Tonex One Midi Control

Benz3ne

I picked up a Waveshare Zero (ESP32-S3 version: ESP32-S3 Zero Mini Development Board | The Pi Hut) from @keithf whom had kindly soldered a USB power cable to the 5V and GND headers on the board (for power). I also picked up a M-VAVE Chocolate (not Chocolate Plus) midi controller. 

I've included a picture of the top of the board where the power and ground cables are to be soldered (red = power, black = ground) and highlighted the boot and reset buttons which will make sense below (green = boot, purple = reset).
https://www.flickr.com/gp/benz3ne/1TbP628387

Thereafter, I popped to Greg Smith's GitHub page (and huge credit to him, he's put an astronomical amount of effort into this): GitHub - Builty/TonexOneController: Embedded controller for the IK Multimedia Tonex One guitar pedal

There are instructions there with releases of versions he's developed and tested with the Tonex One and various controllers (such as touchscreen controllers like the Waveshare 4.3B).
I downloaded the latest non-beta version and extracted/unzipped the file (version V1.0.6.1).

I loaded the Waveshare Zero in boot mode (hold 'boot' button on board whilst plugging a USB C data cable into port, press 'reset' button, release 'reset' button, release held 'boot' button). During this, I kept an eye on Device Manager to see which COM port was assigned to the waveshare (in this case it was COM4 but that'll obviously vary from PC to PC).

I ran the 'flash_download_tool_3.9.5' which brings up a selection box.
In this, you select 'ESP32-S3', 'Factory' and 'USB', respectively (per the below pictures from the dropdown menus).
https://www.flickr.com/gp/benz3ne/4Esi6bDJ2M

Thereafter, a large flash tool appears, with the 'download 1' section being the most important section.
After selecting the correct COM port from the dropdown, I chose to erase initially, to clear any pre-loaded boot or firmware files, then flashed the firmware by pressing 'start'. Once done, close the flash tool and disconnect the Waveshare.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/benz3ne/280zMz0zzy

Put the Tonex One into Stomp Mode (there are a couple of ways to do this - easiest I've found is press footswitch and alt button at the same time, cycle through to the 3rd 'amp' in the selection with the footswitch and press the footswitch and alt button again, but there's another way using the global settings and holding alt for 6 seconds etc... all this info is readily available). It won't work unless it's in stomp mode.

That should be it! Plug the Waveshare into a power supply (NOT 9V in this case, only 5V (which is why USB was perfect for me)), then connect it to the Tonex One with a USB-C to USB-C cable.

Turn on the M-Vave Chocolate midi controller - the blue light for bluetooth should stop flashing as soon as it has connected, which it should do automatically.

I had to 'troubleshoot' the Midi insofar as it was set to expression pedal mode rather than TRS-MIDI mode - to rectify this I downloaded Cubesuite from the MVAVE site, connected the midi pedal to the computer via USB C and changed this parameter as well as the 'program mode' to 'program mode A' which allows the bank switching etc. I need to have another quick look at this because I'm supposed to set the no. of banks from 0-19 (therefore 20 total) instead of the 8 banks of 4 it seems to have at the moment.

I'm in the midst of adding pictures to Flickr which is being a little bit of an awkward so-and-so for me right now, but if you need anything else explained further or clarified please chuck a message down below.

Huge credit where it's due to Greg Smith - I wouldn't have a clue where to begin otherwise so this has been fantastic. I'd also add that his more recent versions have things like WiFi integration and a web client for real-time parameter adjustment, so I'll be having a look into that and a play around at some time I'm sure.
But, for now, playing around with 20 banks with a remote footswitch is going to be a lovely addition for gigging and bedroom playing.

grungebob

Cool. Thanks for taking the time to post that. 

Is it actually sending midi commands to the One as I’m a bit confused over the Bluetooth comment? 

If so is it therefore possible to toggle the effects on the patch on/off rather than change patches?

Benz3ne

grungebob said:

Cool. Thanks for taking the time to post that. 

Is it actually sending midi commands to the One as I’m a bit confused over the Bluetooth comment? 

If so is it therefore possible to toggle the effects on the patch on/off rather than change patches?

