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How to control Iridium with MIDI

MIDI Connections to Iridium

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

  • 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 Iridium to Use MIDI

Set EXP jack to DIGITAL Mode

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

  • Press and hold the FAV footswitch while connecting the pedal to power.
  • When the LEDs stop blinking, release the footswitch and turn the LEVEL knob until the ON LED turns BLUE.
  • Press either footswitch to store the EXP jack assignment.

Set MIDI Channel

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

  • Press and hold down both footswitches while connecting the pedal to power.  Make sure the pedal is NOT connected to a computer via USB during this step.
  • When the LEDs stop blinking, release the footswitches and turn the DRIVE knob to set the MIDI channel.  The FAV 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″ 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 Iridium to MIDI Channel 5.
  • Press the ON footswitch again to store the MIDI channel assignment and begin using Iridium
    • If selecting MIDI Channel 4-16, Iridium 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 Iridium.  ***NOTE: If you are only sending MIDI data to Iridium or if you are using the Strymon MIDI EXP cable, the MIDI Output mode must be set to OFF.***

  • Press and hold down both footswitches while connecting the pedal to power.  Make sure the pedal is NOT connected to a computer via USB during this step.
  • When the LEDs stop blinking, release the footswitch and turn the LEVEL knob to select what kind of MIDI data is sent from Iridium to other MIDI devices.  The ON LED will show the status:
    • GREEN – ON – Using Iridium’s knobs and switches generates MIDI messages that are sent out of Iridium.
    • AMBER – THROUGH – Incoming MIDI messages are sent out of Iridium without any additional MIDI messages generated by Iridium.
    • RED – OFF (default) – No MIDI messages are sent out of Iridium.

Saving and Recalling Presets on Iridium with MIDI

Saving Presets via MIDI

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

  • To initiate the SAVE process, press and hold the FAV footswitch.  The FAV LED will start blinking BLUE.
  • Send a MIDI Program Change message from your connected MIDI device to Iridium.  The LED will stop flashing and Iridium 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 FAV footswitch once again while the LED is flashing.

Recalling  Presets

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

Iridium 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

Iridium 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 Iridium 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.