Katana Dev - Development hub & communication - Access " Sneaky Amps"

Started by Beanow, April 14, 2017, 10:14:03 AM

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Beanow

Things are really shaping up nicely for the Katana 3rd party software/hardware, testing and reverse engineering work. With a community like this I'm even happier to own a Katana ;D
Updates about the work have gotten fragmented though and I'd like to put some effort into consolidating it all so it's easier for everyone to keep track of.
Posting here to get your thoughts on this.

For developers

  • Compile all technical documentation in a single place.
  • A better way to ask questions to other devs and send MIDI logs back and forth.
  • A better way to see what others are working on.

For Katana owners

  • A single page listing all software and their latest versions.
  • Comprehensive documentation of all the things the manual doesn't tell you.
  • Keeping the forums the way they are, since it's a comfortable way to share test results, feedback, errors, etc.


Some of my thoughts for potential solutions:

https://github.com/katana-dev could hold many different projects related to Katana development.
Along with that we can use https://pages.github.com/ to make said list of all software, guides and documentation for the user side of things. While keeping the repositories for MIDI specs, source code, etc.

Gitter https://gitter.im/katana-dev could provide a chatroom for the technical discussions in a way that is open to other developers, but not going to flood the forums with MIDI dumps.

It's not that I want to force all the devs onto github though. Hackers do their best work when nobody tells them how to do things. So you'd get full access to do everything yourself. And it would be fine just to share readme's and link to sourceforge or your own site (thinking of Katana FloorBoard and MIDX here for example). Similar to projects like http://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org/Repositories:Applications

Have to get moving so I'll post this as it is now. Let me know!

Elantric

#1
Thanks for assisting in "herding the cats" !
https://github.com/katana-dev/docs/issues/2
--
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?posts/23930459/
Quote from: LordByron, post: 23930365, member: 173262As a practical matter, how are folks housing and mounting the Begalboard and Midi/USB interface? Or has anyone gotten that far in the process?


there are many options

and everyone has a different idea of what is the  "end goal".
--
Here are the known applicable URLs

Katana - Not 5 but 28 (Sneaky) Amps and Bright setting in the Katana
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=20609.0



Gumtown's Katana FxFloorBoard Editor
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=20625.0

KATANA - Snhirsch's Katana MIDI Bridge for RPI / BeagleBone SBC
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=19782.0

KATANA- Condor's Katana AMP GUI Control (MIDI over USB) with Android
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=20234.msg145803#msg145803

TGP Thread: BOSS KATANA 刀 amplifiers (where the users are)
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?posts/23891522/


Just observing that as i monitor all the URL threads above, ( and wading through the "signal to noise" of the posters ), some folks do offer high value in their content with hands on use and error reporting,.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/boss-katana-amplifiers.1744135/page-354

I admit i let the cat out of the bag over regarding "Sneaky Amps" and posted a link
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=20609.0

on The Gear Page a week ago, but it has provided the Katana "sneaky amp" developers valuable beta user feedback swiftly.

For example on The Gear Page - " Meesha has been providing excellent bug reporting / documenting the errors he experiences,

and Scatabrain is the one person who has used Steve Hirsch's Katana MIDI Interpreter and loaded into a Beaglebone Black on the the Katana USB port, and via 5 pin MIDI he is using a FCB-1010 foot controller to access more the the presets.
Important post here
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?posts/23928466/
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=20698.0


IMHO - Perhaps we each have different visions of what the "end goal" is for  all this activity?

DIY solution, for embedded computers (Raspberry PI / Beagle Bone) to support the path that Scatabrain is pursuing?

Turn key solution for Katana owners? ( PrimovaSound MIDX-20 with updated Katana MIDi interpreter)

Katana FX Floorboard with laptop always connected?
IMHO - most Katana users will soon realize they will hit a wall for using our katana DSP MIDI SYSEX access discoveries,  without adding a third party computer or small embedded computer to make full use of this in live use.

