RJM Mastermind MIDI foot controller

UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

About the RJM Mastermind GT

The Mastermind GT is a powerful MIDI controller with a dedicated graphical display for each switch (a.k.a. scribble strip). The Mastermind GT is available with 10, 16 or 22 buttons.

More information about the RJM Mastermind GT on the website, in the manual and in RJM’s wiki.

Connecting the GT and supplying power

The Mastermind GT requires a 12VDC supply with at least 2A of current capacity.

A 5-pin MIDI cable is required for bidirectional communications, meaning that the GT can send and receive data via a single MIDI cable connected to its MIDI Output port and the MIDI Input port on the Axe-Fx.

Supplying the GT with "phantom power" through the same MIDI cable requires RJM's phantom power box. The box connects to the GT with a 7-pin MIDI cable, and to the Axe-Fx with a 5-pin MIDI cable. Important: Always connect RJM's power supply directly to the phantom power box! Do NOT connect it to the phantom power port at the rear of the Axe-Fx II.

Visit RJM's webshop.

Adding expression pedals, external switches and pedals

SP1-RJM expression pedal from Mission Engineering

GT-compatible expression pedals are available from RJM, made by Mission Engineering. The pedal's LED is synchronized and powered by the GT through a single TRS cable. Another TRS cable connects the switch on the pedal to a switch input on the GT.

Visit RJM's webshop.

2-button external switch from RJM

Additional dual footswitches with a LED are available from RJM. These behave just like the GT's onboard switches, without the button displays. The LED is synchronized and powered by the GT through a single TRS cable.

Visit RJM's webshop.

Powering effects pedals

The RJM has two ports which can supply 9VDC power to pedals, such as a tuner and low-power effects pedal. The ports are not isolated. The maximum capacity (both ports together) is 100mA.

Setting up the GT with an Axe-Fx II or Axe-Fx III

The GT is an extemely flexible and capable controller. You can decide yourself how to set it up, based on your preferred workflow. Many possibilities exist.

Forum member Yek shows some examples:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEvHgoUSFW8
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sikj1zVuXk

The walkthrough below helps you setting up the RJM. Use the software editor for easy editing.

Before you start

Verify the following:

• The GT connects to the Axe-Fx.
• You have the most recent version of the software editor on your computer.
• The GT connects to the software editor.
• The GT has the most recent firmware installed.

Settings on the Axe-Fx

Axe-Fx II

Verify these settings in I/O > MIDI:

MIDI Channel = "1" (default).

Program Change = "On". This makes sure that the Axe-Fx processes incoming MIDI Program Changes from the GT.

Display Offset = "0". If set to "1", set the parameter "1st Preset is 0" on the GT to "On".

Ignore Redundant Program Changes = "On". When set to "On", the Axe-Fx will not reload a preset when receiving a Program Change which is the equivalent of the currently selected preset. This avoids the audio gap that comes with preset changes. However, the Axe-Fx will reset effect blocks in the preset to their saved states.

Send Realtime Sysex = "All". This makes sure that the GT receives tempo ands tuner information from the Axe-Fx.

MIDI PC Offset = "0".

Axe-Fx III

To be added.

Perform a factory reset

First step is to perform a factory reset of the GT in Setup > System Functions.

Settings on the GT

Selecting the device

After a factory reset, select your Axe-Fx as the device which the RJM should control. This is done in Setup. Replace Device 1 (default: "Rack Gizmo") with your Axe-Fx model.

Make sure to select the correct model to prevent issues. Do not select a "(slave)" device, unless you want the GT to determine which effects are on/off instead of the Axe-Fx.

Other device-specific parameters

In the Edit Devices screen, verify the following settings.

Name: keep the default device name or change to your liking.

MIDI Ch: 1. Change this when the Axe-Fx is set to another MIDI channel.

Direct Send: Off. When set to “Off”, the GT will make attempts to reduce the number of MIDI messages sent to the Axe-Fx. It will gather up CC and PC messages and eliminate duplicate messages. It will also sort CC messages into numerical order before sending. When set to “On”, the GT will send messages in the order requested by each action list, and it will not try to filter out duplicate message. Use this when solving issues.

Sync Names: On/Off. Set this to "On", if you want preset and bank names to be synced with the Axe-Fx in real time.

Port: select the GT's MIDI Output port.

Preset Offset: 0. Adjust this if MIDI PC Offset on the Axe-Fx has a non-default setting.

