How to control Compadre with MIDI

MIDI Connections to Compadre

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

  • Strymon MIDI EXP cable (link)
  • Strymon Conduit MIDI Hub (link)
  • Compatible 5-pin MIDI to 1⁄4” MIDI Interface:
    • Disaster Area Designs – DPC Gen 3 Series, DMC Gen 3 Series, MIDIBox
    • Empress Effects – MIDIbox2

Configuring Compadre to Use MIDI

Set FAV/MIDI jack to MIDI Mode

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

  • Press and hold the COMP footswitch while connecting the pedal to power.
  • When the LEDs stop blinking, release the footswitch and turn the BOOST knob clockwise until the BOOST LED turns BLUE.
  • Press either footswitch to store the FAV/MIDI jack assignment.

Set MIDI Channel

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

  • Press and hold down the BOOST footswitch while connecting the pedal to power.
  • When the LEDs stop blinking, release the footswitch and turn the BOOST knob to set the MIDI channel.  The BOOST LED will change color as the MIDI Channel is changed:
    • GREEN – MIDI Channel 1
    • AMBER – MIDI Channel 2
    • RED – MIDI Channel 3
    • BLUE – MIDI Channels 4-16
      • This setting requires a 1/4″ TRS MIDI connection to set.  Once the LED turns BLUE, it will blink 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 Compadre to MIDI Channel 5.
  • Press the COMP or BOOST footswitches to store the MIDI channel assignment and begin using Compadre.
    • If selecting MIDI Channel 4-16, Compadre 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 Compadre.  ***NOTE: If you are only sending MIDI data to Compadre or if you are using the Strymon MIDI EXP cable, the MIDI Output mode must be set to OFF.***

  • Press and hold down the BOOST footswitch while connecting the pedal to power.
  • When the LEDs stop blinking, release the footswitch and turn the COMPRESSION knob to select what kind of MIDI data is sent from Compadre to other MIDI devices.  The COMP LED will show the status:
    • GREEN – ON – Using Compadre’s knobs and switches generates MIDI messages that are sent out of Compadre.
    • AMBER – THROUGH – Incoming MIDI messages are sent out of Compadre without any additional MIDI messages generated by Compadre.
    • RED – OFF (default) – No MIDI messages are sent out of Compadre.

Saving and Recalling Presets on Compadre with MIDI

Saving Presets via MIDI

***NOTE: Saved Favorite or MIDI presets on Compadre will store the settings of all the knobs and toggle switches on the pedal as well as the individual bypass states of the BOOST and COMP sides of the pedal.***

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

  • To initiate the SAVE process, press and hold the BOOST footswitch.  The BOOST LED will start blinking BLUE.
  • Send a MIDI Program Change message from your connected MIDI device to Compare.  The LED will stop flashing and C0mpadre will save the settings to the preset location that corresponds with the MIDI Program Change message it received.
    • To save a preset to the currently loaded preset location, simply press the BOOST footswitch once again while the LED is flashing.

Recalling  Presets

  • To recall presets on Compadre, 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.

Compadre 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

Compadre 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 Compadre 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.