The helix sends MIDI commands just to ONE MIDI channel of my choice. but not very practical: My 3 'hardware' pedals send commands to ALL MIDI channels where they are enabled.

I also tried to use the Helix controllers to avoid carrying my 3 synth pedals (expression, sustain and 'S1' normally used to control rotary speaker simulation). My idea about using Helix with FA was to control the FA synth engine with Helix MIDI commands: Use some footswitches to 'play' FA sounds, and also send controllers to FA06. Again no point for me, the internal synth in the FA is much better (to begin, it is velocity sensitive). You can use the keyboard to launch synth sounds in the Helix. To change FA presets the Helix is OK, but the resources inside FA06 are much better.

Also with bass and mandolin, no guitar :). I use Helix with my Roland FA-06 keyboard. Either way, the Helix is better suited to controlling outboard MIDI gear, rather than trying to produce sounds from scratch using external MIDI controllers. Whether I'm controlling accompaniment with the Helix or lead lines on the keys, the audio from the Minilogue passes through the Helix via the aux in jack for effects if necessary, then out with the rest of my signal.įrom time to time I've also used the Helix to change parameters on the Minilogue while I'm playing, whether it's a single shot with a footswitch, or a sweep with an expression pedal, but I prefer to do that with automation when I can. The Helix is also sending MIDI clock, but in the case of my rig, the clock is set by preset or tap tempo, then sent to a MOTU MIDI Timepiece, which then forwards its own clock signal to all my MIDI-capable gear connected to it. The preset on Helix sends the program change for the Minilogue, and for some presets the footswitches are configured to send Note on/off messages similar to a bass pedal controller (at least until I get my hands on a PK-5 or MPC-130 at a decent price, and yes I am a Rush fan, lol). My Minilogue synth is tied into my Helix, but more so to control the Minilogue with the Helix, rather than the opposite. If it were a pure MIDI controller, and not USB, you could use Helix as an interface to pass the commands to a computer for soft synth control, though I'm not sure of too many controllers that aren't USB already. The only thing you could really do with a keyboard controller is parameter control with sliders and encoders, if the controller were so equipped. As far as the linked diagram is concerned, I'm sure it's just an example.

Load roland sound canvas in mainstage