Midi through KPA to control vocals

    I have been trying to map out my ideal rig setup before i pull the trigger on a KPA. I have a couple different scenarios that are making it challenging to decide between the rack unit and the head. One of my main problems is the fact that I don't fully understand midi technology. I have only used it in a very "beginner" way with some old gear I had. So I thought I'd see if any of you kind folks could help me.


    I use a voicelive play gtx (little brother of the voicelive) by TC Helicon. It only contains a "midi-in" connection. I am wondering if i can use a basic midi controller to go straight to the KPA and then out of the KPA to to voicelive play gtx and be able to control both of them seperately. I am also wondering if the midi switches can differentiate between the devices. For instance, can i set the top row of switches to change to KPA rigs, and the bottom set of switches to control the vocal pedal without affecting the other device.


    Also is there such a thing as a midi pedal that has 2 outs to control the KPA and voicelive seperately?


    And lastly, if the KPA controller releases and uses a different connection than midi, would i be able to control the vocal pedal with the KPA FC or would I be better off sticking with midi controller?


    Thanks in advance for any help. I have read myself silly trying to figure out how midi works and I want to buy the right KPA from the start. These questions will help me decide whether I am going to "rack" my pedals or go the "pedal board" route with a toaster.

    I'm using the voicelive2 alongside with the profiler. I control them independently even when we play a fixed setlist.
    You need to do very advanced planning and sophisticated programming when controlling several units at once.
    I have always felt it's not worth losing that spontaneity.


    As for the Kemper controller, nobody knows its exact specs and capabilities at the moment.

    This is another example of a situation where the KPA should be able to send a stored PC# on a per rig basis....BUT IT CANT. Please CK, add a feature to allow a PC# that gets transmitted at Rig Change.


    bd

    ^^ I don't get the point. Why not just create the appropriate patch on your midi controller that will send one PC message on one channel to the KPA and another PC message on another channel to the other device?


    Why does the Kemper need to have a stored PC number and send it? I suppose it might be a problem if your midi controller is unable to control more than one device at a time, but I don't see a workaround being built into the Kemper.

    Quote from nightlight

    ^^ I don't get the point. Why not just create the appropriate patch on your midi controller that will send one PC message on one channel to the KPA and another PC message on another channel to the other device?


    Why does the Kemper need to have a stored PC number and send it? I suppose it might be a problem if your midi controller is unable to control more than one device at a time, but I don't see a workaround being built into the Kemper.


    The idea is that you create a rig in the KPA and always want your external processor change to a matching patch every time it is called. The rig and the patch are locked together....even if you move it or change the mode PC# it responds to. Now your midi floorboard can simply call the rig without special programming.


    Constantly reprogrming a midi foot pedal to follow a setlist is a chore. Having a foot controller that accesses the performance mode and cycles through performances and slots sequentially makes more sense. Storing the PC# to send in the rig setting so it is always paired regardless of performance position makes sense too.


    At least thats how I'd like to see it work. BTW, its not a workaround. My Roland guitar processors do this today. Its a common feature in gear with midi capabilities.


    bd

    Wow, thank you all for such great advice. I've officially read all of the tutorials on midi and have a much better understanding of what is happening when using a midi foot controller. I think I might just buy two separate device and alleviate some headaches and have a lot of flexibility. For the sake of coversation though I would like to get some clarity on the programming of midi controller with 2 devices:


    Scenario 1:
    Button 1- kpa distortion
    Button 2- kpa clean
    Button 3- vocal delay
    Button 4- vocal harmony


    In this scenario can I stay on the kpa distortion channel while switching back and forth between delay and harmony on the vocals? In other words can they be programmed independently from each other?


    Or does it work more like this:


    Scenario 2:
    Button 1- kpa distortion / vocal delay
    Button 2- kpa distortion / vocal harmony
    Button 3- kpa clean / vocal delay
    Button 4- kpa clean / vocal harmony


    I assume it works like scenario 2 but I thought I'd pose the question. My thought is that the message has to pass through the kpa before reaching the vocal pedal so it will see the midi message as well but I'm not positive, especially because you can assign devices different channel numbers.


    Thanks again for all the help. I absolutely love this site and I don't even own the kpa yet

    Thanks for response and the excellent read on midi functioning. I at least have a little better understanding on the subject. I think I will go with @ingolf's recommendation and get two controllers.

    What you're trying to do shouldn't be very complicated to achieve.
    I'm currently using two midi footcontrollers that merge into the KPA and then go from the MIDI thru to my computer. In this way I can control both KPA parameters as well as FX from my daw. Just make sure you're using different channels for the different hardware or, if you are not, that you know which CCs are assigned to the KPA by default, so you don't have programming conflicts ;)