Mini Amp Gizmo User’s Manual RJM Music Technology, Inc.
Mini Amp Gizmo User’s Manual Version 1.1 March 15, 2012 RJM Music Technology, Inc. 2525 Pioneer Ave #1 Vista, CA 92081 E-mail: support@rjmmusic.com Web: www.rjmmusic.
Copyright © 2009-2012 RJM Music Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Amp Gizmo, Effect Gizmo, Mini Amp Gizmo, MasterMind, RG-16 and the RJM logo are trademarks of RJM Music Technology, Inc.
Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 6 FRONT PANEL 7 BACK PANEL 8 MIDI USAGE 10 Continuous Controllers 11 Bank Selection 12 Backing Up Your Settings: SysEx Dump 12 CONTROLLING MULTIPLE DEVICES 14 SETUP MODE 15 Selecting MIDI Channel and MIDI Options 15 MIDI Channels 15 Continuous Controller Ranges 16 GCX Compatibility Mode 16 Bank Select Enable 16 Saving MIDI Channel and Options 17 Invert Mode 17 Momentary Mode 17
Introduction Thank you for purchasing a Mini Amp Gizmo. This product is designed to connect your amplifier, effects devices or other electronic equipment to other MIDI-enabled equipment. The Mini Amp Gizmo can control any device that uses short-to-ground switching. This means that virtually any function that is controlled by a footswitch can be MIDI controlled using the Mini Amp Gizmo.
Front Panel Mini Amp Gizmo MIDI Amplifier Controller 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Write RJM Music Technology, Inc. Buttons 1 through 8 - These buttons turn function switches 1 through 8 on and off. The button lights up when the corresponding function switch is on. These function switches will control all footswitchable features of an amplifier connected to the Mini Amp Gizmo.
Back Panel To Amplifier MIDI Thru/Out MIDI In Power In/Out 9V AC/DC RJM Music Technology, Inc. www.rjmmusic.com To Amplifier – Connect your custom amplifier interface cable here. Use the cable end that has a yellow label reading “Rack Gizmo / Amp Gizmo.” The other end of the cable plugs into your amp’s footswitch jack. Before connecting, make sure that you have the cable that’s made specifically for your amp, or the ¼” adapter cable if your amp has ¼” footswitch jack(s).
Power – This unit requires power supply in the range of 9 to 12 volts, AC or DC. The plug should be a 5.5mm/2.1mm barrel connector, similar to those used in most effects pedals. The Mini Amp Gizmo requires a minimum of 250mA of current.
MIDI Usage The Mini Amp Gizmo can receive MIDI messages from any MIDI controller. You can store different switch settings for MIDI program numbers 1 through 128 in MIDI banks 0 and 1. When a Program Change message is received on the correct channel, the Mini Amp Gizmo will automatically recall the saved settings for the given program number. To set up for MIDI use, simply connect your MIDI controller to your Mini Amp Gizmo’s MIDI In jack. The Mini Amp Gizmo is set for MIDI Channel 1 by default.
your amp’s channel and functions whenever it receives a MIDI Program Change message. Continuous Controllers In addition to supporting MIDI Program Change messages, the Mini Amp Gizmo supports MIDI Continuous Controller messages.
*Setup Mode can be used to change which Continuous Controller messages the Mini Amp Gizmo responds to. Please refer to the Setup Mode section for more details. Please note that settings such as Momentary Mode and Group Mode are in effect when processing Continuous Controller messages. Bank Selection The Mini Amp Gizmo can store programs in MIDI banks 0 and 1, for a total of 256 programs. Continuous Controller #0 (Bank MSB) is used to select the current MIDI bank. Bank numbers above bank 1 are ignored.
Once the transfer completes, the receiving unit will reset, then return to normal operating mode. The receiving unit now has an exact copy of the transmitting unit’s settings.
Controlling Multiple Devices The Mini Amp Gizmo features a single switching jack, making it best suited to controlling a single amp. However, if you need to control multiple amps or effects processors and they have ¼” footswitch jacks, you can use our BOB-8 product. BOB-8 stands for BreakOut Box, 8 outputs. It connects to the Mini Amp Gizmo and provides eight electrically isolated ¼” jacks. These jacks can safely be connected to up to eight separate devices with no danger of electrical problems.
Setup Mode To configure the Mini Amp Gizmo, you must first enter setup mode. Holding down selected buttons while powering the unit on will bring up selected setup modes, as detailed in this section. Selecting MIDI Channel and MIDI Options Hold the Switch 1 button while powering the Mini Amp Gizmo on. Keep holding the button until the LEDs flash.
You can also set a few other MIDI-related options using the other Switch buttons: Continuous Controller Ranges The Switch 5 and 6 buttons control the Continuous Controller range for all switches: CC Range 80…87 88…95 (default) 64…71 56…63 GCX Number 1 2 3 4 Switch 5 LED OFF ON OFF ON Switch 6 LED OFF OFF ON ON GCX Compatibility Mode Switch 7 turns on GCX compatibility mode. This makes the switches respond to MIDI commands like the GCX switcher, manufactured by Voodoo Lab.
Saving MIDI Channel and Options Once you’ve set the MIDI channel and options, press the Write button. The Mini Amp Gizmo is now in normal operational mode. Invert Mode Some amplifiers may have inverted polarity on some functions. This can cause the Mini Amp Gizmo to display a function as off when the function is actually on, and as on when the function is actually off. To correct this, you must first switch the Mini Amp Gizmo to invert mode.
To enter momentary mode, hold down the Switch 3 button while powering up the Mini Amp Gizmo. Keep holding the button until the LEDs flash. Use the front panel buttons to light the LED of any function that needs to be momentary. Make certain that no other LED is lit. Once you’ve selected the buttons for the momentary functions, press the Write button. The Mini Amp Gizmo is now in normal operational mode and the momentary functions should operate correctly.
depends on the number of channels your amplifier has, and whether the amplifier uses momentary switching or not. To use this feature, hold down the Switch 8 button while powering up the Mini Amp Gizmo. Keep holding the button until the LEDs all turn on and stay on. Next, press one of the following buttons. Based on the button pressed, the Mini Amp Gizmo will configure the switches as follows: Switch 1: No switches momentary or grouped.
Troubleshooting Problem: The LEDs don’t flash when you hold down the Write Button. Solution: The Mini Amp Gizmo did not receive a MIDI Program Change message. First, verify that you have a valid MIDI connection. The MIDI output of your MIDI controller should be connected to the MIDI input of the Mini Amp Gizmo by a MIDI cable that’s known to be working correctly. The next most likely cause is that the Mini Amp Gizmo is set to a different MIDI channel than your MIDI controller.
Specifications Dimensions Weight Power Phantom Power Memory Quarter-rack enclosure 4 (W) x 1.5 (H) x 4 (D) inches 10.2 (W) x 3.8 (H) x 10.2 (D) cm 10.3 ounces 300 grams 9 to 12 Volts, AC or DC @ 250mA 5.5mm OD, 2.1mm ID x 9.5mm barrel connector Provided over pins 6 and 7 of the MIDI In jack. Phantom power voltage is the same as the power provided at the Power jack.
Amplifier Connector Pinout 7 3 6 1 8 5 4 2 The Mini Amp Gizmo amplifier connector is a female DIN-8 jack. When a switch is activated on the Mini Amp Gizmo, the corresponding pin is shorted to the connector’s ground (shield). Activating Switch 1 shorts pin 1 (as numbered above) to the connector’s ground. Activating Switch 2 shorts pin 2, and so on. RJM Music produces a wide range of cables to allow the Mini Amp Gizmo to control various amplifier models.
