FTP - Synth sounds even though Switch is set to Guitar

Started by tomtheguitarguy, February 20, 2014, 07:59:14 PM

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tomtheguitarguy

Hi Shawnb,

I'm not using any VSTs or DAW software.  I'm just using the standalone FTP app.  And it has occurred on both my MacBook Pro and Win8 Laptop.  I'm not running any extra software - just the FTP app.  I have Mainstage, but have never used it.  All this has been from using the FTP app.   USB receiver plugged into a USB port - headphone 1/8" going to PA channel (with 1/4" adapter)

Latest versions, tried re-pairing the controller and usb stick, etc.

But Fishman says that it's not happening when they've tested it.  :(

Thanks for taking interest in attempting to solve my dilemna...
http://www.tomtheguitarguy.com ~ http://www.tomcatsband.com
CIJ Blue Floral w/ McVay G Bender
G & L Will Ray Signature ASAT w/ Hipshot B Bender
JTV-69 James Tyler Variax
Fishman TriplePlay ~ Roland GR-55
Dr. Z RxES 2x12
Quilter MicroPro200 10" ~ Quilter Aviator 8" ~ Quilter Steelaire
Bose L1 Classic

Elantric

#26
It's my understanding for the FTP 3 way switch to operate you must install the full FTP software bundle and depending on the FTP preset , the included IK Multimedia Amplitube or N.I. Guitar Rig will be your normal guitar audio path (you must use  an audio interface and be plugged in with your guitar) then the FTP Control Panel app will respond to the FTP 3way switch and mute the synths when this switch in the Guitar position. That's what mine does.

tomtheguitarguy

Quote from: Elantric on April 03, 2014, 07:06:18 AM
It's my understanding for the FTP 3 way switch to operate you must install the full FTP software bundle and depending on the FTP preset , the included IK Multimedia Amplitube or N.I. Guitar Rig will be your normal guitar audio path (you must use  an audio interface and be plugged in with your guitar) then the FTP Control Panel app will respond to the FTP 3way switch and mute the synths when this switch in the Guitar position. That's what mine does.

I have everything installed that Fishman provided with the FTP.  So I guess I am using VSTs - my thinking was that I wasn't using any other software than what Fishman had recommended/included...

Sorry for the confusion...
http://www.tomtheguitarguy.com ~ http://www.tomcatsband.com
CIJ Blue Floral w/ McVay G Bender
G & L Will Ray Signature ASAT w/ Hipshot B Bender
JTV-69 James Tyler Variax
Fishman TriplePlay ~ Roland GR-55
Dr. Z RxES 2x12
Quilter MicroPro200 10" ~ Quilter Aviator 8" ~ Quilter Steelaire
Bose L1 Classic

Elantric

#28
Read the FTP Top things to know and watch all videos and verify your installation of FTP apps matches the operations described in the FTP videos here:
Fishman TriplePlay TOP THINGS TO KNOW
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=8427.msg60207#msg60207

http://www.fishman.com/tripleplay/help

Tutorial #1: Playing Sounds in TriplePlay
http://www.fishman.com/software/tripleplay/help/tripleplay_tut1.pdf

Tutorial #2: Adding Traditional Guitar Audio
http://www.fishman.com/software/tripleplay/help/tripleplay_tut2.pdf



tomtheguitarguy

Quote from: Elantric on April 03, 2014, 03:46:00 PM
Read the FTP Top things to know and watch all videos and verify your installation of FTP apps matches the operations described in the FTP videos here:
Fishman TriplePlay TOP THINGS TO KNOW
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=8427.msg60207#msg60207

http://www.fishman.com/tripleplay/help

Tutorial #1: Playing Sounds in TriplePlay
http://www.fishman.com/software/tripleplay/help/tripleplay_tut1.pdf

Tutorial #2: Adding Traditional Guitar Audio
http://www.fishman.com/software/tripleplay/help/tripleplay_tut2.pdf




Steve,

Everything was installed correctly.  The unit worked fine (since October) until recently...
http://www.tomtheguitarguy.com ~ http://www.tomcatsband.com
CIJ Blue Floral w/ McVay G Bender
G & L Will Ray Signature ASAT w/ Hipshot B Bender
JTV-69 James Tyler Variax
Fishman TriplePlay ~ Roland GR-55
Dr. Z RxES 2x12
Quilter MicroPro200 10" ~ Quilter Aviator 8" ~ Quilter Steelaire
Bose L1 Classic

tomtheguitarguy

A quick update...

