Voodoo Lab

Hi,

I have had HEX for a while now. I initially had problems with it 'not playing well' with the Control Switcher when both HEX and CS are in MIDI mode. But then I bypassed the problem by using the CS in GCX mode using my old DMC Ground Control. (orig thread here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=6876&p=23428)

But now, I added another MIDI device to my pedal board (Source Audio Ventris reverb), and the garbled MIDI messages coming out of the HEX are problematic once more.
The problem was never with the Control Switcher, but with the MIDI output of the HEX.

It seems I am not the only one with this problem. Here are a few threads describing the same bug:
- HEX MIDI OUT flakey viewtopic.php?t=12414
- Problem with Voodoo Labs Hex + Control Switcher: viewtopic.php?t=7576
- Voodoo Hex MIDI Out "ghost" PC Messages: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12523&p=34798
- Hex problems: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9200&p=29041
- https://www.morningstarfx.com/forum-2-1 ... thru-issue
None of these threads provided a solution.

My MIDI chain is as follows: DMC Ground Control -> HEX -> Ventris -> Control Switcher

I put a midi monitor right before and after the HEX.
I can see that the Ground Control properly sends 3 Program Change messages to the appropriate MIDI channels. Normally, I should get the same 3 messages coming out of the HEX but that is not always the case.
Usualy, the MIDI output from the HEX is ok, the same 3 messages are re-sent as-is from the HEX.

But sometimes, way too often to ignore, the HEX outputs around 15 messages. Among these are the 3 original Program Change messages, the rest being other Program Changes that make no sense. I never sent these from the Ground Control, they are being generated by the HEX and affecting every MIDI device downstream with wrong Program numbers.

I can provide screenshots if needed, but that gear is at my rehearsal space, it would take a few days.

Has anyone resolved that issue yet?

There is no other midi gear in the setup.

I tried connecting the Control Switcher first in the chain, it did work, but since the Hex is on my pedalboard, and the Control Switcher is near my amp it wasn`t a viable option.

Setting both units to respond to midi didn't work with the Hex first in the chain. The same problem remained.

What did work was setting the Hex to midi, and the Control Switcher to respond to GCX messages. This setup suits me just fine.

All is well now, thanks!

Ok here's my setup: I have an original DMC Ground Control V1.00, connected to a HEX, then connected to a Control Switcher (the one I have has black buttons).

Since The Ground Control V1.00 can only operate one single GCX-type expander, I have the HEX setup as the expander, and the Control Switcher is setup to respond to PC messages on midi channel 2.

The problem I have is that when I select a patch on the Control Switcher, one time out of maybe 10, it will have one of the following behaviors:
1: all four leds will flash a few times then all turn off. (the relays may or may not be set correctly as per the preset selected, it is inconsistent)
2: the proper preset leds will turn on for a fraction of a second then turn off (again, the relays may or may not be set correctly as per the preset selected, it is inconsistent)
3: the leds will show the wrong settings for the preset i selected (the relays switches are then also setup wrong)

BUT! if I disconnect the HEX and connect the Ground Control directly to the Control Switcher, it works perfectly, both in midi mode and in GCX-type mode.

I have no problem setting up and selecting presets on the HEX with the Ground Control.

The problem seems to be the midi out on the HEX.

any help would be appreciated.

thanks

Louis

I fixed it, it was a broken circuit line, a jumper wire did the trick.

Hi, I have an original DMC Ground Control, it has seen alot of action over the years and it is starting to show. A few months ago, the '0' switch has stopped working, which is not that big a deal, if not for the fact that I can't enter setup mode anymore.

So I replaced the switch with a new one, but it still doesn't work. I retrieved the old switch from the waste basket and tested it , and whaddayanow, it wasn't broken in the first place! Damn... so the problem lies elsewhere.

I visually followed the electrical lines going out of the switch on the circuit board, and one seems to go directly to a pin of one of the larger chips, and the other goes what I assume to be a common ground. All the solders look fine.

I don't really know what could be the problem, other than maybe the chip being broken on the inside.

I know this pedal is old (there's a sticker on it that says 1992!), but hopefully someone here might have had a similar problem.

any help would be appreciated.

Louis