Program Change / X-Keys

not · August 2, 2024, 8:56pm

I’m creating a system for Enrique Iglesias and Steve Morse Band drummer, Van Romaine. It would be a Translator Pro document, to download into our trusty Bomey Box. The document would key-presses (from via Box’s USB port) to MIDI programme changes (to the Box’s MIDI out port).

The USB keyboard is an xKeys XK16. It has 16 keys. Each one would send a corresponding programme change. Keys 1-16 would send MIDI programme changes 1-16. The xKeys has an embedded processor, and I can assign any USB keys values to the 16 keys.

The receiving MIDI device is a drumKAT.

Both Alternate Mode, and PI Engineering, have offered their technical support if needed.

Is this a job for Translator Pro and our Bomey Box?

Thank you,

Bill

SteveC · August 2, 2024, 9:15pm

Hi Bill,

Yes, you can assign keystrokes for input from you X-keys and MIDI PC for output to send to you MIDI out port.
You may need to run the X-Keys through an unpowered USB hub for it to work, however, as plugging it in directly may not work. It has something to do with the BomeBox keyboard driver I think which is part of the embedded operating system.

I have used an X-Keys24 to test this functionality.

You should use an alias for you device output and set the project file up on a Mac or PC and then upload it to BomeBox an re-assign the alias.

You can learn more about aliases from this tutorial.

Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care

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

not · August 2, 2024, 11:53pm

Thank you, Steve - I’ll check that out.

not · August 25, 2024, 2:59am

Hi Steve, I think I’ve got it? Then, I write an XKEY macro that maps keys 1-16 to letters a-p, and that’s it?

SteveC · August 25, 2024, 5:09am

Yes, but be sure you are writing hardware macros, not software macros. Then upload your project file to BomeBox and run it there (assuming you have purchased MT Pro). Also make sure you use a USB hub as it might not work with a direct USB connection.

Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care

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

not · August 25, 2024, 4:50pm

Got it - thank you, as always Steve. Half of this amazing product is the BOME box, and the other is your selfless support. Cheers, mate.

not · August 25, 2024, 5:24pm

Just had a thought - is the requirement for a passive USB hub an issue of USB-Endpoints? If so, that can be programmed into the XKEY.

SteveC · August 25, 2024, 5:42pm

It can either be passive or active (powered) when hooked to BomeBox. You will only be able to program it using PI Engineering tools on a supported platform using their software.

Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care

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

not · August 26, 2024, 12:15am

Steve, how do I assign the USB port as an input?

SteveC · August 26, 2024, 1:44am

Well since the X-Key is not MIDI, there is nothing to assign.

I suggest that in your project file, you do not define any MIDI as an input device, then you won’t be prompted.

Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care

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

not · August 31, 2024, 3:47pm

Works perfectly - thank you!

booking · September 13, 2025, 3:08pm

Hello Friends- just wanted to circle back on this conversation as i’m new to the Bome solutions.

i’m aiming to use my XKE-40 to send PC and CC Messages to my music hardware via the BomeBox.

XKE → BomeBox → MPC Live+Synthesizers

is this a one time setup/configuration?

as in, can i set the parameters on the computer and utilize these units together on stage reliably day after day without plugging them back into a computer simply providing power to the units?

hope i’m using the correct lingo here. thank you both!

SteveC · September 13, 2025, 5:00pm

Hi and welcome to the Bome community!

Yes, if you put your XKE in hardware mode and program unique keystrokes for each button, you can use Bome MIDI Translator Pro to create a project file to convert from keystroke to MIDI. Then, if you used the paid version of Bome MIDI Translator Pro to create the project, you can upload it to the BomeBox for execution. You may need a USB hub attached to your BomeBox for it to work, however.

Once the project is loaded and enabled on the BomeBox, it will remember the project and continue to work after a power cycle of the BomeBox.

Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care

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