The Fishman Tech emailed me and said that they could find nothing wrong with the unit and returned it to me.  During this time another Fishman Rep got involved in the conversation too and asked me to keep him informed as he was curious to see if it would act up.

I got the unit back (controller and USB dongle).  Fired it up for about 10 minutes and did not have an issue using my MacBook Pro.  When I reported it to Frank @ Fishman (the other rep that got involved), he indicated that when the FTP is received at Fishman for testing, they wipe it and make sure that the firmware is updated and not corrupt - but my presets would still be fine, and they did appear).

I played a gig that night and was getting some errant sounds - irritating as I know it wasn't just "ghost notes" from sloppy playing. So I took the FTP off and did the show without synth sounds.

Next day, I fired it up again, but instead of using my Windows 8 laptop or my MacBook Pro, I decided to use my iPad Mini w/ Retina display.   I goofed around for about 15 - 20 minutes and was happy with the sound I was getting through SampleTank as well as the tracking.  I had been occasionally switching the Guitar/Mix/Synth switch as I played some synth sounds, guitar sounds, both, etc.  By the way, I was using my Breedlove acoustic and not plugged in guitar-wise.

Well, lo and behold, after switching to a couple of different songs, enjoying the synth sounds, I look down and observe that the switch was on Guitar.  So the same issue I had, was indeed back.  I quickly grabbed my cellphone and made a short video to show that the FTP was hooked up to my Guitar, that when I pressed the onscreen keyboard keys in SampleTank I was getting synth sounds, and then as I touched the fretboard on the guitar, I was also getting synth sounds.  And from there, panned down to the FTP controller to show that the switch was set to Guitar.  I sent another email to Fishman as well as the short video.

They're sending me a replacement unit, but of course I've now had to do several shows without the benefit of synth sounds And if it doesn't come tomorrow am, I'll be doing this weekend's shows with out it too  :(

Anyway, just wanted to give an update...
http://www.tomtheguitarguy.com ~ http://www.tomcatsband.com
CIJ Blue Floral w/ McVay G Bender
G & L Will Ray Signature ASAT w/ Hipshot B Bender
JTV-69 James Tyler Variax
Fishman TriplePlay ~ Roland GR-55
Dr. Z RxES 2x12
Quilter MicroPro200 10" ~ Quilter Aviator 8" ~ Quilter Steelaire
Bose L1 Classic

Elantric

#31
FWIW - When I use my FTP with iPad - the Fishman Controller's 3- way  ""Guitar/Mix/Synth" switch does absolutely  nothing. 
I get Synth 100% of the time - regardless of the FTP 3- way switch position. - the current 3-way switch position makes no impact on the Tracking of the IOS Synth response  - even in Guitar" only mode". Luckily with my iPad+Apple USB Camera Connection Kit+FTP Receiver combo -    I use the FTP's Synth Volume knob -  which thankfully DOES work, and controls the Synth Volume of the IOS Synth from the guitar.


The only way I know to make the FTP Controller's 3 -way "Guitar /Mix/Synth" switch functional is you must use a Win or Mac Computer with an Audio Interface (with instrument input for your normal guitar)  and be running the  FTP Control Panel GUI app.
Several FTP presets have either IK Amplitube or N.I. Guitar Rig 5 defined as the Normal Guitar FX Processor, and the FTP three way switch will finally work in that situation.