--

My "vision" is install a BeagleBone Green Wireless in a small box on the back of the Katana
https://beagleboard.org/green-wireless

this will connect to the Katana USB port.

Since the  BeagleBone Green Wireless supports MIDI over Bluetooth Low Energy (MIDI BLE), a wireless MIDI controller could be employed to become a floorboard controller for the "Expanded Katana"

For debug, Ive acquired a few  MIDI over Bluetooth Low Energy (MIDI BLE), a wireless MIDI controllers for testing

but it might be simple to use a FCB-1010 with a another  BeagleBone Green Wireless board on the "front of stage controller" end as well  - to wirelessly communicate with the Beaglebone located on the Katana Amp.

BeagleBone Green Wireless is $45 each
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GKE8F10/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1LHQ5G6ONPXVT

http://wiki.seeed.cc/BeagleBone_Green_Wireless/


Katana - Development hub & communication

fificap

#2
Hi,

I love FxFloorboard, at home it's great ! !

Instead of of cheap computer, why not betting on the android app of condor for katana? It already works well, managing patchs and integrating sneaky amps (including the kustom one with parameters!). I can imagine that the fx part can be enhance in the future to meet FxFloorboard level. Maybe an android phone or tablet  (cheaper than computer) can also become the bluetooth interface with some midi wireless foot controler??

And whats about the "midi commander" app as another starting point (again Android !), see what has been done for THR10:

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/yamaha-thr-android-editor.1669012/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.bordero.midicontroller

I'm not expert on midi communication and hub, but if possible android is an easy plateform, as a lot of katana users already own an android phone or tablet.

A+
Philippe

admin

Quote from: fificap on April 14, 2017, 11:14:20 AM
Hi,

I love FxFloorboard, at home it's great ! !

Instead of of cheap computer, why not betting on the android app of condor for katana? It already works well, managing patchs and integrating sneaky amps (including the kustom one with parameters!). I can imagine that the fx part can be enhance in the future to meet FxFloorboard level. Maybe an android phone or tablet  (cheaper than computer) can also become the bluetooth interface with some midi wireless foot controler??

And whats about the "midi commander" app as another starting point (again Android !), see what has been done for THR10:

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/yamaha-thr-android-editor.1669012/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.bordero.midicontroller

I'm not expert on midi communication and hub, but if possible android is an easy plateform, as a lot of katana users already own an android phone or tablet.

A+
Philippe


Check out
KATANA- Condor's Katana AMP GUI Control (MIDI over USB) with Android
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=20234.0


Meesha

i'm in as enthusiast!
btw i'd like to check out android app, but have no otg and like the floorboard for it deeper parameters adjusting and bigger screen as well (42' tv as monitor at main home pc)
btw i will make new fonts for mod and fx for you, gumtown... current ones are... umm... out of syle (i'm an artist/industrial designer by education really... gtr is just a hobby)
will post transp. .png's here for this as well as font that is better suited for the job

Meesha

did some fonts to replace on changed pedals... transp .png's plus font used..
not exact font (didn't found it yet, will update if i'll find it)
but match closer to the one on or. pedals )

gumtown

Cool , thanks I got the fonts.
Also got the system save, which seems identical to the GT-100 system data.

So how is the latest version (20170414) going for everyone?

1.) Do all the "Patch Tree" name list items populate the correct slots, and patches load in and save to the Katana?
     and does a 'single-click' patch change do the correct Katana patch?

2.) When a saved patch is sent to the Katana (usually just after opening it), does the Katana tone change (does it accept the patch)?

3.) I am assuming all the B chain effects are not working and can be removed (PreAmp B, Comp, EQ, Accel, PedalFX, Chorus, and NS2, and the 8 assigns too).
I am finding some descriptions no explicit enough, like "compressor works except for stereo" is that the MOD and FX ones or the Main COMP stand alone effect?

4.) Do any of the System/midi parameters have any effect? I see the Katana even stores/sends parameters such as the 2 x LCD contrast settings of the GT-100.

