v-amp2 and fcb1010

I. Introduction

The best way to use the fcb1010 with the v-amp2, imo, is:

In each fcb bank assign the identical fs to select v-amp-patches, and the others to change fx-parameters.
Example: in each bank fs 1-5 are assigned to change programs, fs 6-0 to change parameters.

The expression pedals have to be assigned for each fcb-patch individually. I recommend to assign identical functions for all patches in one fcb-bank. E.g.: for all patches in fcb-bank1 expA controls the wah, expB controls the volume.

This idea is what this guide is about. Since the fcb obviously is designed for versatility, its editing is rather complex. Please read this document from top to bottom, before you start editing a function. This, hopefully, will give you an idea, what all you can do and what you have to do

Important note1 : even if a patch is programmed as parameter-control only (NOT changing programs), it is a complete patch with its individual controllers. So if, let`s say, you select a v-amp sound by hitting fs2 (in which the pedals are assigned as described above). Next you hit fs7 (which you have programmed to switch on the reverb): now the pedals won’t work as before, unless you have programmed them identically for fs7.

Important note2: if programming the expA and B will not have the desired result, they are probably out of calibration. To calibrate them, follow the description given in http://www.altrion.org/fcb1010/post.html.

Connect [fcb midi out] to [v-amp midi in] using an ordinary midi cable (there is no use or advantage in connecting [v-amp midi out] to [fcb midi in] as well).

II. Global settings

(the global settings should be correct by default; anyway, it might be useful to know how to change them and what they mean)

V-amp

Set the v-amp midi channel to 1:

a. Press both curser buttons simultaneously

b. Press <A>

c. Use the cursor buttons until the display reads “1”
d. press <exit>

Fcb

Enter global mode: press and hold <down> for about 3 seconds when powering up the fcb. The direct select led is lit.

1. Disable “direct select”: if fs0 led is lit, press fs0 until it is off

2. Set the program change1 function to midi channel 1 (the fcb allows you to send five different program change messages on five different channels to control up to five different units; we only need one):

a. Press <up>: [midi function led] is on; you are now asked to choose, for which function you want to edit the midichannel

b. Press fs1 to choose progchang1; fs1led flashes

c. Press <up>; [midi chan led] is lit; you are asked to choose the midichannel

d. Press fs1 to select midichannel 1; the display shows “1”

e. Press <up> to confirm; [config led] is on

f. Press <up> [direct select led] is lit.

3.-6. Set cnt1, cnt2, expA and expB to midi channel 1:

repeat steps 2a. – 2f. , but choose the following functions in 2b.: Cnt1=fs6, cnt2=fs7, expA=fs8, expB=fs9.

7. Press and hold <down> for 3 seconds to exit global setup.

III. edit programchange patches

You can program any fcb-patch to select any v-amp-patch.

The following example describes how to make bank3 patch2 recall patch 4c.

Important note 3: in the descriptions below I finish every process with “exit edit mode”. This is not necessary when you want to edit several functions of a patch.

1. On the fcb1010 select the patch you want to edit:

a. Select bank3 using the <up> and <down> footswitches.

b. Press fs2.

2 . Enter edit mode: press and hold <down> for three seconds. [switch-led] flashes.

1. Press <up>. [select led] is on. You are now asked to decide which functions this patch is to perform;
2. Since you want it to perform a progchange1 (as determined and described in the “global mode” chapter I.) press fs1 until it is lit.
   Moreover, you want to use the exppedals when this patch is selected. So do the same with fs8 and fs9. (their programming, though, will be described in chapter IV.)

For the first you want to edit the programchange: press fs1 again so that it flashes.

(fs8 and 9 are lit, fs1 flashes, all other fs-leds are off)

3. Press <up>. [number led] is on. You are now asked to tap in the midi-progchange#, that will recall the wanted v-amp patch.

Midi has a range of ## from 0 to 127. the fcb internally uses the ##1-128. the v-amp calls them 1A,1B, 1C…

Example: if you choose #1 on the fcb, midi progchange #0 is sent to the v-amp, which again translates this to 1A.

