Splits midi patch change question

[Microkid42]

Hello all. New OB-X8 user and could not be happier. I came to this forum with three questions and found the answers to two of them just reading posts here. Thanks!

Here's an answer I couldn't find, and maybe because it isn't a thing.

In a live rig, I use a Nord Stage 3 and one or two other synths. The OB-X8 will likely replace both of the other two, since I can have things on separate midi channels for upper and lower. My question is this: is there a way to send a MIDI patch change message to the OB-X8 that will both put it into split mode and also select the correct group & patch?

I did some MIDI patch changes on the OB-X8 while recording MIDI data in Logic Pro and saw that at least three MIDI messages were being sent from CC 119 and CC 95, but I don't understand the relationship of CC 95 ("Lower/Upper/No Select").

When I tried to use the Nord's external section to send a value of '1' to from CC 119, the OB-X8 did jump into split mode, but then it freaked out and actually removed the option of the Split and Double bank from the machine entirely. Pressing the Split button on the OB-X8 would only select a random Split, where one half was a bass sound and the upper was screeching noise. I couldn't get that to go away, even with powering off, etc. I finally had to reload all factory patches from SoundTower's app and it resolved.

Any thoughts? The idea here is that I use the Nord as the master controller per song in my live sets, so I'd love if it could select regular patches on the OB-X8 when needed, but then also Splits when needed, and back again.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

(In future revs, I'd love to see Splits and Doubles as their own banks, accessible via LSB like the other Banks are now.)

[Microkid42]

I'm going to answer my own question, just in case anyone later is searching for this.

Obviously, if playing live, before switching to the next song's patch on the Nord, I can hit the split button on the OB-X8 and then it will be ready to receive a patch change in the splits and split+ banks.

However, for anyone curious, the answer to my original question is that you send CC 119 to the OB-X8 with a value of 2. This puts it into Split mode and then it receives whatever patch change you want that will only access Split patches. Easy.

Two caveats:
1) If your next master keyboard patch change isn't using a split, you'll have to send another CC 119 with a value of 1 to go back to regular (non-split or double mode).

2) At least on my OB-X8, a glitch in the software means that if you input a CC 119 of higher than 3, you are screwed. Mine jumps to the patch called JerseyGirlBass in Split mode where the Lower is a bass sound and the Upper is a shrieking non-patch of some kind. Regular Split and Double mode are now removed from the instrument and anytime you push either button, it only goes back to that JerseyGirlBass nightmare. Nothing fixes it, including power off, unplugging from AC, etc. You have to literally reinstall all factory patches to get it back to working order.

So... is it worth messing with that CC 119? Haha... you be the judge.

[gus]

Appreciate the followup for other users in the future! I will log the bug mentioned, but if you are able to send a note to support@oberheim.com with step by step on how to reproduce it, that would be super helpful. Sounds like something that should get fixed!

[Teiko]

Thank you for sharing your experience, which is very valuable!