Feature Request: Local Keyboard Control Off (for use as a master Keyboard)

[nertsch]

Hi,

I want to use my prophet 6 as master keyboard.
For that reason I set 'local control' to off and 'midi control' to on and connected the P6 to my DAW with MIDI.
Depending on the Settings in the DAW I can play every other Instrument with the P6 keyboard.
But regardless how I configure the P6, there is always something not working:
'Param Xmit' and 'Param Rcv' set to 'nr': unfortunetely not all DAWs support NRPN messages, which means the control knobs on the P6 have no effect when playing the P6
'Param Xmit' and 'Param Rcv' set to 'CC': not all knobs on the P6 produce CC messages. The knobs which do not produce (e.g. the LFO Pots) have no effect

It would be great if 'local control' would offer a third option called 'Just knobs'. Then I could set 'Param Xmit' to off and 'local control' to 'Just knobs', which would have the effect that just the keyboard data is sent to the DAW and the knobs control alwas the P6 regardless of the DAW settings.

Another option would be (maybe that is the better one)
When 'Param Xmit' and 'Param Rcv' are both set to 'off' the knobs and pots control the P6 regardless off the  'local control' setting.
This would be also be non breaking, because currently setting 'Param Xmit' and 'Param Rcv' to 'off' makes the knobs useless if 'local control'  is also set to off. Which makes no sense.

br
Gerhard

[philroyjenkins]

Hi,

I want to use my prophet 6 as master keyboard.
For that reason I set 'local control' to off and 'midi control' to on and connected the P6 to my DAW with MIDI.
Depending on the Settings in the DAW I can play every other Instrument with the P6 keyboard.
But regardless how I configure the P6, there is always something not working:
'Param Xmit' and 'Param Rcv' set to 'nr': unfortunetely not all DAWs support NRPN messages, which means the control knobs on the P6 have no effect when playing the P6
'Param Xmit' and 'Param Rcv' set to 'CC': not all knobs on the P6 produce CC messages. The knobs which do not produce (e.g. the LFO Pots) have no effect

It would be great if 'local control' would offer a third option called 'Just knobs'. Then I could set 'Param Xmit' to off and 'local control' to 'Just knobs', which would have the effect that just the keyboard data is sent to the DAW and the knobs control alwas the P6 regardless of the DAW settings.

Another option would be (maybe that is the better one)
When 'Param Xmit' and 'Param Rcv' are both set to 'off' the knobs and pots control the P6 regardless off the  'local control' setting.
This would be also be non breaking, because currently setting 'Param Xmit' and 'Param Rcv' to 'off' makes the knobs useless if 'local control'  is also set to off. Which makes no sense.

br
Gerhard

I second this although I'm far from the second. I think hundreds of us have realized this limitation across a few of the modern DSI boxes.

I love my P6 and I want it to be the heart of my setup, in the middle of my desk. This issue makes it very hard for me to use it as a master keyboard controller.

[nertsch]

It would be great if 'local control' would offer a third option called 'Just knobs'. Then I could set 'Param Xmit' to off and 'local control' to 'Just knobs', which would have the effect that just the keyboard data is sent to the DAW and the knobs control alwas the P6 regardless of the DAW settings.

Another option would be (maybe that is the better one)
When 'Param Xmit' and 'Param Rcv' are both set to 'off' the knobs and pots control the P6 regardless off the  'local control' setting.
This would be also be non breaking, because currently setting 'Param Xmit' and 'Param Rcv' to 'off' makes the knobs useless if 'local control'  is also set to off. Which makes no sense.

br
Gerhard

Is there any chance that such a small feature, which would enhance the P6 to be able to act as a "master keyboard", will ever get implemented ?

br
Gerhard

[AndreN]

+1 for that request

I also would like to be able to specify a different midi in and out channel. Background is: I use an Elektron Digitone as the sequencer for my P6 and get double notes while recording.

Local control just does not work, because I have to use the midi out port of the Elektron device and it seems that the messages needed to still control the P6 are not transmitted through the mdi out, only on the midi through port of the Elektron device.

On a nord stage I can specify the midi out channel (called external instrument) and it works just fine.
Andre.

[blinduncledallas]

I have been trying to use the P6 as master controller with various rack mount synths like the JD-990 for a long time now and I've recently given up.

I use an iConnectivity Mio10 to route all my MIDI synths and the various clock and MIDI in out problems and audio dropouts of the P6 mean I have just removed it from the chain and record it with the analog outs only now. I can use the arpeggiator and not have the endless headaches of turning local control or the clock on or off. It's old school but frustrating as I often like to edit the midi performance.

I now use my Korg Kronos as the main MIDI controller and I haven't had an issue yet with it.

The P6 is a great synth but the MIDI and clock implementation is absolutely terrible.

[cowudders]

+1 for that request

I also would like to be able to specify a different midi in and out channel. Background is: I use an Elektron Digitone as the sequencer for my P6 and get double notes while recording.

