Controlling Jupiter-x from Fantom-X7

5 Dec 2021, 17:22

Hello to all! I've not been on this forum in ages, but I have a new Jupiter-X I'm trying to get situated in my studio rig and I'm having an issue. I've scanned the forum and not really seen a question like this, so forgive me if I've missed the answer or if the question seems really boneheaded.

Here's what I'm trying to do:

I use my Fantom-X as my main keyboard and control my other external boards from it. My usual workflow is I build up my song in the Fantom's 16 part sequencer, each track corresponding to a given MIDI channel. The way I have things set up is I control my OB-6 from track (MIDI channel) 2, my V-Synth GT from channel/track 3. I also have the Integra-7 which I can easily turn off the keyboard switch on individual channels so only those that I want to use sound. So far so good.

Now what I'm trying to do is slot the Jupiter-x in the rig in the same manner. Let's just arbitrarily say I want to use it on Track/channel 1. Due to the 5 part construction of the Jupiter "scene" I would have to use Tracks 1-5 solely dedicated to just the Jupiter which is a no-go. I can turn the remote keyboard switch ON on the Jupiter and then all of the parts will sound from the same track. The problem with this is that in this configuration ANY data on ANY of the 16 tracks on the Fantom will then trigger the Jupiter. I really just want to use the entire scene on the Jupiter as a single patch of sorts and really have no need to control the different scene parts on different channels. If I go into the Jupiter X editor on the Mac I can easily change each part to the same MIDI channel, but I lose any arpreggiator function of the Jupiter if I'm controlling it remotely.

So far it looks like either:

a. Manually edit each scene so that all of the parts are on the same channel, but lose the Arp functionality

or

b. Turn the remote kbd switch ON to get the Arp functioning properly, but then lose the ability to control the board via a single dedicated MIDI channel from the Fantom.

I'm hoping more experience hands here will have an easy fix for this, because if this isn't possible, I'm afraid this board will have to go back.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide!

Mike

Re: Controlling Jupiter-x from Fantom-X7

26 Dec 2021, 16:05

From the lack of response, I take it that it can't be done, then? Seems odd that such a powerful keyboard lacks a simple option to remotely control it with the remote keyboard switch ON via a single selected MIDI channel rather than a MIDI Omni scheme as seems to be the only current option.

Re: Controlling Jupiter-x from Fantom-X7

1 May 2022, 13:50

I think the best approach would be to use the remote keyboard, but you need an external midi filter that only lets the one channel assigned to the J-X to get through to it. There are lots of apps that let you do that, and even some interfaces have built-in filtering.

p.s., there is a MDP2 layout that will do a global update of your MIDI settings, if needed, instead of having to update each Scene individually.

Re: Controlling Jupiter-x from Fantom-X7

6 May 2022, 18:33

Thank you thank you thank you! The hardware solution was the one that worked for me. I found the MIDI Solutions Event Processor from Sweetwater for $159 and it does the trick. The gadget took about 30 minutes of head scratching to figure out how to program it, but it does the trick. The software for the box looks like something last written around 1993, but after a little trial and error, I got it working. The only drawbacks are having to buy another piece of gear, albeit not terribly expensive, to get this board to cooperate with my setup, and the fact that I have to place the Jupiter-X at the terminal end of my gear chain since the filter will keep all the other 15 channels of data from being passed on through the board downstream, but not really a showstopper.

Still and all it would be nice if Roland's software guys would include a little snippet in the setup menu that allows you to specify a single MIDI channel 1 through 16 OR the Omni default setting when the Keyboard Switch setting is ON. I can't think that would be all that tricky to do, but I really wouldn't know obviously.

Regardless, I'm quite grateful for the help as I was REALLY not wanting to return this board. I love the sounds and especially the i-Arp function. Thanks again!