Allen & Heath Qu-16 not found; switching "Scenes" via MIDI

Hello everybody,

I've bought a BomeBox (latest SW installed) to control the Scenes of a Allen & Heath Qu-16 with a MIDI foot controller (program changes). Although I've been able to connect to the mixer with a simple FritzBox, I've failed to do that with the Bome Box. The installation screen appeared on my iPad, I switched to the Allen & Heath mode, automatic coupling failed, manual entering of the mixer's IP-address, too. I've even used another network cable and did a reset of the Bome Box - no change. Any ideas about that?

Apart from that I'd like to verify that it is possible by default or with minor changes to use MIDI program changes for Scenes selection of an Allen & Heath Qu-16 (latest SW of course...)!

Best regards

Klaus (east of Munich, so German answer preferred; I could even come to your headquarter for a solution)

I’m using Google translate to translate from English to German. I hope it works.

First, are you able to connect to the Mixer? Do you see it on your Allen and Heath Page?

If you are connecting via ethernet, the BomeBox defaults as an ethernet client so the Fritzbox should assign
an IP address if it is an Ethernet Router.

If you are connecting from BomeBox to Fritzbox via WiFI, you will likely need to set up your BomeBox as a WiFi
client. By default it is configured as a Hotspot (which means it will likely be on another network than your current
Fritzbox.

Once you have all your devices on the same network and opened a MIDI port on your BomeBox
for the mixer, then we can address the MIDI commands needed by your mixer
to switch scenes.

I’ll have to look at the manual but my guess it is some sort of MIDI Show Control.
It should be fairly simple to create translators for that from you foot controller
once we know what your foot controller sends and what the QU-16 expects.
————————-

Ich verwende Google Translate, um vom Englischen ins Deutsche zu übersetzen. Ich hoffe es klappt.

Können Sie sich zuerst mit dem Mixer verbinden? Sehen Sie es auf Ihrer Allen and Heath Page?

Wenn Sie eine Verbindung über Ethernet herstellen, ist die BomeBox standardmäßig ein Ethernet-Client, sodass die Fritzbox diesen zuweisen sollte
eine IP-Adresse, wenn es sich um einen Ethernet-Router handelt.

Wenn Sie eine Verbindung von der BomeBox zur Fritzbox über WiFI herstellen, müssen Sie wahrscheinlich Ihre BomeBox als WiFi einrichten
Klient. Standardmäßig ist es als Hotspot konfiguriert (was bedeutet, dass es sich wahrscheinlich in einem anderen Netzwerk als Ihrem aktuellen befindet)
Fritzbox.

Sobald Sie alle Ihre Geräte im selben Netzwerk haben und einen MIDI-Port an Ihrer BomeBox geöffnet haben
Für den Mixer können wir dann die von Ihrem Mixer benötigten MIDI-Befehle ansprechen
Szenen wechseln.

Ich muss mir das Handbuch ansehen, aber ich vermute, es ist eine Art MIDI Show Control.
Es sollte ziemlich einfach sein, dafür Übersetzer von Ihrem Foot Controller zu erstellen
Sobald wir wissen, was Ihr Fußschalter sendet und was der QU-16 erwartet.

 

Steve Caldwell
Bome Q and A Moderator and
Independent Bome Consultant/Specialist
bome@sniz.biz

Hi Steve,

thank you for using Google translate; but I guess my English is – at least for technical issues – better than an automatic translation. I just thought that someone from Munich would answer me and then German is my preferred language of course.

I’ve used the FritzBox before to connect my iPad with the mixer and it worked flawless immediately. From the description I thought that I’d no longer need an additional router with the BomeBox but it is just a matter of mixer > ethernet cable > BomeBox > WLAN > iPad. Isn’t that correct? But maybe it’s just that I’ve not changed from “Hotspot” to WIFI client. I’ll try that and come back to you afterwards.

Best regards

Klaus

Hi, if you set up your ethernet as Ethernet master, it will provide DHCP IP address to your mixer. Then set it up as a WiFI Access Point on the WiFi side so that it provides Wireless to your iPad. It should then behave like a normal router where everything appears on the same WAN.
Configured in this way, the BomeBox will also provide DHCP IP address to your iPad.
You shouldn’t need the FritzBox.
Steve Caldwell
Bome Q and A Moderator and
Independent Bome Consultant/Specialist
bome@sniz.biz
P.S. I handle most of Bome support questions and am based in the USA.

