I have the 5.1 kit and have a number of ZS3s saved for the various instrument combinations I need for my songs. I setup my song setlists through ForScore, a great music management app for the iPad. ForScore apparently has a way to send MIDI program change messages (e.g., Channel 1, Program 3). It would be amazing to be able to send program change messages from ForScore to the Zynthian and cause Zynthian to load the appropriate ZS3 program.
I’ve tried both connecting the iPad directly via USB and also tried connecting via Bluetooth, but for the life of me I cannot figure out how to send a MIDI program change message from ForScore and have it set a ZS3 program change on the Zynthian.
Has anyone else figured out how to setup ForScore to send MIDI program change messages that are recognized by the Zynthian?
I do not use Apple devices so cannot provide practical experience but this is what various sources of info on the Internet say…
The forScore user guide, metadata section:
MIDI
In the “MIDI” section of the metadata panel, you can assign a unique command to each score and open it with some MIDI devices. You can also save a list of commands to be sent out each time that score is opened. If you plan to use the same set of commands more than once, presets make it easy to save them and assign them to other scores later.
ChatGPT:
Steps to Send MIDI Program Change in forScore
Open your score in forScore.
Tap the title in the top center of the screen to open the Metadata panel.
Select “MIDI” (you may need to scroll to see it).
Tap “Add Command”.
Choose “Program Change” from the list.
Set the following:
Channel: The MIDI channel (1–16) that your external device listens to.
Program: The patch number (0–127).
(Optional) Bank MSB/LSB if your device requires bank switching.
Tap “Done” to save.
When you return to the score, you can tap the MIDI icon (a plug symbol, if enabled in settings) or configure forScore to automatically send MIDI when you open the score (see below).
ZS3 means Zynthian Sub-SnapShot. A ZS3 is a partial state that is stored in memory and can be recalled very fast. ZS3s can easily be associated (learned) to MIDI Programs (program change events). Of course, all ZS3s are saved and restored with snapshots, including the default state of the snapshot when first loaded (ZS3-0).
Please bear in mind that in the case of USB-connected MIDI devices there are two settings configured in admin under “MIDI-USB mapped by port” that affect this functionality. With mapped to port set the learnt settings will apply only to the specific USB Configuration in place at the time of learning. So if you add a USB hub to the rig the ZS3 sub-snapshots won’t act. Turning this off will allow control simply by the MIDI message only.
I note that the zynthian user guide does not describe how to add ZS3. This is in a legacy guide:
1. Ensure “Program Change ZS3” is enabled in the admin menu.
2. From the Control View, short press SNAPSHOT to enter MIDI control learn mode then short press SNAPSHOT again. You will see the current list of ZS3s (initially empty) and a message: “Waiting for Program Change…”
3. Send a “MIDI Program Change” from your keyboard / controller and the ZS3 will be stored in memory, associated with the Program Number you pushed on your keyboard / controller. Alternatively select “Save as new ZS3” from the menu to save ZS3 without MIDI Program Change assigned.