Automating and/or controlling the changing of Banks and Presets on the V-Machine via MIDI messages can be done in a number of ways. This article will cover the basics and some of the possible ways you can do this.

There are few methods that can be used individually or combined to suit your needs:

1. Using midi CC controllers (rotary midi controller knobs) from your keyboard to scroll through banks and presets.
2. Using Midi Program Change messages which most keyboards can send to control the plugins internal patches.
3. Using Midi Program Change messages to control the preset that loads inside a single BANK.
4. Using midi LSB and MSB bank messages followed by a Midi Program Change to select the desired BANK+Preset or plugin internal patch. Bank change messages are only supported in build 20100227 and newer.

There are a number of options in the V-Machines menu which allows you to pick how you want the V-Machine to respond, please take the time to learn about these options as some may need to be changed for you to have the unit respond in the way that suits how you like to work.

The V-Machine listens to 'ALL' midi channels unless you set the midi channel on the VFX mixer page to an exact number. This is found just under the time signature and tempo controls in the VFX Application.

Also to control which PRESET is loaded you MUST make this change first inside the V-Machines menus.
MENU:midi options
send program change
to preset, then plugins

By default, program changes will not control the Preset and will only get sent to the plugin for changing the plugins internal PATCH unless this change is made. You can mix both methods together by saving the wrong midi channel on the mixer near the tempo controls. If you wish to control the PRESET then make sure the midi channel is set to ALL or the correct channel number, then for other presets where you wish to control the PATCH instead, simply save the wrong midi channel to force the midi to be sent to the plugins internal patches.

Another important menu option is the choice on when/if the V-Machine will change presets:

• Immediately, and hence does not need any further button pushes. Works well for BANK and MPC messages where you send an exact place to jump to.
• Never change, and will require you to always push a button to confirm the change. You can learn the CONFIRM button to a midi controller to remotely push the load control.
• A specified delay before the change is made, giving you time to cancel or select a new bank/preset combination to load. This works well if you use midi CC to move through the banks and presets on different knobs of your keyboard.

To make your choice bring up the MENU: MIDI Options, and it will display 'send program change' on the 2nd LCD line, press the right hand SAVE button to move to the next option and 'Program Change Delay' is displayed. On the 3rd LCD line you can make your choice.

How to use midi CC to control the V-Machine remotely from keyboard CC knobs and buttons:

Enter the MENU and press the left MENU button until you see 'Menu:Global MIDI Learn' on the first LCD line. The second line will display 'BANK Knob' and you can change this to a number of different controls by using the SAVE buttons. Once you have the desired control on the second line, just move or press the control on your keyboard. If sucessful you will see the controller number appear on the 3rd LCD line of the screen.

How to use bank change MSB and LSB:

The v-machine will respond to bank change msb and lsb only if they are directly followed by a midi program change message. If only a single MSB is sent with no LSB then it will be treated as LSB.

MSB, followed by LSB and when the MPC (midi program change) is sent the V-Machine will respond. Some examples are.

MSB of 0, LSB of 3 and MPC of 25 means that bank 3 will load and you have the choice (depending on menu setting) if Preset 25, or Patch 25 in the first preset will load.

MSB of 2, LSB of 5 and MPC of 80 means that bank 261 will load you have the choice (depending on menu setting) if Preset 80, or Patch 80 in the first preset will load.

To determin the bank that will load use the formula:

(MSB*128)+LSB = bank to load

This means the maximum bank that you can load will be 16383 as midi can only go up to 127 in value.