G-Major/Ground Control problems.

vaijem777 · #1 08-27-2002, 11:31 AM

Ok...got my Ground Control and G-Major. I was totally psyched to finally start getting a decent rack rig together! But, I'm having some odd issues with the Ground Control. Or maybe it's with the G-Major? I'm not sure, being new to the whole MIDI thing. Anyway, here it goes:

-Ground Control is connected to the G-major via 5-pin MIDI Cable. Nothing unusual there. I've got a single expression pedal (Ernie Ball Volume pedal) hooked up right now (until I get another one).

-When trying to save a G-Major preset in the Ground Control, I'm having the following issues:
-Basically, the Ground Control will not allow me to save presets individually. Meaning, the only presets that the G.C. is allowing me to access are the User Presets from the G-Major, and only in the order in which they appear. (i.e. User Preset 1=footswitch 1). It's not allowing me to program presets to my liking (i.e. Factory Preset 37 to footswitch 8, etc).

Now, I KNOW there's got to be something I'm doing wrong, but I'm completely MIDI retarded. I HAVE reformatted/reinitialized the Ground Controls memory, so I'm starting with a clean slate. I've got it set to MIDI Channel 1, and have it set to go from 01-128, as the manual states. I've gone over the manuals for both units for hours apiece, and am still not finding sufficient info to address this matter. Obviously, it's a little inconvenient in that I'm unable to program the patches to match my band's set lists, etc.

Please...anybody...HELP ME!

Thanks in advance,
Chris

oooo · #2 08-27-2002, 02:05 PM

there is a "factory" recall setting and a "user" recall setting on the G-major. I had the same issues with my rig.
Go to "Midi/utility" menu of the G-major. Then "Program bank" then set "factory" to "user" and save it.
Also, if you are using a power strip to power your rack and leaving the unit switch on (in other words... I have mine set so I turn my rack power conditioner on and everthing comes on... know what i mean? G-major switch stays on)You need to turn the power off and then back on on the G-major when you save stuff... if you just kill the power strip, it won't save.
Hope that fixes that problem... let me know.

As for midi mapping (channel 1 = midi 1) When you power up the unit, what version does it say you are running?

vaijem777 · #3 08-27-2002, 05:05 PM

Thanks for the info, Oooo! I'll try the resets tonight. As for the power scenario, I do have it hooked up to my Furman, but I power down each component individually as well, so that shouldn't be an issue. I believe my G-Major is V.1.6 (isn't the most recent 1.7?).

oooo · #4 08-27-2002, 05:28 PM

The most recent is 1.11. You need to be at at least version 1.07 to do the midi mapping. You can upgrade to 1.11 at ...

http://www.tcelectronic.com/static.a...major_download.

Just download the latest upgrade and you are good to go.
It's funny, that was the two biggest problems I was having when I first got mine. Now all's good.

vaijem777 · #5 08-27-2002, 05:41 PM

Thanks for the link, Oooo! It is greatly appreciated. Now all I need is some sort of a MIDI card for my PC I guess. Hopefully this will solve the issues I've been having..I'll keep you posted!

Thank you VERY much,
Chris

oooo · #6 08-27-2002, 05:50 PM

To do mine, I just went to Guitar Center and picked up a pig tail type of midi cord that plugs right into my game controller port on my pc. Works great.
Found it in the Keyboard dept for under $20. I'm not sure what to call it, maybe somebody else here with a little more computer knowledge could help you out.

oooo · #7 08-27-2002, 06:06 PM

found it...

http://www.***************.com/item....item=MII+SCMA6

I just hook this up to the game controller port on the back of my PC and it updates through this. It needs to be two midi plugs like the one in the picture b/c it hooks up to "in" and "out" on the G-major.

Good luck, Shannon

oooo · #8 08-27-2002, 06:19 PM

oops,double post

vaijem777 · #9 08-29-2002, 11:30 AM

Well...I did the software upgrade on the G-Major. Everything went perfectly. The only problem is...now the unit doesn't work at all.

I spent about 4 hours on it last night. I've gone through each and every setting, done mainboard and front panel tests, recalibrated everything that can be recalibrated, and there is still NO output signal at all. There is input signal into the unit, which can be seen from the movement in the Input & Output Level bars on the display. But...no output at all. I've tried 3 different amps, a dozen different cables, and still nothing.

Any ideas? I've e-mailed TC Electronics Tech Support, but they said it takes an average of (2) working days to respond, and I've got a BIG show tomorrow night.

oooo · #10 08-29-2002, 06:28 PM

Ouch! Did you try calling their Cust Support? I had a similar problem with mine once and they went out of their way to get it back to me in time (although you need yours pretty quick). They told me it has a problem with Static electricity and when you take it out of or put it back into a rack it can zap the unit ( did you just mount or un-mount it?) I called them and they walked me through a reset process, no deal so they took it back and fixed the problem. They also said it shouldn't ever happen again... so far so good.

vaijem777 · #11 08-29-2002, 06:54 PM

I've spoken with a guy in the California office a few times today. He's given me a few suggestions, but they are all things that I've already done (multiple times in most cases). I didn't need to remove the unit from the rack since my computer is only a few feet away. There are a few other things that I'm going to try. I've requested that they e-mail me a downgrade that'll take the unit back to the original OS version- hopefully that'll at least get me through the show tomorrow night! But...I'm going to re-assemble my analog pedal board just to be safe

Thanks!
Chris

oooo · #12 08-29-2002, 10:47 PM

Sorry to hear it... That's the big down side to "all in one rack stuff", if the unit goes down you're screwed.
Let me know how the gig works out.

vaijem777 · #13 08-30-2002, 11:12 AM

GOT IT! Whew...finally! After several combonations of button-pushing, powering on & off, etc. the G-Major FINALLY started working fine! Something was apparently reset in the software upgrade. But...it works! Still got some issues with saving presets into the Ground Control, but...it'll get me through the gig tonight.

Thanks again for all of your help, Shannon! Now...if ya wanna help me out with the Ground Control next, I wouldn't hold it against ya

Thanks!

oooo · #14 08-31-2002, 10:03 AM

Uhhh... well you have to enter program bank two and set the base parameter to 1:23.6a After that's done you need to convert the flux capacitor to 25 gigawatts...

Sorry man, I have no clue. I'm sure someone here uses one and can help you out. I actually owned the complete set up for about a week (got a great deal on from a music store that had no idea what it was) but didn't have the power supply for the rack unit and sold it really quick. It was way more than I needed to be hauling around.
Good Luck