Hi Steven,

with the helpful information you’ve given the BomeBox finally found the mixer. Anyway it didn’t convert an incoming MIDI program change; the LED beside the MIDI socket showed a short blink and the MIDI channels are set to 1 for the footswitch and the mixer.
As far as I understand there’s no further setting required on the mixer ( if you should need the manual, it’s at https://www.allen-heath.com/media/Qu-Mixer-Reference-Guide-AP9372_10.pdf ; page 68 and the MIDI protcol at https://www.allen-heath.com/media/Qu_MIDI_Protocol_V1.9.pdf ;page 8 ff) and no conversion needed. Or am I wrong?
It would be a great help if you could create and send a conversion file for scene recall with MIDI program changes. My old MIDI controller (ART X-15) doesn’t send bank select messages but only program changes.

Best regards

Klaus

Hi Klaus,

As I read the spec, it says you need to be on Bank 1 for PC messages to process Program (Scene) changes.

You can set up a translator with incoming MIDI message of Program Change on MIDI Channel 1 with program set to pp.

The outgoing message should be set up as Bank Change message on MIDI Channel 1 with Bank 1 and program set to PP.

That way any time your ART X-15 sends a program Change, MIDI Translator (on BomeBox) will ensure you are always on Bank 1.

I’ve attached an example. Just upload to BomeBox and assign the aliases to the correct input and output ports on your BomeBox.

If you modify the file, you will need to have a licensed copy of MT Pro in order for it to run on BomeBox.

 

 

Steve Caldwell
Bome Q and A Moderator and
Independent Bome Consultant/Specialist
bome@sniz.biz

 

— Google translate to German

Hallo Klaus,

Während ich die Spezifikation lese, heißt es, dass Sie sich auf Bank 1 befinden müssen, damit PC-Meldungen Programmänderungen (Szenenänderungen) verarbeiten können.

Sie können einen Übersetzer mit eingehender MIDI-Nachricht von Program Change auf MIDI-Kanal 1 einrichten, wenn das Programm auf pp eingestellt ist.

Die ausgehende Nachricht sollte als Bank Change-Nachricht auf MIDI-Kanal 1 eingerichtet werden, wobei Bank 1 und Programm auf PP eingestellt sind.

Auf diese Weise stellt der MIDI Translator (auf der BomeBox) jedes Mal, wenn Ihr ART X-15 einen Program Change sendet, sicher, dass Sie immer auf Bank 1 sind.

Ich habe ein Beispiel beigefügt. Laden Sie einfach auf BomeBox hoch und weisen Sie die Aliase den richtigen Eingangs- und Ausgangsports auf Ihrer BomeBox zu.

Wenn Sie die Datei ändern, benötigen Sie eine lizenzierte Kopie von MT Pro, damit sie auf BomeBox ausgeführt werden kann.

 


Attachments:
1576082218787_PC-to-Bank-and-PC-Example-2019-12-11.bmtp

Hi Steve,
I can’t connect to my Allen & Heath QU anymore (haven’t done that for a long time, I’ve just used the ART X-15 to switch the scenes), so I thought it might be a matter of the firmware in the BomeBox that hasn’t been updated for years and the iOS is completely different in the meantime. So I’ve made a reset and installed firmware 1.5.4 successfully. Now I can access the BomeBox from my iPad, but get an error message when I try to install the btmp-file you’ve created for me. Maybe that’s because of the older version from 2019, could you please update the file to an actual version?
Best regards
Klaus

Hi,

If I remember, it is the attached file and it should work as long as you don’t modify it. If you modify it, it requires a full version of Bome MIDI Translator Pro before it will work on BomeBox.

PC-to-Bank-and-PC-Example-2019-12-11.bmtp (1022 Bytes)

Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care


Also available for paid consulting services: bome@sniz.biz

Hi Steve,
thank you for the fast and helpful reply during the weekend!
Now I can switch the scenes with my foot controller again, but I still can’t connect to the Qu-Pac with the apps from Allen & Heath (Qu-Pad and Qu-You). The mixer will not be recognized automatically (it should…) and even if I type in the IP-address of the mixer it can’t be found. I’ve switched the IP-address of the mixer to 192.168.1.60 and disabled DHCP in the settings there.
If the pedal switching works via the BomeBox the network of the Qu-Pac should be working and the mixer is also shown as Allen & Heath device in the settings of the BomeBox - hmmm…?
Bet regards from Germany
Klaus

Is everything on the same network? Do you know if the QU-16 can be a server to multiple applications? I think it can but not 100% sure.

Steve

Hi Steve,
with my iPad I’ve connected to the Bomebox (192.168.153.1) and the Qupac thanks to your help now shows up as connected and the scenes can be switched via MIDI. Last time - but I must admit it’s years ago - I’ve used Qu-Pad and MIDI together. Of course I avoided to switch MIDI while using the app not to get any conflicts. So yes, it should work…
How could I check that? Just switch the MIDI connections off?
Good night from Germany
Klaus

So you have BomeBox WiFi as an access point on network 192.168.153.x and ethernet on network 192.168.1.x ? In that case, your BomeBox is set up as a router and according to what I read, should work. I’m not that familiar with QU-Pad to know how to configure it and not sure how Qu-16 handles multiple connections. I think you might want to ask Allen & Heath as they commissioned Bome to build the BomeBox interface. I know it uses TCP packets and with my A&H simulator (not a real device), I can send from multiple locations just fine. The best way to find out other than that would be just to give it a try.

Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care


Also available for paid consulting services: bome@sniz.biz

Hi Steve,
in the meantime I’ve done my homework: The Qu-Pac can handle up to 8 different applications, two of them could be the Qu-Pad App.
I’ve tried some more settings, but still no connection to the App - MIDI working.
I’m located close to Munich, do you think that I could take up contact to Bome directly? I even could go there with my whole setup, maybe it’s even interesting to the development? It’s clear the it is difficult for you to test if you have no qu-pac available…
BR Klaus

Well I doubt if there is actually a QU at the Bome Facility in Munich and even if there were, I don’t think local support would be offered for this type of situation.

Maybe if you can lay out a diagram of how you are trying to connect all together I could help from here.

When you say you want to connect QU-Pad with MIDI, does the QU-Pad App have a MIDI interface option? Does the BomeBox see the QU-Pad MIDI port? Please show the following pages on your BomeBox.

Ethernet Settings

WiFi Settings

MIDI Ports

MIDI Routes

Allen & Heath

I can certainly duplicate most of your environment with my emulator so knowing it supports multiple clients is good.

If you are trying to connect other than through BomeBox from your Qu-Pad App, I would need to know the IP address of your Qu-Pad and also of the Qu-16.

Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care


Also available for paid consulting services: bome@sniz.biz

Of course I’d also bring my Qu-Pac there - but let’s try it the way you’ve offered first!

The layout is: From the footswitch (ART X-15) MIDI OUT into the MIDI IN of a Fractal Audio Axe-FX 2, from the MIDI THRU of the Axe-FX 2 to the MIDI IN of the BomeBox. From LAN of the BomeBox to NETWORK socket of the Qu-Pac. Scene control via the footswitch works fine after uploading your file - thank you!

Ethernet Settings:
Like on your example picture, but Fixed IP Address instead of Ethernet Client marked.

WIFI Settings:
Hotspot with 192.168.153.1

MIDI Ports:
MIDI Input: BomeBox DIN Open, Qupac Open
MIDI Output: BomeBox DIN Open, Qupac open

MIDI Routes:
active Source BomeBox DIN, Destination Qupac
active Source Qupac, Destination BomeBox DIN

Allen & Heath MIDI:
Like on your screenshot, but Auto-Create MIDI routes marked, too
Name: QuPac
IP: 192.168.1.60
Status: connected (manual)

I try to connect to the mixer via the BomeBox from the Qu-Pad App on my iPad Pro 9.7 (2016, iOS 16.7.5), all the data above can be seen with Safari, so I guess the WLAN connection is OK. For the switching with MIDI works, the LAN connection should be fine, too. I’ve already tried to delete and re-install the Qu-Pad App, still the same: In the lockin-screen usually the model should show up. Instead there’s just DEMO and OTHER to chose from. If I click to OTHER and enter the IP-address of the mixer (192.168.1.60) the message ‘Connection failed’ appears.

DHCP is disabled in the mixer, the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 and the Gateway is 192.168.1.254

I’ve contacted the Allen & Heath support in Germany in parallel, but I still appreciate your support very much!

Best regards
Klaus

OK, that explains it. Your WiFi as a hotspot does not bridge to your ethernet. Do you have any other devices on the ethernet side? Is there a DHCP master on the ethernet?

If there is an existing DHCP master on the ethernet, then set BomeBox as an ethernet client and set WiFi up as an Access Point.

If there is no existing ethernet master, then set up BomeBox as an ethernet DHCP master. Then instead of using fixed IP for your QuPac, set it up as an ethernet DHCP client. Again on the WiFi set it up as an Access Point.

In this setup, all devices on both ethernet and WiFi will be on the same network and you should be able to auto discover your QUPac.

If you need to set up your QUPac at a fixed IP address, you can still do so but it needs to be on the same network that the ethernet master is on. As an ethernet master, it will be on network 192.168.1.x so should still be able to use 192.168.1.254 as a fixed address for your QUPac if no other devices are using that address.

Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care


Also available for paid consulting services: bome@sniz.biz

Hi Steve,
please excuse the late reply, but I’ve had no time to check your recommendations until now and:

(drumroll)

Everything works now!

Thank you very much for your patient, kind and helpful support!

Best regards

Klaus

That is awesome. Thanks for the follow-up!

Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care


Also available for paid consulting services: bome@sniz.biz

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