Local control just does not work, because I have to use the midi out port of the Elektron device and it seems that the messages needed to still control the P6 are not transmitted through the mdi out, only on the midi through port of the Elektron device.

On a nord stage I can specify the midi out channel (called external instrument) and it works just fine.
Andre.

gonna bump this, as a function like this would make the P6 perfect for me. cheers!

[ensoniq70]

Bump - this function is a must-have!

[Fuenstock]

Wow,
 Im glad I dropped into this thread! I was just about to buy a Prophet 6 with the idea if it being the perfect master midi keyboard for me. This has me thinking twice.

[plplpl]

Also adding a request for the an option of local keyboard off with front panel controls still active 

[jok3r]

I don't want to start an extra thread so: please implement this for all your synth!

[LPF83]

I'm confused, even though I've read the original post several times.  On one hand it seems the goal is to use one keyboard to control all other synths, but then the request is that only the keybed controls the other synths while the knobs only affect the P6.

To clear up my own mind, you want to use the P6 only to play the keys of other synths?  How would you use the wheels, cutoff knob etc during play?

[jok3r]

I'm confused, even though I've read the original post several times.  On one hand it seems the goal is to use one keyboard to control all other synths, but then the request is that only the keybed controls the other synths while the knobs only affect the P6.

To clear up my own mind, you want to use the P6 only to play the keys of other synths?  How would you use the wheels, cutoff knob etc during play?

I can only speak for me, but I see the wheels as performance controllers and so they should affect the same synth as the keys, be it local or something else over midi. The cutoff knob is a knob that belongs to the synth it physically sits on. So I would split between parameter controls and performance controls.

Some hardware setups would benefit from such a configuration. At the moment I have my Rev2 hooked up to my Launchpad Pro Mk3 to add notes to its internal sequencer. From the Launchpad I also control my PEAK. If I want to play the PEAK with the keys of the Rev2 I have to select the right track on the Launchpad and turn Local Off on the Rev2, so I only play the PEAK. But if I turn cutoff knob on the Rev2 now, nothing happens. Not even if I activate the Rev2's track on the Launchpad. It seems the Launchpad does not forward any incoming CC messages and I think there are other hardware sequencers that have this problem also. With above mentioned split between parameter and performance controls I would not have this problem. I could play the synth I activate on the Launchpad with the keys and simultaneously tweak my sound on the Rev2.

[nertsch]

I can only speak for me, but I see the wheels as performance controllers and so they should affect the same synth as the keys, be it local or something else over midi. The cutoff knob is a knob that belongs to the synth it physically sits on. So I would split between parameter controls and performance controls.

  That's exactly how I meant it

[LPF83]

Thanks, I believe I understand now.  The limitation is that it cannot control the keys/wheel and another synth and the knobs of the local synth simultaneously.  I've just never thought about playing that way;  I always expect the knobs and the key bed to be controlling the same thing.

[jok3r]

Thanks, I believe I understand now.  The limitation is that it cannot control the keys/wheel and another synth and the knobs of the local synth simultaneously.  I've just never thought about playing that way;  I always expect the knobs and the key bed to be controlling the same thing.

When I read this feature request first, it didn't make any sense to me either. But now that I'm trying to do some "hardware only" things (besides recording) I've run into this situation pretty fast.

[BlackDoors]

+1 to this request. Worth noting that some hardware sequencers do not pass NRPNs through anyway, keeping having to turn local and midi through on and off on the keyboard and sequencer respectively to use the keyboard to enter notes or play other hardware is painful.

[spaceshipearth]

I have an OB-6 but I am also running into this issue. Recently moved the OB-6 into the second studio and it's the only keybed in this room. The MPC3000 being used as a sequencer is limited to CC messages 0-127. It's a constant dance of switching from 'local on' to modify patches and 'local off' to record sequences and control other equipment. The other room has an MPC2000XL as the sequencer, and doesn't have the same CC limitations. Both CC and NRPN (NRPN as a passthrough) works fine with local control off on the 2000XL.

I would be happy with a solution that just routes 'Param Xmit' to local control when set to 'off', leaving note data, mod/pitch wheels, and channel pressure as local off functions. This would essentially turn the P6/OB-6 into a desktop unit with the keyboard able to function as a master controller.

It's all rather frustrating!

[spaceshipearth]

bump

[cowudders]

Thanks for your last great OS update with MPE & the vintage knog algorithm - but please consider implementing an extra local off mode, where only keyboard, wheels, pedals send midi-data and the knobs stay in control of the synth-engine. just like a setup with masterkeyboard & desktop module would do. thanks for reading and making glorious synths!

[engineerjoel]

Also adding a request for the an option of local keyboard off with front panel controls still active 

Please clarify. Are you suggesting that when Local Keyboard is "OFF", all the front panel controls are NOT active...(are disabled?)