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How do I control Lex with MIDI?

To begin using Lex with an external MIDI device, connect the MIDI out jack from a pedal, controller, or computer interface to the EXP/MIDI jack on Lex. The following devices can be used to send MIDI messages to Lex:

Configuring Lex to Use 1/4″ TRS MIDI

Set the EXP/MIDI jack to MIDI Mode

Once you have connected Lex to a MIDI source, you must set the EXP/MIDI jack to MIDI mode.

  • Press and hold the SLOW/FAST footswitch while connecting power to the pedal.
  • When the LEDs stop blinking, release the footswitch and turn the VOLUME knob clockwise until the ON LED turns BLUE.
  • Press either footswitch to store the EXP/MIDI jack assignment and begin using Lex.

Set the MIDI Channel

Next, you will need to select a MIDI channel to communicate with Lex. Lex is set to MIDI channel 1 by default.

  • Press and hold the SLOW/FAST footswitch while connecting power to the pedal.
  • When the LEDs stop blinking, release the footswitch and turn the SPEED knob to set the MIDI channel.  The SLOW/FAST LED will change color as the MIDI Channel is changed:
    • GREEN – MIDI Channel 1 (default)
    • AMBER – MIDI Channel 2
    • RED – MIDI Channel 3
    • BLUE – MIDI Channels 4-16
      • This setting requires a 1/4″ TRS MIDI connection to set.  Selecting this option will blink the SLOW/FAST LED BLUE until the pedal receives a MIDI Program Change message.  Once a MIDI PC message is received, the pedal will be set to the MIDI channel that the message was sent through and the LED will stop blinking.
        • ex. Send a MIDI Program Change message on MIDI Channel 5 to set Lex to MIDI Channel 5.
  • Press either of the footswitches to store the MIDI channel assignment and begin using Lex.
    • If selecting MIDI Channel 4-16, Lex will automatically save the setting and boot up once a MIDI Program Change message is received.

Set MIDI Output Mode

The MIDI Output mode must be set to determine what kind of MIDI data is sent out by Lex.  ***NOTEIf you are only sending MIDI data to Lex or if you are using the Strymon MIDI EXP cable, the MIDI Output mode must be set to OFF.***

  • Press and hold down the SLOW/FAST footswitch while connecting the pedal to power.
  • When the LEDs stop blinking, release the footswitch and turn the HORN LEVEL knob to select what kind of MIDI data is sent from Lex to other MIDI devices. Both LEDs will flash momentarily to indicate status.
    • RED – OFF (default) – No MIDI messages are sent out of Lex.
    • BLUE – THROUGH – Incoming MIDI messages are sent to the MIDI OUT without any additional MIDI messages generated by Lex.
    • WHITE – SEND CC, PC, OTHER – MIDI CC PC, and Sysex messages generated by Lex.
    • GREEN – SEND CC, OTHER – MIDI CC and Sysex messags generated by Lex are sent to the MIDI OUT.
    • PURPLE – SEND PC, OTHER – MIDI PC and Sysex messages generated by Lex are sent to the MIDI OUT.
    • AMBER – SEND OTHER – Sysex messages generated by Lex are sent to the MIDI OUT.

MIDI Clock Sync

Once you have configured Lex to communicate via MIDI, you can set the pedal to synchronize to incoming MIDI clock.

When Lex is synced to MIDI clock, the echo repeats are synced to the incoming MIDI clock messages.

To set whether Lex will respond to incoming MIDI clock:

  1. Press and hold the ON footswitch.  Once both LEDs flash, release the footswitch.
  2. Set the position of the RAMP switch to select whether Lex will sync to incoming MIDI Clock messages.  Both LEDs will momentarily change color to indicate the current status as you set the switch.
    • Set the switch down to fast for Off (default): both LEDs light RED – Lex will not respond to MIDI Clock.
    • Set the switch up to slow for On: both LEDs light BLUE – Lex will respond to MIDI Clock.
  3. Press either footswitch to store the MIDI Clock setting.

The MIDI Clock setting is saved per Favorite setting or MIDI preset.

 

Saving and Recalling Presets on Lex with MIDI

Saving Presets via MIDI

***NOTE: Saved Favorite or MIDI presets on Lex will store the settings of all the knobs and toggle switches on the pedal as well as the bypass state of the pedal.***

With the EXP/MIDI jack set to MIDI mode, the currently loaded settings can be saved to any of Lex’s 300 preset locations at any time.

  • To enter Save mode, press and hold BOTH footswitches. Both LEDs will blink GREEN to indicate that Lex is waiting to receive a MIDI Program Change message.

  • Send a MIDI Program Change message from your connected MIDI device to Lex.  The LEDs will stop flashing and Lex will save the settings to the preset location that corresponds with the MIDI Program Change message it received.
    • To save the current state of the pedal to the currently loaded preset location, press and hold the SLOW/FAST footswitch until the LED lights BLUE.

Recalling  Presets

  • To recall presets on Lex, send the pedal a MIDI Program Change message on the same MIDI channel the pedal is set to that corresponds to the desired preset you would like to recall.

Lex contains 300 preset locations, numbered sequentially from 0-299. Because MIDI Program Change messages have a maximum number of 128 (0-127) the presets are grouped into three MIDI patch banks:

  • MIDI BANK 0 = PRESETS 0-127
  • MIDI BANK 1 = PRESETS 128-255
  • MIDI BANK 2 = PRESETS 256-299
  • MIDI Program Change #0:  Favorite setting (accessible via connected MiniSwitch)
  • MIDI Program Change #1:  MultiSwitch Plus – Footswitch 1
  • MIDI Program Change #2:  MultiSwitch Plus – Footswitch 2
  • MIDI Program Change #3:  MultiSwitch Plus – Footswitch 3
  • MIDI Program Change #127:  Manual mode (“knobs”)

NOTE:  Some MIDI applications and controllers start with MIDI Program Change #1 instead of 0.  In these setups, increment the MIDI Program Change numbers above by one.

Lex always powers up in MIDI Patch Bank 0, so if you plan to stay within the first 127 presets, simply send a standard MIDI Program Change message to load a preset.

If you will be using MIDI Banks 1 and/or 2, it is advisable to send a standard MIDI Bank Change message (MIDI CC# 0 with a value equal to the MIDI Bank#) before each MIDI Program Change.

Selecting bank 0, patch 127 will put Lex into Manual mode. In this mode, the pedal will be set to the current knob and switch settings.  No preset data can be stored at this preset location.