Controlling a V4 Zynthian with Notenumbers on Masterchannel

Using Zynthian
21

no :unamused_face::smiling_face_with_tear:

22

No. I use a stable Image from 2023 with several updates.

as I burned my last SD i didn’t find an other newer update.

23

That is really old, before Oram which released in 2024. That is an unsupported version. You need to update to Oram or Vangelis which is entering beta. We can’t support versions before Oram and that is now in maintenance support only (critical bug fixes).

24

Thats sad, because it worked a time before.

with new versions i’ll get new problems …?

Please tell me, where i can find the right link to the new version that works on V4.

Thank you

25

The releases and test images are here. The latest stable release is Oram. There is also test image for Vangelis. Don’t use the Vangelis beta image until it is announced in this forum because we are currently ironing out issues with it.

26

Ok, Now i have a new SD with Oram an I’ve installesd setBfree and Pianotec.

I tried to send Control Commands with Notes on Ch 16.

But Zynthian thinks thats Note on commands on Ch 01. I saw that on the Midi Log

27

You have to enable master channel in webconf.

28

ahh, Thanx :grin::face_with_monocle:

29

The default used to be for master channel to be enabled but that changed to be disabled by default, hence to use MIDI to driver zynthian’s CUIA you must first enable in webconf.

Hopefully you are back to your productive baseline and enjoying the enhancements of Oram. Maybe you may venture into Vangelis when it is released in the next few months!

30

thanx for your nice words.

I only try to have a small system using a cheep keyboard for notes, an iPad with bandhelper as controlunit and the naked Zynthian for sounds.

I’ve just set the Masterchannel to 19.

Now the simple Commands are working, but the „Select"-Function doesn’t. (after new 30€ SD, 1 hour burning, reinstall…)

31

Masterchannel 16

SELECT Does not work

32

SELECT is the wrong command. Please try what was suggested above.

33

I do not know, what you mean.

I tested „Zynswitch 3" (notenumber 93). That doesn’ work.

I do not find an „Select Action" wi5h or withount a S. Perhaps I have A V4 Zynthian, not a V 5?

Dear Riban,

Zynthian is a super Soundsystem. But if the controlling with notenumbers is not possible, ok, than say that. That was my first question I asked before I bought my first Zythian V3. And I tried it over years. Now is my last test to do that. I need 2 workaraunds to work with Zynthian:

  1. How can I give an Enter, Select, ok, Yes or how ever you call it.
  2. How do I give numeric values like Volume etc with notenumbers.

Thanks for your work and your passion.

Cheers

34

SELECT_ACTION was introduced in Vangelis so is not available in Oram which I believe you are using. So you must use the zynswitch option. For your MIDI note, enter ZYNSWITCH as the command and 3,S for the parameter. This should then emulate a short press of encoder 4 (the config is zero based), i.e. the SELECT encoder switch.

I am not sure what you mean. Please give a concrete example of a MIDI event and what you would like it to do.

35

Wow, Brian, that is gooood. Thanx. Zynswitch 3,S works so far. Thank you for this answer.

Your 2nd question: If you have a parameter like „volume" it may have numeric values between 0 - 127. In the Oram guide i can read, how to work with a pc keyboard. they use none, control, shift and shift/control with the left hand to select the 4 encoders and „komma" to increase and „point" to decrease the valueswith the right hand. Perhaps there is an similar workaround for using notenumbers on ch#16?

Thanks for your help!!!

36

I am still struggling to understand what you want to do. Are you asking how to use a MIDI NOTE ON command to drive a processor controller, like volume, e.g. Note 48, velocity 64 to set MDA Piano Volume to 50%?

37

Yes
in Oram user Guide you show how to use a pc keyboard to do that.
I like to control all elements of editing a Zynthian with Note on Commands.

for your understanding: I want to use the MidiKeyboard to make Musik and the I pad wirh Bandhelper to control Songs and Sounds

von Norbert Schreiber gesendet



-----Original-Nachricht-----
Von: Brian Walton <discourse@zynthian.org>
Betreff: [Zynthian Discourse] [Using Zynthian] Controlling a V4 Zynthian with Notenumbers on Masterchannel
Datum: 30.07.2026, 08:26 Uhr
An: norbert.schreiber@t-online.de


|

  • |

Someone replied to your post.

| riban
July 30 |

  • | - |

I am still struggling to understand what you want to do. Are you asking how to use a MIDI NOTE ON command to drive a processor controller, like volume, e.g. Note 48, velocity 64 to set MDA Piano Volume to 50%?

38

I will show you a typical Situation.
During a rehearsal the gitarist says: Your Piano is to strong, your strings to quiet.
I have only the iPad, Keyboard and Zynthian.
Now i like to edit 2 Volumeparameters.
How can I do that?

von Norbert Schreiber gesendet



-----Original-Nachricht-----
Von: Brian Walton <discourse@zynthian.org>
Betreff: [Zynthian Discourse] [Using Zynthian] Controlling a V4 Zynthian with Notenumbers on Masterchannel
Datum: 30.07.2026, 08:26 Uhr
An: norbert.schreiber@t-online.de


|

  • |

Someone replied to your post.

| riban
July 30 |

  • | - |

I am still struggling to understand what you want to do. Are you asking how to use a MIDI NOTE ON command to drive a processor controller, like volume, e.g. Note 48, velocity 64 to set MDA Piano Volume to 50%?

39

I wouldn’t use note-on values to change CC. I would use a controller with knobs or faders that can send CC or adjust it on the zynthian itself. Do any of your controllers have knobs or faders that can send CC? These are fairly easily learned to processor parameters. On Oram, control of the mixer is also possible but done slightly differently. In Vangelis it is done the same as any processor parameter.