Here´s a table that shows you, which v-amp preset# corresponds to which fcb preset#:

	A	B	C	D	E
1	1	2	3	4	5
2	6	7	8	9	10
3	11	12	13	14	15
4	16	17	18	19	20
5	21	22	23	24	25
6	26	27	28	29	30
7	31	32	33	34	35
8	36	37	38	39	40
9	41	42	43	44	45
10	46	47	48	49	50
11	51	52	53	54	55
12	56	57	58	59	60
13	61	62	63	64	65
14	66	67	68	69	70
15	71	72	73	74	75
16	76	77	78	79	80
17	81	82	83	84	85
18	86	87	88	89	90
19	91	92	93	94	95
20	96	97	98	99	100
21	101	102	103	104	105
22	106	107	108	109	110
23	111	112	113	114	115
24	116	117	118	119	120
25	121	122	123	124	125

To recall 4C you have to send progchange #18

4. Press fs1, then fs8. The display shows “18”.
5. Press <up> to confirm. [select led] is on.

f. Press and hold <down> for 3 seconds to exit edit mode.

Any time you hit fs2 in bank3 now, v-amp will change to patch 4C.

IV. edit exppedals

For every individual patch you can determine, 1. which parameters the exppedals are to control and 2. how broad the range of the control will be.

As already mentioned above, I recommend to edit all patches of one bank with identical parameters and values.

Here is a description how to program expB to change volume from half to full in our patch2 of bank3 (which is already programmed to recall 4C on the v-amp).

1. On the fcb1010 select the patch you want to edit:

a. Select bank3 using the <up> and <down> footswitches.

b. Press fs2.

2 . Enter edit mode: press and hold <down> for three seconds. [switch-led] is on.

1. Press <up>. [select led] is on. The leds of fs1, fs8 and fs9 are lit (see III.2.b.). you are now asked to determine which function you want to edit.
2. Press fs9 so that it flashes.
3. Press <up>. The [number led] is lit. you are now asked to tap in the cnt# which the v-amp recognizes as vol-control. Look it up in 8.1. of the v-amp manual. #7 is assigned to volume pedal. (note: for wah you would have to select #27, NOT #1!).
4. Press fs7. the display shows “7”.
5. Press <up>. [value1] led is on. You are now asked to tap in the lowest value of volume control (when the pedal will be heel down).
6. Press fs6 then fs3. the display shows “63” (remember: midi ranges from 0-127, so 63 is about the middle; if you want the heel down position to mute the signal, you have to choose “0”).
7. Press <up>. [value1] led is on. You are now asked to tap in the tip down-value; since in our example you want it to be maximum:
8. Press fs1, then fs2. then fs7. the display shows “127”.
9. Press <up> to confirm.
10. Press and hold <down> for 3 seconds to exit edit mode.

When you are in bank3 patch2, expA will change the volume from half to full now.

If not, see important note2 (recalibration) above!

V. edit a footswitch as on/off toggle switch for effects

My concept was to keep fs6-0 for toggling effects.

Here is an example, how to edit fs0 in our bank3 to toggle between a little reverb and a little more reverb:

1. On the fcb1010 select the patch you want to edit:

a. Select bank3 using the <up> and <down> footswitches.

b. Press fs0.

2 . Enter edit mode: press and hold <down> for three seconds. [switch-led] is on.

1. Press <up>. [select led] is on. Since you want this patch to change an fx-parameter only, make sure, the fs1 (progchang1) is off. Fs8 and fs9 should be on (you should edit the exp’s A and B later as described in chapter IV). In order to make this a toggle switch you have to press fs6 (cnt1) and fs7 (cnt2), until they are lit.
2. now press fs6 again, so that it flashes.

(fs7,fs,8,fs9 are lit, fs6 is flashing).

3. Press <up>. The [number led] is lit. you are now asked to tap in the cnt# which the v-amp recognizes as reverb mix. Look it up in chapter 8.1. of the v-amp manual. Midi# 18 is recognized as reverb mix controller.
4. Press fs1, then fs8. the display reads “18”.

11. Press <up>. [value1] led is on. You are now asked to tap in the value that will be recalled when you press fs0 once.

5. Press fs2 then fs0. the display reads “20” (remember: midi is 0-127)
6. Press <up> to confirm.
   
   Unlike with the exp-editing, you have not been asked to tap in a second value, because this is determined by cnt2:
   
   
7. [select led] is on, fs6, fs7,fs,8,fs9 are lit. press fs7 (cnt2) so that it flashes.
8. Repeat steps c. – f., except: in step e. you have to tap in the reverb mix value that will be recalled, when you´ll hit fs0 a second time. Try value 40: fs4, then fs0.

12. After confirming (f.), press and hold <down> for 3 seconds to exit edit mode.

When you are in bank3 and hit fs0, the reverb mix of the current v-amp patch will now be put to 20. when you hit it another time, it will be set to 40.

Any questions unanswered?

Found mistakes?

Have ideas for improvements?

Wanna say thank you?

Want to help me translate this into decent English?

e-mail me: mailto:info@klausdibbelt.de.