Max PC Number: 127.

Number of presets: depends on the Axe-Fx model.

Bank Type: select "MSB".

Flat Numbering: Off. When set to “Off”, the GT will make attempts to reduce the number of MIDI messages sent to the Axe-Fx. It will gather up CC and PC messages and eliminate duplicate messages. It will also sort CC messages into numerical order before sending. When set to “On”, the GT will send messages in the order requested by each action list, and it will not try to filter out duplicate message

Init PCs - None. do not execute.

Init PCs All 0: do not execute.

Init PCs Sequential: do not execute.

Send CC on Preset Change: On. When set to "On", the Axe-Fx will receive CC messages every time the preset changes, and when an IA button is pressed. When set to "Off", the Axe-Fx will only receive CC messages when an IA button is pressed.

Send PC: On. This makes sure that the GT transmits Program Changes to the Axe-Fx.

Send Redundant PC: On. When set to "Off", the same PC message will never be sent to the Axe-Fx more than once in a row., to avoid audio gaps. Setting this to "On" causes the GT to send a PC message to the Axe-Fx when requested, whether it’s a duplicate or not. Note: you might think that turning this off is the better option here, but it's on for a reason: re-sending a duplicate Program Message message from the GT will not cause the Axe-Fx to reload the preset (because Ignore Redundant Program Changes is set to On on the Axe-Fx), but effects will return to their saved states. This provides an easy way to reset the current preset without an audio gap.

Ignore Incoming PC: Off. This makes sure that the GT will respond to incoming Program Changes. Which is required when using a tablet with an app, like BandHelper, that switches presets.

Ignore Incoming CC: Off. This makes sure that the GT will respond to incoming MIDI Control Changes. Which is required when using a tablet with an app, like BandHelper, that switches stuff on/off.

Delete Device: when you want to change your configuration.

MIDI settings

MIDI Rx (Receiving) Ch: 1. Set this to the same MIDI channel as the device connected to the GT's MIDI Input. Any program and/or bank changes received on this channel will cause the GT to jump to the selected preset and send all of the MIDI messages corresponding to that preset. This parameter defaults to “None”, which means that the GT will NOT respond to incoming bank or program change messages. There's no need to set this parameter for bidirectional communications.

Bank = Song: Off. This setting affects what MIDI bank and Program Change messages do in Song And Setlist Mode.

MIDI bidirectional: On. The Axe-Fx and GT support bidirectional communication, allowing two-way communication with a single 5 pin or 7 pin MIDI cable. Bidirectional MIDI only works with the first device in your MIDI chain. Turn this off when using unidirectional communication.

Remote: Off. Set this to "On" to enable Remote mode, which allows more than one GT to be connected together and have them all synchronized together.

MIDI Merge: Off. When set to "On", all MIDI messages that are received through the Remote In or USB B ports are retransmitted through the MIDI Out port.

MIDI Clock: None. Determines whether the Mastermind GT acts as a MIDI clock “Master” or “Slave”. "None" (default) disables MIDI clock support.

System functions

Init Preset Names: initializes all of the preset names in the system to their default names: “Preset 001”, “Preset 002”, etc. The numbering of these names starts with 0 or 1, depending on the “1st Prst is 0” setting.

Reset Pedal Groups: resets the Pedal Groups.

System Info.

Debug Log.

System Test.

Factory Reset.

Display settings

Enter the Display Settings menu.

Bright and Contrast settings for the displays.

Bold: On. Use or not use a bold font on the buttons.

Show Page Name: On/Off. Determines if the name of the page is displayed at the top on the main display. Note: When only the bottom row of the main display is displaying titles, and the top row stays empty, check this setting.

Reverse Menus: On/Off. This reverses the order of items displayed in the Preset Menu, Song Menu etc.

Song Name Only: On/Off. Set this to "On" if you don't need to see preset titles in Song Mode and make the song title use the entire main display.

Other settings in the main menu

• Max Pages: select the maximum number of button pages, to limit scrolling.

• Preset 2nd. This determines what happens when you press a Preset button a 2nd time. Choose between:
  • Same (no action).
  • Previous Preset: recalls the previously selected preset.
  • Global Preset: recalls the Global preset.
  • Reload Preset: recalls the current preset.

• SysEx messages. Here you can define custom SysEx messages.

• Edit Macros. Create and edit macros.

• Pedal Group: create Pedal Groups to make a single pedal perform multiple tasks.