Let me know if you learn any alternate method to allow the FTP Controller's 3 -way "Guitar /Mix/Synth" switch be functional.


If you contact Fishman - Ask them why they cant provide FTP users more direct information on how to use the  FTP with an iPad  - surely they know many folks do use the FTP with iPad -  - IOS compatibility was even stated in the original 2012 FTP press release marketing literature.   

shawnb


The 3 way switch might work on the iPad while in HW mode, because it does send CC#7 volume level 0 when you flip that switch to guitar.  Depends whether your soft synth responds to CC#7. 

If you predominantly use an iPad live, that's NOT in HW mode, that would explain the live performance problem. 

I'm at a loss for the Mac & Win behavior, though.  Hopefully a new unit addresses this. 




Address the process rather than the outcome.  Then, the outcome becomes more likely.   - Fripp

Elantric

QuoteThe 3 way switch might work on the iPad while in HW mode, because it does send CC#7 volume level 0 when you flip that switch to guitar.  Depends whether your soft synth responds to CC#7. 

I bet that explains it - i never use Hardware mode.

tomtheguitarguy

Quote from: Elantric on April 17, 2014, 10:18:47 PM
FWIW - When I use my FTP with iPad - the Fishman Controller's 3- way  ""Guitar/Mix/Synth" switch does absolutely  nothing. 
I get Synth 100% of the time - regardless of the FTP 3- way switch position. - the current 3-way switch position makes no impact on the Tracking of the IOS Synth response  - even in Guitar" only mode". Luckily with my iPad+Apple USB Camera Connection Kit+FTP Receiver combo -    I use the FTP's Synth Volume knob -  which thankfully DOES work, and controls the Synth Volume of the IOS Synth from the guitar.


The only way I know to make the FTP Controller's 3 -way "Guitar /Mix/Synth" switch functional is you must use a Win or Mac Computer with an Audio Interface (with instrument input for your normal guitar)  and be running the  FTP Control Panel GUI app.
Several FTP presets have either IK Amplitube or N.I. Guitar Rig 5 defined as the Normal Guitar FX Processor, and the FTP three way switch will finally work in that situation.

Let me know if you learn any alternate method to allow the FTP Controller's 3 -way "Guitar /Mix/Synth" switch be functional.


If you contact Fishman - Ask them why they cant provide FTP users more direct information on how to use the  FTP with an iPad  - surely they know many folks do use the FTP with iPad -  - IOS compatibility was even stated in the original 2012 FTP press release marketing literature.

That's strange Steve.  I was NOT using HW mode - I just turned the unit on.  And the Guitar/Mix/Synth switch was working properly - for a while. As I mentioned, when I first got it back from Fishman, I played with it for 10 minutes and every time I switched over to Guitar, the synth muted (using the iPad Mini w/ Retina).  The 2nd day (after the gig) I played with it some more - it worked as it should (switch moved to Guitar muted synth), but after about 15-20 minutes, it no longer worked right - it sounded synth sounds while the switch was on Guitar.

So because of the video I sent them showing it, they are sending me a replacement unit...
http://www.tomtheguitarguy.com ~ http://www.tomcatsband.com
CIJ Blue Floral w/ McVay G Bender
G & L Will Ray Signature ASAT w/ Hipshot B Bender
JTV-69 James Tyler Variax
Fishman TriplePlay ~ Roland GR-55
Dr. Z RxES 2x12
Quilter MicroPro200 10" ~ Quilter Aviator 8" ~ Quilter Steelaire
Bose L1 Classic

Elantric

#35
Let us know the outcome and firmware version you are using.

I bet its due to various FTP firmware versions - they fix things add new features - but break old things that Fishman determines are not needed.

I just wish we could revert to older FTP firmware  (or pick and choose the FTP firmware version that suits OUR needs.

I'm sad that Tripleplay <> iPad operation seems to be a result of non documented FTP user trial and error and not a fully developed feature that Fishman Co. endorses with full documentation