I have started removing some of the redundant settings, and after they are cleared away, the chain layout extras can be removed into a single row.

And lastly, the "Connect" button, does this work without the need for 'debug' mode to be enabled?

:)
Thanks for your patience.

Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

Beanow

Oops, I think this thread got misinterpreted as being that single hub. Just wanted to ask people's thoughts.

I like the idea of the new subforum. If it's alright with the mods, I would start a few threads here for people that like their SysEggs raw, not pretty printed.
That would be a quicker solution than Gitter right now.

Would suggest a name change though. Hub and communication are a bit redundant as we're talking about a forum ;)
Maybe the same scheme as the others?
Boss Katana Amp - Development

What about the other suggestions for a Katana development hub / project page similar to http://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org/?

Quote from: Beanow on April 14, 2017, 10:14:03 AM
For developers

  • Compile all technical documentation in a single place.
  • A better way to ask questions to other devs and send MIDI logs back and forth.
  • A better way to see what others are working on.

For Katana owners

  • A single page listing all software and their latest versions.
  • Comprehensive documentation of all the things the manual doesn't tell you.
  • Keeping the forums the way they are, since it's a comfortable way to share test results, feedback, errors, etc.


Some of my thoughts for potential solutions:

https://github.com/katana-dev could hold many different projects related to Katana development.
Along with that we can use https://pages.github.com/ to make said list of all software, guides and documentation for the user side of things. While keeping the repositories for MIDI specs, source code, etc.

Gitter https://gitter.im/katana-dev could provide a chatroom for the technical discussions in a way that is open to other developers, but not going to flood the forums with MIDI dumps.

It's not that I want to force all the devs onto github though. Hackers do their best work when nobody tells them how to do things. So you'd get full access to do everything yourself. And it would be fine just to share readme's and link to sourceforge or your own site (thinking of Katana FloorBoard and MIDX here for example). Similar to projects like http://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org/Repositories:Applications

Have to get moving so I'll post this as it is now. Let me know!

vtgearhead

I'll have to make time to give Katana Floorboard a try.  If it gives me the ability to twiddle parameters directly and save the result to a patch I can recall with PC#, then it's 85% of the way to what I need for live performance.  The other 15% is being able to tie CC# input to my choice of amp parms.  Most important is volume.  Are you planning to implement this?

gumtown

Quote from: snhirsch on April 15, 2017, 05:59:49 AM
I'll have to make time to give Katana Floorboard a try.  If it gives me the ability to twiddle parameters directly and save the result to a patch I can recall with PC#, then it's 85% of the way to what I need for live performance.  The other 15% is being able to tie CC# input to my choice of amp parms.  Most important is volume.  Are you planning to implement this?

Yes, with the Katana Patch Loader software I am developing, I will look at implementing something similar to "Assigns".
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

Elantric

Quote from: gumtown on April 21, 2017, 08:15:56 PM
Yes, with the Katana Patch Loader software I am developing, I will look at implementing something similar to "Assigns".

That would be killer! , and be the missing link if we can decode the Targets

And if there is a Linux version I can run it on a beaglebone single board computer in a small metal box with 5pin DIN MIDI I/O that magnetically mounts to the back and plugs into the Katana's USB port.

Use a BeagleBone Green Wireless and use another small wireless box near the MIDI Foorbiard of choice.

Could also do this with a pair of 2 year old discarded Android phones with USB OTG Adapters and USB CLASS COMPLIANT MIDI cables ( iConnectivity MIO , Roland UM-One MK2, or a KMI Soft Step 2


Elantric

#12
Quote from: JiveTurkey, post: 25175054, member: 126265Thanks. I just tried using CC 37 with my midi Grande per Primova midi documentation in hopes that "SOLO"SW"  would work. It didn't. I'll try some other options in the morning with a fresh mindset.
Quote from: JiveTurkey, post: 25175054, member: 126265Thanks. I just tried using CC 37 with my midi Grande per Primova midi documentation in hopes that it would work. It didn't. I'll try some other options in the morning with a fresh mindset.