• Start Last Preset: On/Off. This determines if the GT will switch to the last loaded preset after powering on.

• Startup Macro: None.

• Auto Taps: 0.

• AutoTap Macro: 0.

• Show Tempo: Off. When set to "On", the tempo is displayed briefly on the main display every time the tempo changes by more than 2 BPM. When set to "Off", the tempo is never displayed on the main screen, only on any tap tempo buttons you’ve defined.

• Calc Tempo ...: Off.

• 1st Preset is 0: On. Set this to "On", when I/O > MIDI > Display Offset is set to 1 instead of 0 on the Axe-Fx. It determines the number of the first preset in the system, either 1 (the default) or 0. This can be used to adjust the GT’s numbering scheme to match the Axe-Fx. This parameter only changes the preset numbers, not the name, so the default GT names (Preset 001, Preset 002, ...) will not change.

• Hold mSec: try 350. This determines the time for the button Hold function to engage.

• 1st Repeat mSec: try 1000. This determines how long it takes for a button to start repeating.

• Repeat mSec: try 400. This determines how long it takes for a button to continue repeating.

• Auto Page: On. When this setting is set to "On" (default), selecting a new preset will cause the button page to change. When set to "Off", the current button page will not change unless you press a Page button or execute a Page action.

• Instant Bank: Off. When set to "On", the GT will automatically switch presets when you press the Bank Up or Bank Down buttons. Instead of flashing the preset buttons, asking you to select a preset in the new bank, the GT will switch banks and load the preset that appears on the currently selected preset button. For example, if you are on preset 3, and there are 6 presets per bank, pressing bank up will automatically switch to preset 9.

• Page Preview: On. When set to "Off", the visible button page does not change until you select a new preset. When set to "On", the visible button page changes as you move up and down through the banks. The button page associated with the first preset in a bank is the one that will be displayed for that bank.

Creating and editing buttons

Pages

16 button pages

local page

Max Pages

Normal and Hold modes

@

Button names

Special characters:

• Use the backslash character "\" to force a line break.
• The carat character "^" does the same and displays the 2nd line inverted.
• Use the vertical line character "|" to hide subsequent characters.

General button settings

• Button Type:
  • Off.
  • Preset: selects a preset.
  • IA (instant access): general purpose button that can execute a list of button actions.
  • Bank Down: selects the previous bank of presets.
  • Bank Up: selects the next bank of presets.
  • Page Down: displays the previous button page.
  • Page Up: displays the next button page.
  • Page Menu: pops up a menu of all pages so you can quickly select one.
  • Preset –: moves down one preset.
  • Preset +: moves up one preset.
  • Page/IA Store: selects the next button page, or, when held for 2 seconds, stores the current IA state to the current preset.
  • IA Mode: reveals the IA buttons “underneath” non-IA buttons.
  • Pedal 1: shifts the function of expression pedal 1 to the next pedal in its group (see Expression Pedal Grouping).
  • Pedal 3: shifts the function of expression pedal 3 to the next pedal in its group.
  • Label: a button that has no function except to display text.
  • Page Menu.
  • Preset Menu: pops up a menu of all presets so you can quickly select one.
  • Song Menu: pops up a menu of all songs so you can quickly select one.
  • Setlist Menu: pops up a menu of all setlists so you can quickly select one.
  • Preset Number: pops up a number keypad, allowing you to directly type in a preset number.
  • Setup Mode: activates setup mode.
  • Previous Preset: switches back to the last selected preset.
  • Device PC -: decrements the current program number of a specific device. This allows you to scroll through the list of presets on a specific device without affecting the other connected devices. The button will always display the device’s current PC number (and bank number if appropriate).
  • Device PC +: increments the current program number of a specific device. This allows you to scroll through the list of presets on a specific device without affecting the other connected devices. The button will always display the device’s current PC number (and bank number if appropriate)

• Global: On/Off.

• Name: ...

• On/Off color: ...

• Group: 1-8.

• Button Actions: choose between CC Toggle - CC Momen (Momentary) - PC (Program Change) - Note - Sysex and System. Available System functions are: IA Mode - Macro - Page - Preset - Setlist - Step - Tuner.

• IA Cycle: On/Off.

• IA Link: On/Off.

• Send on preset change: On/Off.

• Update on preset change: On/Off.

• Tempo: On/Off.

• Momentary: On/Off.

