GM Arts Firmware for BJ Devices TB-12
  User Guide

Overview

This manual describes GM Arts firmware version 3.3 for the BJ Devices TB-12 MIDI Foot Controller (MFC). The MFC has 12 footswitches that can send MIDI messages to control attached musical devices. This firmware can also receive messages from the Fractal Audio Axe-FX II to display certain information.

Included files:

• A "hex" firmware file to load into your TB-12
• A sample "eep" settings file to load into your TB-12
• A PC editor application to create and edit your own eep settings files
• The editor includes a built-in MFC emulator allowing you to test settings from your PC

DOWNLOAD HERE (not available yet)

The editor is a Windows program that requires Microsoft .NET framework version 4.5 or higher. If you don't already have it, you can download it from Microsoft here.

If you're interested in the code required to design your own firmware, I have several examples of earlier versions of this software here.

Features

The firmware has two modes of operation:

• Basic operation: for a simple MFC, but still with many optional features
• Advanced options: for sophisticated MFC functions, highly configurable

It is recommended to start with basic operation then add advanced features if necessary. Here's a summary of the main features:

Basic operation has:

• 16 banks of 5 patches (total 80 patches)
• 10 effects including Tap
• Tap can switch on additional effects after a defined number of presses
• 4 different effect footswitch modes, including toggle and momentary
• Effect footswitches can send 2 messages, which can be CC messages or setting relay states
• CC messages can have any off or on value (allowing reverse operation, or switching between different levels - much more than typical off/on "IA" messages)
• Effects can belong to groups, to ensure only one effect is on in the group
• Bank select mode allows any bank selection with a maximum of 2 footswitch presses
• Supports 2 pedals, with optional effect switching at heel-down position
• Built-in pedal calibration and emergency disable for pedal faults
• Edit program numbers and their initial effect states on the MFC
• Can backtrack patches, optionally with their effect states and bank changes
• Supports Axe-FX II functions: tuner, patch names, effect states, tap tempo with tempo backtracking

Advanced options add these features:

• 16 banks of 10 patches (total 160 patches)
• Send additional messages and set relay states with program changes
• Set the order of events for program changes
• Up to 200 library messages, each of which can be one or more MIDI messages such as system exclusives, NRPN messages, CC messages, and can also include special commands to control the MFC
• Library messages can be sent instead of a CC message with patch changes and from effect footswitches
• Up to over 100 overrides (depending on complexity) - for example, an override could be: "In patches A3, B4 and H2, effect footswitch 3 will control a phaser instead of an overdrive"

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