to hit.


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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 12:29 pm
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Wow! That Primova Sound MIDX20 looks terrific! Just read through the unit's User Manual PDF.

Image

Now, if only the Bluetooth to USB Wireless implementation ttbit posted on MyLesPaul Forums and YouTube can get into production, we'll all be in a whole new era of control for our Mustangs.

In Fender's absence to (yet) re-enter the guitar processor market space with a Mustang Floor successor, I'm now thinking about a Line 6 Helix. It is good to see that Primova Sound's forthcoming MIDX20 may allow my two Mustang Amps to be MIDI controlled from a Helix.

_________________
Mustang v2 III/IV●EXP-1●FUSE●REMUDA
Epi LP Florentine Pro●LP Cstm Pros●LP PlusTop Pro●Sheraton-II Pro
Cstm Strat Vntg Noiseless●Guild D-55
So Creek Cables●BOSS RC-1●RS7500
D'Addario Strings●Vari-Grip●Planet Lock Straps


Last edited by MusicLaw on Thu Sep 01, 2016 3:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 1:04 pm
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I'm not sure that the MIDX-20 will handle more than a single amplifier. You probably want to drop Codesmart a note and ask about that. What behavior would you be looking for? If you want a single message to perform the same action on more than one device, it could be tough. If you can live with each amp listening to a different MIDI channel, I can extend the runtime framework for the bridge to support multiple instances of the program (they would essentially be running independently.


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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 3:29 pm
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Honestly, I'm not yet sure of the functionality that would make sense.

I have a MIV and MIII both are v.2, and each connected to it's own 4btn Fsw and Exp-1. I frequently enjoy using them at the same time. Sometimes for a blend of different Presets on each. At other times, with the MIII as a powered speaker cab. I control each using the REMUDA App so the USB port on the Amp is occupied.

The prospect of a HELIX introduces all sorts of possibilities. Either for the HELIX controlling a single Mustang via MIDI, or both Mustangs connected to Primova box, regardless if they both respond simultaneously to MIDI control or each independently. Have no idea if REMUDA would still work of connected to the Primova box to control even one Mustang.

Already fired off an email to Primova Sound. Are they one in the same as Codesmart?

As much of this is still rapidly evolving, now seems to be a terrific time to explore these development, enhancement and possible functionality issues. I'd be delighted to speak with you about this more should you wish. Send me a PM or email with your phone number and a good time to call.

I have to get back to Robert re: a REMUDA build he sent over this morning, so I will ask him if he has been in touch with Primova or Codesmart.

_________________
Mustang v2 III/IV●EXP-1●FUSE●REMUDA
Epi LP Florentine Pro●LP Cstm Pros●LP PlusTop Pro●Sheraton-II Pro
Cstm Strat Vntg Noiseless●Guild D-55
So Creek Cables●BOSS RC-1●RS7500
D'Addario Strings●Vari-Grip●Planet Lock Straps


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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 4:05 pm
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MusicLaw wrote:
Have no idea if REMUDA would still work of connected to the Primova box to control even one Mustang.


Problem with that is that both the Primova device and whatever REMUDA are running on want to be USB master. I doubt you can have both controlling the amp at the same time. Even if you could, behavior would probably be undefined (polite word for a trainwreck).

Quote:
Already fired off an email to Primova Sound. Are they one in the same as Codesmart?


Essentially. It's a one-man operation featuring Codesmart.

Quote:
As much of this is still rapidly evolving, now seems to be a terrific time to explore these development, enhancement and possible functionality issues. I'd be delighted to speak with you about this more should you wish. Send me a PM or email with your phone number and a good time to call.

I have to get back to Robert re: a REMUDA build he sent over this morning, so I will ask him if he has been in touch with Primova or Codesmart.


The interesting thing is that no two of us (me, Codesmart or Robert) are any sense competing. We're all after a different part of the picture. My midi-bridge is for the hacker or serious do-it-yourself-er. Codesmart is offering a plug-and-play appliance to provide MIDI access (and control your Roland GP-10 at the same time if you wish). The REMUDA app is a nice intuitive GUI for manually tweaking and controller amp behavior and shuffling presets.


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Post subject: Re: MIDI control for Mustang combo amps
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 11:51 am
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Regarding the Boss/Roland oriented MIDX-20, it was never an intention to add a Mustang MIDI Bridge to it, but thanks to Snhirch it just happened this summer (2016).
With the MIDX-20 everything inside the Mustang can be controlled by MIDI except tap-tempo.

The unit has two "Mustang-aware" USB Host ports allowing you to connect either:
* Mustang + 5-pin MIDI controller (FCB 1010 etc.)
* Mustang + USB MIDI controller (Softstep2 etc.)
* Two Mustang's + 5-pin MIDI controller.

The MIDX-20 also have two CTRL jacks so any combination of EV-5 expression pedal, FS-6/FS-7 footswitches can be connected to control the Mustang(s), without any other hardware. The unit runs on 9V or a 5V phone charger (mini USB connector).

If using the MIDX-20 Assistant PC-software to setup the unit, two connected Mustangs may listen to their own MIDI channels.

I've made a small video to show some basic things:


The units are hand-made in small series so expect $150-$190 USD including worldwide shipping and PayPal fees (exchange rates may change).

You find more information on my web page and in the MIDX-20 manual you also find the MIDI implementation chart (implementation identical with Snhirch).
You will also find information on how to contact me by email if interested in this product.
http://www.primovasound.com

Image
Thanks
/CodeSmart


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