I would prefer to have a second FC12 and use that to change the layouts on the first FC12. But the last I new from a year ago is all the FC12 have the same program and cannot control active layout on each other.
It’s not entirely clear what you are asking.
The FC units act like keyboards and monitors connected to a mainframe host, where the Fractal modeler would be the host. They send switch and foot pedal information to the modeler which acts on whatever message the switch sent, the modeler changes its state and returns information back to the FC that its screens and switch rings should look a certain way. So, FCs don’t actually control anything, instead they just reflect the state of the modeler and wait for switch inputs.
"FASLINK is not MIDI. The FC-6/12 are "terminals". They record button presses and send the button press to the host. The host sends messages to the terminal which tells the terminal what color to display on the LEDs and what text to display on the LCDs."
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If two FC-12 are connected to the same modeler, they will display the changes sent by the modeler. Having two FC units running at the same time is part of the design; a guitarist could have one on stage in front, and the tech could have an identical one in back, and either could be making the changes.
So, no, they can’t control each other, but either can send messages to the modeler which then tells them both to display the same thing, so they stay in sync, which accomplishes the same thing. If the Edit app is connected it will also update because it is basically doing the same thing.
So, is it possible to use a separate Midi Foot Board like the MeloAudio Midi Commander to make the FC12 switch layouts? Basically, I want to maximize using all the FC12 buttons...
Now it sounds like a separate question and you want to program the layouts using a MIDI device, which can’t do that. You can create layouts on the modeler itself or using the Edit app for that particular modeler only.
In general, a MIDI controller could be programmed to behave somewhat similarly as the FC, but it won’t automatically be updated to reflect the state of the modeler, by the modeler, after something changes. Instead, that controller would then have to ask the modeler for information about its state, then the controller has to change its display.
Some MIDI controllers are more aware of the Fractal MIDI SYSEX commands and integrate better. I don’t know what the MeloAudio has as far as its integration. Their webpage says they’re compatible, but I suspect they are only speaking of sending MIDI to control the modeler and then not reflect the changed modeler state, which means you have to do a lot of work to handle the second half of the process, or the MeloAudio could end up displaying out of sync indicators which, from personal experience, is really frustrating.
Morningstar has done a lot of work to integrate with Fractal’s FX3 and FM* units. There are others that also do the same. It’s worth investigating and spending the money wisely because the actual FC are very easy to work with and program. You can end up spending a lot of time trying to replicate the functionality of an FC with MIDI and still not come close.