• OnMsgOnly: Off.

IA Mode

Hold

Grouping:

SndOffMsg (Send Off Messages) – When set to “On”, any button in the group will send its message(s) when turned on and when it’s turned off. When set to “Off”, a button will send its message(s) only when it is turned on, and never when it is turned off.

Allow Off – When set to “On”, it is possible to turn off all buttons in the group. Pressing a button that’s already selected will turn if off. When set to “Off”, one button in the group will always be turned on. Pressing a button that’s already selected will have no effect.

Group Actions – Each group can have its own actions. These actions only work when Allow Off is turned on. When all buttons in the group are turned off, the actions are executed using their Off values. When any button in the group is turned on, the actions are executed using their On values.

Preset buttons

@

IA Mode

3 functions: IA / Hold / IA Mode

Scene buttons

= IA

@

No grouping

names

IA <> Hold <> IA Mode

Effect buttons

= IA

On/Off, change param values (like Rate)

@

Tuner button

2 actions

Tap Tempo button

2 actions

If UpdOnPrst is also turned on, this button will flash in time with the internal tempo clock. If UpdOnPrst is turned off, this button will only flash when instructed by the connected device.

AMP select buttons

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GT presets

GT presets link to Axe-Fx presets.

How to order: use Songs.

Syncing preset names between the Axe-Fx and GT

The GT interacts dynamically with the Axe-Fx, but this doesn't include preset names.

Two methods are provided to sync preset names on the Axe-Fx with the GT:

1. Use Get Preset Names in Edit Device. This downloads the names of all presets, or a defined subset.

1. Turn on Sync Names in Edit Device. This downloads a preset name in real time.

Editing GT presets

• Name

• Page

• Tempo

• Pedals

• Switches

• Local Button

• Edit local button page name

• Preset actions

Setting up GT presets with specific buttons

@

local button page

preset actions

Switching presets

Preset button

@

Pressing a Preset button a 2nd time

@ Reload / Nothing / Global

Global Preset

@

Previous Preset

@

Preset Number

@

Make an IA button switch a preset

@ (Hold)

Expression pedals and external switches

Configuring and calibrating expression pedals

The Edit Expression Pedals menu lets you configure and calibrate pedals.

• Name: a pedal can be assigned a specific name.

• CC: assign the MIDI CC through which the pedal communicates with the Axe-Fx. Commonly CC 16 is used for External 1 on the Axe-Fx II, and CC 17 for External 2.

• CC Num. 2: assigning a 2nd CC lets you control two settings at the same time, enabling crossfading for example.

• Send on Preset = Off: You can make the GT poll and process the pedal's position upon preset changes, or leave that to the Axe-Fx.

• Switch Group: see Pedal Group.

• Calibrate: this calibrates a connected pedal.

• Min/Max Value =: these let you adjust the operational the range of the pedal.

• Switch actions =: this lets you define specific actions for the expression pedal.

Switching a single pedal between multiple tasks (Pedal Group)

By assigning a single pedal to a Pedal Group, a single pedal can act as multiple pedals, performing different tasks. A Pedal Switch button lets you switch between the pedals.

To clear all Pedal Groups, use Clear Pedal Groups in the System Functions menu.

Configuring external switches

The Edit External Switches menu lets you configure and calibrate external switches.

See editing buttons above.

Songs and sets

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Other functionality

Macros, MIDI Clock, SysEx (127 msg)

