Implementation of midi control for Behringer FLOW8

[erwin]

Hi Mike

You will remember me, I made several posts because I'm looking for something similar to a "MINI-X32" Mixer-Desk
I asked for midi implementation for focusrite or other audio interface.

Now I have unexpectedly found my perfect solution for two use cases:
- mobile powerless mixer system with battery and Battery-Powered Microphones and Speakers
- digital small mixer in Theatre with fader and possibility for emergency intervention (contrary to XAir18)
And I really wanted to be able to control it with SQS.

Well I found it: Behringer Flow8, It's awesome, it's mobile (5V PowerPack)

I can send the audio cues to 4 different speakers:
Main / L
Main / R
Monitor 1
Monitor 2
It is absolutely perfect for my tasks.

And it understands MIDI SEND via USB
I tested it with SQS.: Especially my favorite MUTE on/off
It works great.

Behringer gives an extra MIDI control list, I've attached this list for you (PDF/rar)

If you have the opportunity, please enter a device for the device library with these commands, that would be very nice.

Flow8 is sure to find a large user community.

It offers an incredible number of possibilities, the APP is available for MAC and Android, easy and practical to use
and Behringer is constantly making new features

I'm incredibly flashed right now, my big wish has finally come true....

Many Thanks to you Erwin

[Mike Daniell]

Interesting. Can't promise anything very soon, but will look into the possibility of including FLOW8 in the 'Control Send Remote Device' file. Shame the FLOW8 doesn't have motorized faders.

[erwin]

Hi Mike

Yeah that's really a shame.
Somehow I understand it anyway, because I was shocked at how big the X-Touch console is when I got it.
A compromise always has to be found between functionality, price and space requirements.

But Behringer has programmed something really great:
To drag the faders to the saved position if needed you can look at the small LCD display, there you will see a bar and a thin stripe showing the fader position in relation to the saved position. This is extremely helpful.

One more question that interests me:
Is this 'Control Send Remote Device' file openly accessible?
Couldn't the community participate in the further development? Similar to how you can get language files from the community for some programs with the language of the respective countries.

Of course, that depends on how you planned it when developing SQS, maybe it's too complicated at the moment and you can add something along the lines of "include device file" later. So if there is a "Flow8.dev" it will be included at startup and if not then it stays away.

Perhaps you have already built this in or planned it for a long time

Erwin

[Mike Daniell]

One more question that interests me:
Is this 'Control Send Remote Device' file openly accessible?
Couldn't the community participate in the further development? Similar to how you can get language files from the community for some programs with the language of the respective countries.

The 'Control Send Remote Device' file was created to allow for more mixers etc to be remotely controlled by SCS, without the need to make significant changes to the code of SCS. It is the XML file 'scs_csrd.scsrd' which you will find in the folder that contains scs11.exe, eg in the folder 'SCS 11' under 'Program Files'. There is a reasonable amount of documentation at the top of the file, and I can assist if you have any questions about the structure and format. Although the file contains a 'Network' device type entry as well as several 'MIDI' device type entries, only the 'MIDI' device type is currently supported.

If you want to make any changes, make sure you first save a copy of the original file. The XML format is very strict, and an incorrect can make the whole file unusable.

[erwin]

Hi Mike

Thanks for the info, XML is not a problem for me.

Now I'm looking for the variable list $B $V $V0 and so on ?!?!

I was able to successfully load scenes with
<MsgData MsgType="Snapshot" MsgLangItem="RecallSnapshot" ValidValuesType="Snapshot" SelectionType="cbo">CF $1</MsgData> <!-- 1-16 -->

So the Selection of the Scene in $1 works fine...

Now I want to mute channels, and i can's get the Variable of Channel No.

<MsgData MsgType="MuteCh" ValidValuesType="Chan">B0 05 7F; B0 05 00</MsgData> <!-- 0-15 -->
mute/unmute Channel 1

<MsgData MsgType="MuteCh" ValidValuesType="Chan">B1 05 7F; B1 05 00</MsgData> <!-- 0-15 -->
mute/unmute Channel 2

Where B0 to BF is the channel
B0 05 01 Mutes Channel 1
B1 05 01 Mutes Channel 2
and so on

If i give something like this:
<MsgData MsgType="MuteCh" ValidValuesType="Chan">B$1 05 7F; B$1 05 00</MsgData> <!-- 0-15 -->

SCS will offer Channel 1-16 but the given Value will not send to MIDI like "B" and follwo by ChannelNumber
There are no other Mixer-Sample that explain me ho it will done...

When ever i set a Variable with "$" i can select Chanal-Numbers 1-16, but i don't know
how de Channel will insertet in the HEX String ?

Thanks Erwin

[erwin]

Hi Mike

Unfortunately, I did not receive an answer to my request and must act now.
I will send the commands as a midi sequence, that works fine, it doesn't have to be the convenient version.

I would have gladly offered to support you and voluntarily added other devices to the library.
But if I take a closer look at the existing one, I think I can see that the implementation is still immature and has errors.

The desire of the community is probably not very great, and that's why you don't pay much attention to it.
For me, the topic is closed for the moment, I have to regulate it differently.

Maybe when the need of the community is bigger and the problems with the variables are solved,
I can support you later if you want.
I recommend using an include function, so anyone who owns a midi device can create their own translation table
and make it available to the community.

Greetings Erwin

[Mike Daniell]

Erwin,

Sorry for the delay - I've been working on pre-production for a play starting soon, as well as training a completely new tech person to actually run the show!

Instead of:
<MsgData MsgType="MuteCh" ValidValuesType="Chan">B$1 05 7F; B$1 05 00</MsgData> <!-- 0-15 -->
try this:
<MsgData MsgType="MuteCh" ValidValuesType="Chan">B$P1 05 7F; B$P1 05 00</MsgData> <!-- 0-15 -->

[erwin]

Hi Mike

It's been a year, I've worked a lot and come to terms with the circumstances

Thanks for your brief info about the problem with variables.
A lot of what I tested, I remember, didn't work well, it was just a desire for easier operation.

As soon as I have some time again, I will sit down and test your information.

Now I am the owner of Yamaha DM3.
A very good and very sought after mixer, I will also try to make a 'Control Send Remote Device' file for everyone here.

I may come back to you with questions if I have any problems.

I just purchased the update, this time with no problems with the USD/EUR currency

Thanks and greetings Erwin

[Renaissance Theater]

Hey Erwin,


how's your Control Send Remote Device for the DM3 coming? And do you think it's going to be compatible with DM7?


Can I offer some help?

Cheers and all the best,
Hannes