GM Arts
Fractal Fanatic
I posted this on the wrong forum a while back, with no replies, so maybe I'm the only person who thinks this is a good idea; I'm not sure. All feedback welcome.
I'd love to see back-tracking implemented on the MFC-101. Below, I've put some detail about how it works as well as how I think it can be incorporated into the MFC-101 as-is. The way I've used it, it has 3 powerful benefits:
(1) Regular backtracking: toggle between the last 2 patches, regardless of where they are on the pedalboard - even if they're in different banks!
(2) Optional CC backtracking as well, so you can back-track to the last patch iucluding any IAs you've changed
(3) If you use the patch reset feature, you can use the BACK footswitch to toggle between a raw patch and the same patch with multiple IA changes
HOW IT WORKS
Backtracking is handy for short lead breaks to go back to your previous patch, and indispensible for toggling between 2 sounds (you know, those songs with a short lick at the end of every line). The BACK footswitch toggles between the last 2 patches used.
Here are some examples:
A simple example first, let’s say you make these selections in order:
- Patch #1
- Patch #5
- Patch #2
- Patch #3
- BACK goes back to Patch #2 (the previous patch used before the current patch #3)
- BACK goes back to Patch #3 (the previous patch used before the current patch #2)
- BACK goes back to Patch #2 (the previous patch used before the current patch #3)
Note how repeated use of BACK toggles between the last 2 patches used, it doesn’t go back through patch history.
Now something more interesting. Let’s say you have the IA backtrack option ON as well as PC (patch) backtracking:
- Patch #2
- Chorus ON
- Delay ON
- Tap / Tap (to set tap tempo)
- Patch #3
- BACK goes back to Patch #2 with Chorus and Delay ON as well as tap tempo set
- BACK goes back to Patch #3
With IA backtracking on, the previous patch is recalled with any IA changes you’ve made!
And one final example of even more power, again with the IA backtrack option ON as well as PC backtracking. Also with options set so that a second press of the current patch recalls the saved patch:
- Patch #2
- Chorus ON
- Delay ON
- Tap / Tap (to set tap tempo)
- Patch #2 (reverts to saved patch: turns Chorus and Delay off, resets tap tempo)
- BACK goes back to Patch #2 with Chorus and Delay ON as well as tap tempo set
- BACK goes back to Patch #2 with Chorus and Delay OFF and tap tempo reset
This example shows how repeated use of BACK can toggle between a raw patch and the same patch with IA changes.
IMPLEMENTATION IN MFC-101
Here’s an idea on how it could be implemented. There needs to be 2 config options: PC backtracking off/on and IA backtracking off/on. If PC backtracking is off, then the MFC-101 works as it does now, end of story.
With PC backtracking on, the EDIT footswitch is used for back tracking. Edit functions are still available by holding down EDIT for 2 seconds (maybe configurable?) BACK really needs a dedicated footswitch, because re-pressing the current patch already has other functions (resetting the current patch or optionally recalling the global patch).
The CC backtracking option simply sends CC messages for any of the previous patch’s IA states that do not match the initial/saved state. All of this is ridiculously easy to program: When changing patches either by PATCH or BACK footswitch, the current patch and IA states and tap tempo are saved. The BACK footswitch swaps current and saved settings.
I’m not sure how the MFC-101 displays the current patch, but my implementation flashes the current patch LED if it’s not from the current bank (due to BACK being pressed, or after choosing another bank).
I'd love to see back-tracking implemented on the MFC-101. Below, I've put some detail about how it works as well as how I think it can be incorporated into the MFC-101 as-is. The way I've used it, it has 3 powerful benefits:
(1) Regular backtracking: toggle between the last 2 patches, regardless of where they are on the pedalboard - even if they're in different banks!
(2) Optional CC backtracking as well, so you can back-track to the last patch iucluding any IAs you've changed
(3) If you use the patch reset feature, you can use the BACK footswitch to toggle between a raw patch and the same patch with multiple IA changes
HOW IT WORKS
Backtracking is handy for short lead breaks to go back to your previous patch, and indispensible for toggling between 2 sounds (you know, those songs with a short lick at the end of every line). The BACK footswitch toggles between the last 2 patches used.
Here are some examples:
A simple example first, let’s say you make these selections in order:
- Patch #1
- Patch #5
- Patch #2
- Patch #3
- BACK goes back to Patch #2 (the previous patch used before the current patch #3)
- BACK goes back to Patch #3 (the previous patch used before the current patch #2)
- BACK goes back to Patch #2 (the previous patch used before the current patch #3)
Note how repeated use of BACK toggles between the last 2 patches used, it doesn’t go back through patch history.
Now something more interesting. Let’s say you have the IA backtrack option ON as well as PC (patch) backtracking:
- Patch #2
- Chorus ON
- Delay ON
- Tap / Tap (to set tap tempo)
- Patch #3
- BACK goes back to Patch #2 with Chorus and Delay ON as well as tap tempo set
- BACK goes back to Patch #3
With IA backtracking on, the previous patch is recalled with any IA changes you’ve made!
And one final example of even more power, again with the IA backtrack option ON as well as PC backtracking. Also with options set so that a second press of the current patch recalls the saved patch:
- Patch #2
- Chorus ON
- Delay ON
- Tap / Tap (to set tap tempo)
- Patch #2 (reverts to saved patch: turns Chorus and Delay off, resets tap tempo)
- BACK goes back to Patch #2 with Chorus and Delay ON as well as tap tempo set
- BACK goes back to Patch #2 with Chorus and Delay OFF and tap tempo reset
This example shows how repeated use of BACK can toggle between a raw patch and the same patch with IA changes.
IMPLEMENTATION IN MFC-101
Here’s an idea on how it could be implemented. There needs to be 2 config options: PC backtracking off/on and IA backtracking off/on. If PC backtracking is off, then the MFC-101 works as it does now, end of story.
With PC backtracking on, the EDIT footswitch is used for back tracking. Edit functions are still available by holding down EDIT for 2 seconds (maybe configurable?) BACK really needs a dedicated footswitch, because re-pressing the current patch already has other functions (resetting the current patch or optionally recalling the global patch).
The CC backtracking option simply sends CC messages for any of the previous patch’s IA states that do not match the initial/saved state. All of this is ridiculously easy to program: When changing patches either by PATCH or BACK footswitch, the current patch and IA states and tap tempo are saved. The BACK footswitch swaps current and saved settings.
I’m not sure how the MFC-101 displays the current patch, but my implementation flashes the current patch LED if it’s not from the current bank (due to BACK being pressed, or after choosing another bank).