• Execute "Set Default Buttons". This assigns the preset buttons on the MMGT to the Axe-Fx Program Changes numbers, and Scene buttons too, saving loads of programming.
• Execute "Get Preset Names". The Axe-Fx will scroll through the presets in the specified range and sync the names. Takes a couple of minutes with the hundreds of presets on the Axe-Fx II XL. Note: current MMGT firmware also supports syncing names dynamically, when switching presets.
  • If "Get Preset Names" doesn't work and you have a XL, make sure you added the "Axe-Fx II XL" and not the "Axe-Fx II" as device.
  • If "Preset-to-Scene mapping" is enabled on the Axe-Fx (I/O > MIDI > Mapping Mode = Custom), the process will fail.
  • If the process stall/freezes somewhere during the process, check the Axe-Fx for a corrupt preset.
• By default the device parameters below show the following values:
  • Send CCs on preset change: OFF.
  • Send PCs: On.
  • Send redundant PCs: OFF.
  • Ignore incoming PC: ON.
  • Ignore incoming CC: OFF.
  • Sync names: ON.
• No need to change this, unless:
  • If you want be able to "reset" the current preset by pressing a preset button a 2nd time, to undo changed IA states, turn on "Send redundant PCs" on the MMGT. Make sure that "IgnoreRedundantPC" on the Axe-Fx is turned ON, to prevent audio gaps. Note that the IA buttons on the MMGT are not updated after "resetting" a preset this way.
  • If you switch presets on the Axe-Fx and want to have the GT to change accordingly, turn off "Ignore incoming PC".
  • If you're using buttons to control external controllers on the Axe-Fx, turn on "Send CCs on preset change" to keep them sync'd.
• Select "Bold On" in "Display Settings" if you want larger text on the buttons.
• Configuring expression pedals:
  • To set up a single expression pedal: disable the other pedal entries in "System > Expression Pedals" (set CCs to None). Calibrated Pedal 1 and assign it to the desired external controller's CC on the Axe-Fx (CC16 for External 1). You can assign a 2nd CC to the same pedal. You can also program specific actions, depending on the position of the pedal and the switch state.
• To make a single pedal do double duty, within a single Axe-Fx preset: configure Pedal 2 (same as Pedal 1, use the CC of another external controller), and use "Pedal Grouping". This enables switching pedal functionality within the same preset.). You can then asign an IA switch to switch the pedal between two duties.
• Set "Max Pages"to the desired number of pages.": 2 (default). Suffices for me.
• "Preset 2nd" lets you instruct the MMGT what to when pressing the current preset switch a 2nd time. Like nothing, or select the "Global Preset".
• Use "Hold mSec" to set the desired "hold switch" time, i.e. "500".
• Scenes: the MMGT offers native support for Axe-Fx preset scenes. Switch to IA Mode to see them in the same position as the preset buttons. The default settings in "Setup > Edit Groups" ("SndOffMsg"=ON and "Allow Off"=OFF) are fine.
• If you want faster Bank Up/Down, set "First Repeat" to 600.
• Assign "Preset Menu" to a switch to see a convenient menu of presets.
• Quicky recall a specific preset by using "Preset Numbering" (enter digits).
• Assign a preset to an IA switch by selecting "IA" > System > Preset. All options are OFF except for "UpdOnPrst".
• Assign "Previous" to a switch quickly recall the previous preset.
• The button HOLD feature is particularly effective to switch Axe-Fx effects between X and Y states. Or to switch an effect between two speeds. I shortened the HOLD time in "Setup" to 500 ms (Setup > Next Page).
• Some effects need adjustable rates. Like Tremolo. I use the button's HOLD function to switch between slow and fast rates. This requires assigning an external controller to the effect's "Rate" parameter on the Axe-Fx, and specifying Min and Max values. On the GT I assigned the HOLD function to the external controller's CC. Note that buttons assigned to external controllers on the Axe-Fx require "CCOnPRST" in System to be ON, and "SndOnPrst" and "UpdOnPrst" must also be ON for those buttons to function correctly and stay sync'd to the Axe-Fx.
• To program a Tempo button: set "Tempo" to ON and assign the button to the Tempo CC (#14). Other OFF/ON button parameters are OFF.
• To program a Tuner button: set the IA to "Tuner" ("Button Action > IA > System > Tuner"), and assign the Tuner CC. All ON/OFF fields are OFF except UpdOnPrst = ON. The tuner display on the GT works very well.
• Page: use pages on the GT for more control. You can can assign buttons on pages 2 and up to functionality that doesn't need to be on the first page.
• IA Mode is the same as Reveal on the MFC-101. It turns all switchs into IA switches for more control. For example, you ue this to make scene buttons available.
• Preset buttons: UpdOnPrst should be tuned on and the switches should be grouped.
• You can name scenes and configure switches per preset by using local pages on the GT, insteed of a global page layout.
• Groups: a group links a number of buttons together, so that only one of them can be engaged. Examples: grouping is handy when switching between two Amp blocks, sp pressing one of the assigned Amp buttons automatically bypasses the other.
• IA Cycle: lets you use a single button to step between 4 effect settings, or switch multiple effects in 4 steps, etc. You can use it to enable a Delay (step 1) and switch it between X and Y (step 2) and bypass it (step 3).

Setting up the GT, Axe-Fx and BandHelper

Read more about syncing the app BandHelper with the Axe-Fx and GT.