Hello!
I have Drum-machine Boss DR-880 and don't understand some things
Yes, I can send Note MIDI data from DAW to Boss and Boss will play drum notes also as bass notes from assigned tracks.
But! I can not understand how to operate Boss using DAW! Boss don't 'see' any controller, even Controller #11. (Maybe except Controller #7 - Volume). There is no manual about what controllers or SYSEXs 'understand' Boss!
How to operate it using DAW?? How to send the type of reverb and the value of reverb MIDI comand from DAW to Boss for example? I use Controller #11 to make some dynamics in MIDI, but Boss has no reaction to that Controller!
Thank you!

 

There's Boss DR-880 MIDI Implementation chart manual here. You can read what you can and what you can't do with it over MIDI. Or just search for "Boss DR-880 manual" with whatever search engine you're using. I use DuckDuckGo.

A complete DR-880 manual would be useful to have, too, if you don't have it already. Here it is. It contains MIDI implementation chart, but just a basic one.

Cheers!

 

Last edited: Mar 16, 2021

Of course! It will only respond to MIDI note info. That's an old drum machine and we hadn't yet implemented certain things in such hardware.
Only a sequencer, with sounds that can respond to it.
You may be able to trigger patterns with LSB/MSB, I don't know.
You are thinking the drum machine is like a Kontakt instrument with velocity layers on the mod wheel.

"Reverb MIDI command from DAW?" What is that ???
Of course Boss has no reaction to that controller!
No drum machine ever has.
And remember, all old drum machines are hard coded to output the same info and control change info.
Most old synths do not output ANY cc info from their own pots and faders.

You have just learnt some MIDI history.
No need for the manual in regards this "problem" as it isn't a problem.

 

Thank you a lot!
Now everything is clear for me!
Regards!

 

...although... in the modern generation of drum machines it just came to me that Spark, which also has its own plugin which can interact seamlessly with it, may have more of the controllers that one is currently used to automating whilst 'in the box'.
Which makes me wonder if when Roland has remade anything in the modern day whether or not they implemented any additional cc infos for fx or even dynamics.
And then Behringer.
But anyway, what you describe is standard with all old drum machines, if not most drum machines that exist.
There just wasn't a need to open up all the control change messages in a simple unit back then.
Just pcm samples that can only be detuned, often universally, and panned.

 

Very interesting! I never thought about that. I had Roland TR-626 many years ago, but I didn't have computer to check it's MIDI. Only I was able as I remember - was to connect it to Juno-106 by MIDI and program some melody to be played by synth

 

WTF! I had both of those too!
The 106 was my first synth, and the 626 was my first drum machine! haha
Yeah; hi-hat pattern to bassline!

 

Cool!
In the rules it says that if someone gives you the advice you need, you should click on Best Answer that is underneath the comment that helped you so that others can benefit too. It only appears when you have started your own thread, as you have.
You wanna see me breakdance, right? I can you know.

 

Reply #3. Cheers!
OP states thanks in Reply #4.

 

I have made some success with changing kits mid song in DAW and dr-880.
I wont comment on a proper CC code as my DAW ( reaper ) runs off a file that I created so I can add program change notes in my midi file.
Here is my script ( shows the most relevant CC info needed<>
These commands are in order so that reaper will send it give UI to adjust. All I want is for 880 user pads to be available so its always going to bank 1

Then I have modified 3 Kits and can call them up within the midi sequence. I do have to manually tell it channel 10 ( or 2 if I want to use the Bass) but its all automated so I can just ROCK IT! ( IMPORTANT kit U100 is called up as program #99 ( 0 is 1 1 is 2 etc)

 

Hello
My Boss DR 880 is connected to a looper (Ditto X4) via midi to send it a sync signal so that the loops don't fall apart. The problem is that by pressing start (via pedal control 1 but it doesn't matter) the DR 880 also sends a start message to the looper which launches its loop.
I don't want this. Do you know a way to fix this?