At the moment I think it's just changing patches but I've not spent enough time with it - I know that the screened interfaces can do adjustments in real time but I don't think that's the same as a footswitch for, e.g., turning delay on and off.

I'll do more digging in due course but this is a nice start.

Benz3ne

I've updated it with links to pictures - I can't seem to embed pictures myself, so thought this was the best alternative.

springhead

Is the M Wave controller just sending next or previous preset commands or can it jump to a specific preset? So of the 20 presets can you jump to any one with midi Program Change?

Benz3ne

springhead said:

Is the M Wave controller just sending next or previous preset commands or can it jump to a specific preset? So of the 20 presets can you jump to any one with midi Program Change?

You can jump to any of your 20 saved presets. I.e. I could go from 1st to 4th preset if I wanted, or 1st to 8th, etc.

I'd describe it best as 'banks' of 4 presets; 4 footswitch buttons but you can change up or down by a 'bank' by pressing two footswitches together.
When you're changing 'bank', it'll even wait until you've selected one of the 4 from that 'bank' before changing the preset on the Tonex, if you follow? I.e. you don't need to worry about hitting the, e.g., 8th preset if you're going from 4th to 12th.

My view is to have a couple of 'banks', probably with clean/breakup/crunch/lead as presets per bank, so I don't have to change up or down banks between songs and keep more parity between the tones of the clean vs overdriven amp patches.

I'll get a video up of it shortly - I did send a short one to Keith of it working but I'll do one to highlight the specific attribute you're asking after.

springhead

I’ve ordered a zero board to play around with. I might just use it with a pair of up down buttons. Initially at least. Ultimately I’d integrate it with wired midi from my DMC micro pro on a board that’s controlling a TC Plethora.  

Benz3ne

springhead said:

I’ve ordered a zero board to play around with. I might just use it with a pair of up down buttons. Initially at least. Ultimately I’d integrate it with wired midi from my DMC micro pro on a board that’s controlling a TC Plethora.  

Have fun playing around with that and let us know how you get on!

springhead

The board arrived, plus a dc-dc converter to take 9V down to 5V.  I've flashed the board, everything went ok with no errors.  Little bit of soldering now to get the board powered plus lash up a couple of momentary switches and see if I can make the Tonex step up and down presets. 

I did a rehearsal with it yesterday, straight to the PA in the room with clean and crunch amp presets that I toggled with the footswitch.  And for one song I play mandolin so I had a Fishman Loudbox loaded into the Stomp slot.  All sounded good and If I can get the Tonex working with a pair of Up/Down buttons I think I can make a tiny pedal board with that plus a tuner and boost pedal.  Ultimately I'm hoping for some gigs at least to ditch the amp, main pedal board, mandolin pre-amp and just take two guitars (one normal, one open E for slide) plus mandolin with the little board in the pouch of one of the gig bags.  

Benz3ne

springhead said:

The board arrived, plus a dc-dc converter to take 9V down to 5V.  I've flashed the board, everything went ok with no errors.  Little bit of soldering now to get the board powered plus lash up a couple of momentary switches and see if I can make the Tonex step up and down presets. 

I did a rehearsal with it yesterday, straight to the PA in the room with clean and crunch amp presets that I toggled with the footswitch.  And for one song I play mandolin so I had a Fishman Loudbox loaded into the Stomp slot.  All sounded good and If I can get the Tonex working with a pair of Up/Down buttons I think I can make a tiny pedal board with that plus a tuner and boost pedal.  Ultimately I'm hoping for some gigs at least to ditch the amp, main pedal board, mandolin pre-amp and just take two guitars (one normal, one open E for slide) plus mandolin with the little board in the pouch of one of the gig bags.  

Fab stuff! I gigged with mine plus the newest beta (which gives a local wifi from the board allowing phone control of parameters*) with the Tonex on a pedalboard with just a spring reverb and analogue delay after it and a cheap Klon clone and tuner before it, with a couple of banks of presets set up allowing me to switch between, say, 4 patches per bank (so, for example, I had a Deluxe 65 Clean, breakup, drive and lead tones for one which I stuck with pretty well all of the evening).