If you are on Katana Firmware 2.02 -  - you will have to wait for Codesmart to release the new firmware for the PrimovaSound MIDX-20

Re: PRIMOVA MIDX-20 Dual Roland USB MIDI Converter / Ctrl Interface
Quote
GT-1  Bridge soon to be released. It's going really well.
There will be two possible firmware options.

A) MIDX core features plus Boss KatanaV2 MIDI Bridge and Boss GT-1 MIDI Bridge.

B) MIDX core features plus Fender MustangV2 MIDI Bridge.

Else  You will need to use SYSEX
Ask questions from the real gurus on this thread
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=20693.msg148991#msg148991

and read
https://github.com/katana-dev/docs

https://github.com/katana-dev/docs/blob/master/data/tsl-map-1.0.0.csv


Elantric

#13


Watch & Learn

At 3:10 minute Rob Chapman - mentions the "Secret menu Amps available online!"
aka  "Katana Sneaky Amps"  thanks to the Katana Development Team
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=240.0



Gumtown's Katana FxFloorBoard Editor

vtgearhead

Never heard Rob Chapman play in an ensemble situation.  He's really quite a tasty player, but that too often gets lost behind the self-indulgence in many of his videos.


admin

Quote from: Beanow on April 14, 2017, 10:14:03 AM


Some of my thoughts for potential solutions:

https://github.com/katana-dev could hold many different projects related to Katana development.
Along with that we can use https://pages.github.com/ to make said list of all software, guides and documentation for the user side of things. While keeping the repositories for MIDI specs, source code, etc.

Gitter https://gitter.im/katana-dev could provide a chatroom for the technical discussions in a way that is open to other developers, but not going to flood the forums with MIDI dumps.

It's not that I want to force all the devs onto github though. Hackers do their best work when nobody tells them how to do things. So you'd get full access to do everything yourself. And it would be fine just to share readme's and link to sourceforge or your own site (thinking of Katana FloorBoard and MIDX here for example). Similar to projects like http://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org/Repositories:Applications

Have to get moving so I'll post this as it is now. Let me know!

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/06/02/microsoft_github/

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/06/04/microsoft_buys_github/

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/06/04/nadella_tells_worried_github_devs_judge_us_by_our_actions/



https://blog.github.com/2018-06-04-github-microsoft/

vtgearhead

Looks like a lot of open source projects will be looking for new homes soon.  I think I know everything I need to know about how Microsoft manages their far-flung enterprises.

admin

Quote from: vtgearhead on June 05, 2018, 05:52:23 AM
Looks like a lot of open source projects will be looking for new homes soon.  I think I know everything I need to know about how Microsoft manages their far-flung enterprises.

I agree - i suspect it may be end on era

Although it could have been worse - Alphabet / Google might have acquired it instead
(between those two , based on current actions - Microsoft is the lesser evil)
I understand Github has been bleeding cash and would have died without a benefactor, and apparently Microsofts development team already hosts a lot of their own important code at Github for years - thus why they did not want to see the site go down.   

Alternatives are listed here:
https://blog.profitbricks.com/top-source-code-repository-hosts/


Ive had good experience with SourceForge

stevesilk51

Quote from: vtgearhead on November 05, 2017, 02:10:19 PM
Never heard Rob Chapman play in an ensemble situation.  He's really quite a tasty player, but that too often gets lost behind the self-indulgence in many of his videos.
Agree, the self indulgence is very noticeable even to the degree of playing when others are talking. I unsubscribed because of it. Really grated on me.  "That Pedal Show" great though.!

admin

Confirmed - the new Katana V3 Firmware has removed access to Bogner and Orange Sneaky Amps


But the powerful  / tweakable CUSTOM AMP remains

Elantric

Today, most web sites and forums forget VGUITARFORUMS members discovered Katana  Sneaky Amps 1st  back in April 2017
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=20609.0

https://www.electrikjam.com/boss-katana-sneaky-amps-guide/