[sdiy] MIDI CC with Pots

[Roman Sowa]

my late vote on the subject below...

>
> OPTION 1: I recommended having the synth use whatever message it last
> received, whether a pot change or a CC message. This provides
> flexibility in usage and allows the use of both MIDI CC and the pots
> at the same time. This is how most of my synths seem to work.

I talked about it many times with touring musician who whould use 
eye-blink MIDI controller if there was any, foot and breath controllers 
constantly, and keyboard split into 7 zones, with bunch of modules in 
rack. Well, he says the jumps kill the show. It's not only about CC, but 
exactly the same happens when you try to edit a patch live.
So the pass-thru option, or the kind from Polysix is some solution, but 
notheing can replace visual feedback from absolute value of parameter 
with endless knob. Or motorized pot.

>
> OPTION 2: The flaw with the previous method is that if a CC message
> turns a value all the way down, then when the pot is moved the value
> will jump up to where the pot is positioned. Encoders or a "catch up"
> or "pass through" method will add a bunch of extra code that will slow
> everything down and limit the abilities of the synth. To him, the
> sudden change from the MIDI CC value to the pot value is not
> acceptable (even though I have synths that work this way). He wants to
> put a switch on the synth to change from either MIDI CC or pots. The
> synth will never be able to respond to both at the same time. This
> limits it in that you can't adjust a pot by hand while a MIDI
> sequencer changes other values automatically.

if that kind of thing slows it down, then there's something wrong with 
component selection. You need more powerfull controller anyway.
The switch is a no-go for me too.

One possible solution to discuss - do not use CC but NRPN and Data 
Increment/Decrement. Then MIDI will always rely on pot position and only 
add what has been sent from MIDI controller.

Roman