Behringer B-CONTROL (BCF2000) as control surface

timmrogers · Post by **timmrogers** » Thu Nov 12, 2015 6:06 pm

So I'm trying again to find an appropriate control surface for LXConsole.

While working with the X32 together with LXConsole was fun, getting that beast out for lighting proved to be...impractical.

I bought a used Behringer B-CONTROL (BCF2000) off eBay, and found some nice software (BC Manager) which allows me to specify which MIDI message each of the faders and encoders buttons send.

I have been able to quickly get the faders configured so that they can be used to set levels in LXConsole. So far, so good.

My intent this time around is to try to stay mostly focused on using the B-CONTROL to provide faders for LXConsole - although I would like to try to explore a few other features.

I am still struggling to get communication back from LXConsole to the B-CONTROL working. So far, running cues does not change the fader levels as it did on the X32. It should work - but isn't yet. I'm still exploring that issue.

Today, though, I'm wondering if there might be a way to do something like this in LXConsole:

cc-65 key=q:%v

This would allow me to use one of the "encoder" dials to select a cue by turning it. Pressing it, then, could be set for Enter. That would be an elegant way, I think, to choose cues quickly.

But while changes you made for me this summer allow me to do:

key=q

and

key=%v

I cannot, as far as I know, combine them.

Might that be possible?

If this could be made to work, adding Record and Time in similar ways should be trivial.

Thank you very much!

Post by **admin** » Thu Nov 12, 2015 9:33 pm

You are looking for key=q;key=%v

(It works with LXConsole 4.0.2 (9405.1) and a control change sent by a Korg nanoKONTROL)

timmrogers · Post by **timmrogers** » Thu Nov 12, 2015 9:41 pm

Perfect! Thank you very much!

timmrogers · Post by **timmrogers** » Thu Nov 12, 2015 10:15 pm

That works beautifully. Thanks again.

I am still struggling, I'm afraid, with communication from LXConsole to the B-CONTROL.

It looks to me as if LXConsole is not sending the CC information that I would expect it to.

I'll try to be clear about my current settings.

I am using a USB connection between the B-CONTROL and my Mac. I am in USB Mode 1 on the B-CONTROL. Output from the B-CONTROL is working nicely.

LXConsole | Preferences... | MIDI Out

Out connection: BCF2000
MIDI Channel: 1
All options checked (although that doesn't seem to matter for the output)

File | External

Both MIDI/Show Control In and Out checked

MIDI Monitor shows the following when I move Fader 1:

Code: Select all

// Moving Fader 1 on B-CONTROL
13&#58;40&#58;12.418	From BCF2000	Control	1	Bank Select	$01
13&#58;40&#58;12.472	From BCF2000	Control	1	Bank Select	$02
13&#58;40&#58;12.508	From BCF2000	Control	1	Bank Select	$03
13&#58;40&#58;12.526	From BCF2000	Control	1	Bank Select	$04
13&#58;40&#58;12.562	From BCF2000	Control	1	Bank Select	$05
13&#58;40&#58;12.580	From BCF2000	Control	1	Bank Select	$06
13&#58;40&#58;12.634	From BCF2000	Control	1	Bank Select	$07

But (in spy mode) when I run Cue 1, then 2, then 3, it shows:

Code: Select all

13&#58;36&#58;47.229	To BCF2000	SysEx		Universal Real Time $9 bytes	F0 7F 00 02 7F 01 31 00 F7
13&#58;36&#58;52.853	To BCF2000	SysEx		Universal Real Time $9 bytes	F0 7F 00 02 7F 01 32 00 F7
13&#58;36&#58;58.490	To BCF2000	SysEx		Universal Real Time $9 bytes	F0 7F 00 02 7F 01 33 00 F7

Any thoughts? Am I missing something?[/code]

Thanks for all of your help.

timmrogers · Post by **timmrogers** » Thu Nov 12, 2015 10:54 pm

Communications between LXConsole and my B-CONTROL just started working.

I...well, I'm not sure what I changed. I've tried many things.

I'll try to track down what change made the difference. But suddenly, MIDI Monitor shows LXConsole sending the CC data - and the B-CONTROL is responding as expected to LXConsole GO commands.

Sorry to bother you with this!

timmrogers · Post by **timmrogers** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 6:20 pm

I just wanted to update this thread to thank you for your help - both with my efforts to use LXConsole with the Berhinger X32 and with this.

I have the B-CONTROL BCF2000 working well now with LXConsole, and I believe that it will be an excellent control surface to use with LXConsole - both to record cues and to run simple shows. (I'll use QLab with LXConsole, I think, for more complex shows.)

For anyone who might be interested in doing this, I highly recommend "BC Manager" (http://mountainutilities.eu/bcmanager) for programming the B-CONTROL. It made what would have been a horrible task to do from the B-CONTROL itself quite easy.

I'm happy to share my LXConsole and B-CONTROL configuration, if anyone is interested. I'm still working on both - but they might be a helpful starting point for anyone who would like to use LXConsole with the B-CONTROL.

Thanks again.