The object with the Boss DR-880 drum machine is to get it so it switches to the right drum sequence whenever I switch loops on the Boss RC-50 looper. Ideally I would be able to switch drum sequences each time I switch phrases as each loop on an RC-50 can be comprised of three independent phrases. For example, one phrase might be the verse, the second for the chorus, and the third for some whizzy lead part.
But none of that works.
MIDI is definitely getting to the DR-880 from the RC-50. Start/Stop initiates or halts the current drum sequence on the DR-880 and timing is being received. You can see the tempo hover between 119-120 as it switches to match identically the clock in the RC-50. (That may sound a little unusual but you would be more likely to hear a problem if it were not doing it.)
The Boss DR-880 has 'Songs' which are collections of drum 'Patterns' ... but the Program Change from the RC-50 doesn't change either one. This is making zero sense to me.
Program Change is a fundamental aspect of the Art of MIDI. In this application, I want to change from one drum sequence to another. For a music synthesiser I might want to change from the Angel Voice to the Gnarly Bass Banger. There is much more detail but that, generally, is what Program Change does.
I have read manuals ... a lot. There is one for the DR-880, another for the RC-50, and yet another for using the DR-880 and the RC-50 together. Useless. In one manual it says Program Change will switch the DR-880 drum kit. Now what the hell good is that. Why would I want to switch in the middle of a song from, say, a drum kit for a rock band to the kit used by a Polynesian drum circle.
As I say, it makes no sense. But that's ok as the manuals don't agree anyway. There are other references to Program Change switching the Song.
There are tutorial videos on YouTube for using the DR-880 and the RC-50 in combination but most of the ones I saw were guitar bozos who want to dazzle you with their cool licks rather than actually provide any useful information. There's another video from some guy doing a demo but he's so awkward in using the DR-880 that he would give most people a reason not to get one.
There's nothing wrong with the DR-880 and in fact it's a very powerful drum machine. It's also more expensive than many so try it first. Know going into it that learning it is not a quick thing and you will hear this from anyone who has had one for a while. Also know the device was first released in 2004 when memory was quite a bit more expensive so do expect memory constraints with the DR-880. Most estimate you can store at most about thirty drum songs in it.
There was some guy slamming Boss equipment recently to say they're the McDonald's of pedal effects ... but he's some guy who spent $2000 on a Martin to play chords on it. Pfft.
Boss equipment is capable, very difficult to break, and is fairly economical relative to what it does. There's better stuff, of course, but there always is. Even if I had the money for more gear of this nature, I would not be considering it. I hate screwing with hardware. I just want the sound.
(Ed: This is boring, dude)
You think YOU are bored! I've been going through this stuff for a couple of days now. Who knows, maybe someone will see it and have something more useful to offer than advice about cheeseburgers and might know how to resolve the problem.
Update: It's definitely the drum kit that gets switched by Program Change. This makes no sense to me whatsoever but Boss isn't in the business of making things that make no sense, I must be missing something. Maybe you have some demented reason for changing in the middle of a song from a hard rock drum kit to bongos but there isn't a reason that's immediately coming to me. Back to the manual, it seems.
But none of that works.
MIDI is definitely getting to the DR-880 from the RC-50. Start/Stop initiates or halts the current drum sequence on the DR-880 and timing is being received. You can see the tempo hover between 119-120 as it switches to match identically the clock in the RC-50. (That may sound a little unusual but you would be more likely to hear a problem if it were not doing it.)
The Boss DR-880 has 'Songs' which are collections of drum 'Patterns' ... but the Program Change from the RC-50 doesn't change either one. This is making zero sense to me.
Program Change is a fundamental aspect of the Art of MIDI. In this application, I want to change from one drum sequence to another. For a music synthesiser I might want to change from the Angel Voice to the Gnarly Bass Banger. There is much more detail but that, generally, is what Program Change does.
I have read manuals ... a lot. There is one for the DR-880, another for the RC-50, and yet another for using the DR-880 and the RC-50 together. Useless. In one manual it says Program Change will switch the DR-880 drum kit. Now what the hell good is that. Why would I want to switch in the middle of a song from, say, a drum kit for a rock band to the kit used by a Polynesian drum circle.
As I say, it makes no sense. But that's ok as the manuals don't agree anyway. There are other references to Program Change switching the Song.
There are tutorial videos on YouTube for using the DR-880 and the RC-50 in combination but most of the ones I saw were guitar bozos who want to dazzle you with their cool licks rather than actually provide any useful information. There's another video from some guy doing a demo but he's so awkward in using the DR-880 that he would give most people a reason not to get one.
There's nothing wrong with the DR-880 and in fact it's a very powerful drum machine. It's also more expensive than many so try it first. Know going into it that learning it is not a quick thing and you will hear this from anyone who has had one for a while. Also know the device was first released in 2004 when memory was quite a bit more expensive so do expect memory constraints with the DR-880. Most estimate you can store at most about thirty drum songs in it.
There was some guy slamming Boss equipment recently to say they're the McDonald's of pedal effects ... but he's some guy who spent $2000 on a Martin to play chords on it. Pfft.
Boss equipment is capable, very difficult to break, and is fairly economical relative to what it does. There's better stuff, of course, but there always is. Even if I had the money for more gear of this nature, I would not be considering it. I hate screwing with hardware. I just want the sound.
(Ed: This is boring, dude)
You think YOU are bored! I've been going through this stuff for a couple of days now. Who knows, maybe someone will see it and have something more useful to offer than advice about cheeseburgers and might know how to resolve the problem.
Update: It's definitely the drum kit that gets switched by Program Change. This makes no sense to me whatsoever but Boss isn't in the business of making things that make no sense, I must be missing something. Maybe you have some demented reason for changing in the middle of a song from a hard rock drum kit to bongos but there isn't a reason that's immediately coming to me. Back to the manual, it seems.
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