BIAS Guitar Mini head and DIY MIDI footswitch (Arduino Uno)

andrewhamtx

Greetings All,

I built an Arduino Uno powered DIY 6-button footswitch. I can monitor the MIDI PC commands that are sent when the buttons are pushed (via USB with MIDI Monitor software on Mac OS X):

MIDI PC messages sending.png

The numbers in the "Data" column correspond to the PC numbers already present on the head. Note that I'm sending on channel 1 which the head expects as well.

That said, when I plug the device into the MIDI "IN" port with a 5-pin DIN-to-3.5mm cable and power on both devices, the head does not respond in any fashion?

I'm at a dead stop with this project as I'm not finding any other support documentation on this topic.

In the event there are any Arduino "Pros" on here, here's is my code:

#include <MIDI.h>
#include "Controller.h"

/*
 *  Midi Footswitch - BIAS Mini Guitar Amp Head
 *  6 switches + 6 LEDs
 *  3 clean amp models - 3 dirty amp models
 *  @version 0.1
 *  @created 2021-08-15
 *  @updated 2021-10-11
 */

MIDI_CREATE_DEFAULT_INSTANCE();

// Declare LEDs
int _INPUTS = 6;
int LEDS[] = { A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 };

/*  
 *  Declare buttons
 *  ---------------------------------------------------------
 *  param 1 = pin
 *  param 2 = command (0 = midi note, 1 = CC msg, 2 = toggle)
 *  param 3 = note number
 *  param 4 = channel
 *  param 5 = debounce time (milliseconds)
*/

// CLEAN _____________________
Button BTN_1(2, 1, 8, 0, 5);
Button BTN_2(3, 1, 10, 0, 5);
Button BTN_3(4, 1, 15, 0, 5);
// DIRTY _____________________
Button BTN_4(5, 1, 1, 0, 5);
Button BTN_5(6, 1, 2, 0, 5);
Button BTN_6(7, 1, 4, 0, 5);

Button *BUTTONS[] = { &BTN_1, &BTN_2, &BTN_3, &BTN_4, &BTN_5, &BTN_6 };

byte sendChan = 1;
byte currChan = 0;

void setup() {
  MIDI.begin();
  
  // Set Serial baud rate:
  Serial.begin(31250); // 9600

  // Set pin modes
  for (byte i = 0; i < _INPUTS; i++) pinMode( LEDS[i], OUTPUT );
  for (byte i = 2; i < _INPUTS + 2; i++) pinMode( i, INPUT_PULLUP );
  
  _LED_ON(0);
  MIDI.sendProgramChange(8, sendChan);

  delay(100);
}

void loop() {
  //buttonsListener();
  // Cycle through Button array
  for (int i = 0; i < _INPUTS; i++) {
    byte message = BUTTONS[i]->getValue();

    //  Button is pressed
    if (message == 0) {

      if (currChan == i) return;

      // Turn OFF LEDs
      _LEDS_OFF();

      currChan = i;
      // Turn ON the proper LED
      _LED_ON(i);

      byte btnValue = BUTTONS[i]->Bvalue;
      MIDI.sendProgramChange(btnValue, sendChan);

      delay(100);
      
    } else {
      
      delay(10);
      
    }
  }
}

// ---------------------------------------
//          UTILITY FUNCTIONS
// ---------------------------------------

void _LEDS_OFF() {
  for( byte i = 0; i < _INPUTS; i++ ) {
    digitalWrite( LEDS[i], LOW );
  }
}

void _LED_ON ( byte targ ) {
  digitalWrite( LEDS[targ], HIGH );
}

void _LED_OFF ( byte targ ) {
  digitalWrite( LEDS[targ], LOW );
}

Any ideas are greatly appreciated! \m| |m/

andrewhamtx

UPDATE: I have all but abandoned the Arduino footswitch thinking that perhaps something is incorrect with my code.

I purchased a Tech21 Midi Mongoose thinking this would surely resolve my MIDI issue. Sadly, it does not work with the head either?

I have engaged support to find out why this is happening. In the process of troubleshooting I discovered that my Arduino device is sending exactly the same data over MIDI that the Tech21 hardware is. In short – the DIY Arduino device appears to be functioning properly!

Will update again when support (hopefully) resolves this issue.

andrewhamtx

UPDATE: After A LOT of back and forth with Positive Grid Support I was informed that only a specific MIDI adaptor will work (MIDI TRS DIN Type B). #facepalm

Note that the BIAS Guitar Mini Head does ship with 2 of these cables, but I purchased my head used from Guitar Center and no cables were not included.

Here is the ONLY after market MIDI adaptor cable that will work:

https://www.amazon.com/MIDI-Cable-1010music-Arturia-Novation/dp/B074XGJRQK

The GOOD NEWS: my DIY Arduino-powered 6-button foot switch DOES WORK!!! I gigged with it last week.