People said that I sounded good in the mix, which is great and, honestly, I don't think I even needed the additional effects.

I'm tempted to get the Waveshare 4.3B screened PCU so I can do the parameter controlling from that instead and I'd probably be able to just use a Tonex into the FR-12 speaker. That said, if I had a nice reverb pedal to go after it, I'd probably use that instead of faffing with a screen between songs.

*The phone worked okay. The Wifi times out for the initial setup after 60 seconds or so, but you can change it to an 'untimed' access point mode. I've done this, and even then the Tonex pedal only shows up intermittently. If the phone is connected to it, and doesn't try to connect to known Wifi in the meantime, then it seems to stay connected. Sometimes however, it'll drop out and the access point isn't available so I can't reconnect without turning the module off and back on. I went the first half without phone control and the second half with (about an hour and a quarter per half). If I had the screen, I'd not have even needed to attempt to connect a phone. Other, better phones may work more smoothly.

springhead

Sounds like you’re in deep with it! I know I’d get the piss taken by the rest of the band if I was trying ‘phone my pedalboard’ during a gig! 

I’ll let you know how the first attempt goes with momentary switches. Phase 2 will be wired midi but the board suggested on the git hub is out of stock at the moment.   

Benz3ne

springhead said:

Sounds like you’re in deep with it! I know I’d get the piss taken by the rest of the band if I was trying ‘phone my pedalboard’ during a gig! 

I’ll let you know how the first attempt goes with momentary switches. Phase 2 will be wired midi but the board suggested on the git hub is out of stock at the moment.   

It's messing around more than anything - I knew I could just revert back to some 'regular' presets if the phone thing didn't work (a la, the first set).
But yes, I think I could end up duck-diving into the touchscreen option and making an enclosure for that and the Tonex One...

springhead

Just got it working!  On an initial test a couple of days ago I couldn't see the wifi hot spot and my Up/Down switches did nothing.  I've reflashed it and now it's working!  Boots very quickly, switches are very fast to change the preset.  I now need to think how I'm going to package it in a small box with a couple of footswitches.  Exciting stuff though!

keithf

springhead said:

Just got it working!  On an initial test a couple of days ago I couldn't see the wifi hot spot and my Up/Down switches did nothing.  I've reflashed it and now it's working!  Boots very quickly, switches are very fast to change the preset.  I now need to think how I'm going to package it in a small box with a couple of footswitches.  Exciting stuff though!

I'm exactly the same position

springhead

I’m not sure how to mount it and have the usb c socket available. There’s no way of mounting the board, no screw holes. It would have to be wedged in place somehow. Or maybe treat it as a captive cable that pokes out of the pedal box. There are right angle usb c adapters which would make for a neat cable exit from the ToneX. 

Brio

Surely this is what 3d printers were created for?

springhead

Not a bad thought. I want to put the boards in the same box with the footswitches so has to be stomp proof. Not sure 3D printed would be Tuff Enuff (copyright, Fabulous Thunderbirds!). 

I’ve got an idea though. Work in progress…

digitalscream

springhead said:

Not a bad thought. I want to put the boards in the same box with the footswitches so has to be stomp proof. Not sure 3D printed would be Tuff Enuff (copyright, Fabulous Thunderbirds!). 

I’ve got an idea though. Work in progress…

I print pedalboards. Believe me, it'll be fine.

slateboy

really interesting project this.
Has anyone tweaked the code to adapt to their own means or are they just binary files that cannot be edited by anyone wishing to play with the code?

keithf

This is what i chose to do,:

I have a Meloaudio Midi commander doing nothing,
So i built the board into the unit, powered it from the Usb input,
fed the relevant leads from the midi port, 
took the output from the board to a usb c socket and plugged that into the tonex,
I then powered the whole shebang with a power brick, job done.
Just means i'm not relying on bluetooth for the connection.
https://i.imgur.com/x3ZliN2.jpg?1

springhead

Nicely done. I’m going to do similar with wired midi from a DMC micro pro that’s on my main pedal board. Prior to that I’m boxing up step up/down buttons to USB c to the ToneX for a simpler board where I just need 3-4 different amp sounds. Got all the bits, just need some time to build it.