[LAU] setting up a Behringer BCF2000 for use with ardour

[David Adler]

On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 3:52 PM, uhoh <uhoh at cox.net> wrote:
> On Sunday 18 October 2009 12:04:14 am David Adler wrote:
>> On Sun, Oct 18, 2009 at 12:29 AM, uhoh <uhoh at cox.net> wrote:
>> > i've followed the online ardour manual section 10.2, but it isn't
>> > working. manual page shows the bcf showing up under MIDI in qjackctl
>> > Connect window, but for me it comes up under ALSA. i tried various
>> > combinations conncections to/from ardour from qjackctl but to no avail.
>> >
>> > i'm using debian lenny on amd64 with ardour compiled from source (since
>> > it's not in the debian distribution).
>> >
>> > i have the bcf2000 connected through usb and it's showing up fine
>> > in /proc/asound/cards.
>> >
>> > any help would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> In qjackctls setup window, select 'seq' as Midi driver in the drop-down
>> menu at the bottom left. Then all Alsa-Midi ports should appear under
>> Alsa as well as under Midi.
>
> okay, now i have extra ports under the MIDI tab conveniently labeled
> midi_capture_3 ... midi_playback_8 (presumably for the BCF2000 and ardour) in
> addition to my soundcard ports. i tried some random connections here, but it
> didn't do anything.
>
>> Some explanation of the two Midi systems:
>> http://wiki.linuxaudio.org/faq/start#qwhat_is_the_difference_between_jack-m
>>idi_and_alsa-midi
>
> thanks for the link. it doesn't solve my problem, but any info on how the
> underlying software works is good to know.
>
> under the ALSA tab i have the following out ports (in addition to my sound
> card): MIDI 1 & 2 under the BCF2000 and control, mcu, & seq under ardour. the
> in ports are the same for ardour, but i have MIDI 1, 2, & 3 for the BCF2000.
> which outs connect to which ins?
>

AFAIK there is no disadvantage if the connections are done
in the Alsa tab, since both, the BCF and Ardour, don't use
Jack-Midi anyhow. The Midi tab shown in the Manual is
presumably the same as the Alsa tab today, the picture is
rather outdated.

In Ardour I had to check 'Generic MIDI' (options menu ->
control surfaces -> ...) before I could successfully
ctrl-middle-click the faders to assign them. Probably also
check 'feedback' for driving the motor faders.

I can't tell you which of the ports to use, trial and error
should work. If the Ardour settings don't do the magic a
simple Midi monitor (any of gmidimon, kmidimon or ams
or (if you like) puredata can do it) might be helpful to
trace down the problem.

best,
d