Well when I got my new FM9 from the waiting list, I wanted to reduce some of my footprint in using it with the Boss RC-500. I wanted to control the RC-500 rhythm/drum stop/start, add drum fill, change drum pattern and the memory preset functions using the FM9 midi out functionality. Reading both manuals seemed like this was a possibility. However my first attempts failed and could not get no midi interaction between the two units at all except using basic midi program change function in which the RC-500 could load a new memory preset based on changing presets on the FM9. I was not interested in the midi block functionality so did not test. In any case I finally came to the method of getting this all to work with the FM9 footswitches controlling some functions on the RC-500 via midi CC messages.
Ver. 2.0 Instructions
In order to connect the FM9 to the RC-500 you will need a MIDI Cable Type A 3.5mm TRS to Male 5 pin. There is a Type B similar cable out there and looks the same but pins are reversed and will not work as a cable interface. Make sure it is a Type A.
To set up the Boss RC-500 settings you can view this YouTube tutorial: How To Program MIDI With The Morningstar MC-8 & Boss RC-500 from the start to about 15 min in.
As in the video: once those 'ASSIGN' settings have been made in one memory of the RC-500 you may need to copy them into other memories as needed because there is no 'global' function for this on the RC-500.
Now it is time to set up the FM9. The easiest way to do this is use the FM9 Edit program as referenced below:
Ver. 2.0 Instructions
In order to connect the FM9 to the RC-500 you will need a MIDI Cable Type A 3.5mm TRS to Male 5 pin. There is a Type B similar cable out there and looks the same but pins are reversed and will not work as a cable interface. Make sure it is a Type A.
To set up the Boss RC-500 settings you can view this YouTube tutorial: How To Program MIDI With The Morningstar MC-8 & Boss RC-500 from the start to about 15 min in.
As in the video: once those 'ASSIGN' settings have been made in one memory of the RC-500 you may need to copy them into other memories as needed because there is no 'global' function for this on the RC-500.
Now it is time to set up the FM9. The easiest way to do this is use the FM9 Edit program as referenced below:
- After opening FM9 Edit click on the FC Edit button upper right and choose the custom layout #6 or edit/replace any of the others (1-8).
- Now open the CS Midi button also in the upper right.
- You have 6 Control Switches from, choose one of them in drop down hovering over the area next to Control Switch.
- After switch is selected Enable the switch (Yes)
- You have up to 4 commands to send midi data by this switch in this case we are just using one as an example:
- Now select: Command 1 > Type>CC ; Channel>1 (1-16 available), Number> 1 (should be the same number as set under the RC-500 MEMORY/SOURCE (Ex. CC#1)
- Next is very important! On Value> type 127 , OFF VALUE> type 0
- Now select Command 2 > Type>CC ; Channel>1 , Number> 1 and On Value> type 127 , OFF VALUE> type 0 Note: For some reason if only doing this to one Command, you sometimes have to press the assigned foot switch twice. This should take care of that.
- With the settings as above we are using CC#1 transmitting thru Channel 1 that it needs a high (On Value 127) AND a low (Off Value 0) signal to function.
- You are now done setting up this particular CS MIDI command and can exit via clicking the circle X (top right)
- Now you are ready to assign this Control Switch (CS1) to a foot switch in the current layout.
- Select the foot switch wanted in the current layout.
- Under the FUNCTIONS area and under the TAP set Category> Control Switch ; Function> Momentary ; Control Switch> CS1 .
- Now set the HOLD values to the same values as in #2 above. (this will get rid of a small issue with dealing with the RC-500 midi)
- You are now finished with the basic setup. You may need to go to the FM9 MIDI/REMOTE settings via the SETUP button on the unit. The general ones I have set are the MIDI CHANNEL > 1 and the Send MIDI PC > Chan 1.
Last edited: