MIDI Control

• Getting started

Want more live control over your Stratus? With MIDI, you can easily: - Switch presets - Enable/disable effects - Control the looper - Set master volume and more as we continue to roll out new features. New to the world of MIDI controllers? Watch the complete tutorial: https://youtu.be/Tqp4TV1-esc

• Supported MIDI controllers

Stratus® supports MIDI control via its USB-C port. Although Stratus® does not have a dedicated 5-pin MIDI port, all of the same MIDI messages can be sent over a "USB host" connection! This makes for very convenient preset-switching, effects toggling, looper control, and more while playing live.   What is a USB host? Not all USB ports are created equal! There are 2 types of USB interfaces: host and device. Stratus® itself acts as a "controllable device" and must be connected to a USB host port for MIDI functionality to work correctly. A lot of MIDI controllers come with USB ports, but often times these ports are set up as device ports rather than host ports. For controllers that do not come with a host port, you'll need a USB host adapter! This essentially creates a USB host port that you can use to control Stratus®.   Supported MIDI controllers (no USB host adapter required): - Morningstar MC6 Pro - The MC6 Pro is an incredibly versatile MIDI controller that offers deep customization. It also comes with a built-in USB host port, which means an adapter is not required in order to interface Stratus® with the MC6 Pro! All you need is a USB-C to USB-C cable. 🙂 - M-VAVE Chocolate Plus - The Chocolate Plus is a super affordable and super compact MIDI controller from M-VAVE that offers customization through their mobile app. As long as the Chocolate Plus is powered over USB-C (via battery bank or wall brick), it can be hooked directly to Stratus® over USB-C for MIDI control without a USB Host adapter. 🙂 MC6_Stratus_Diagram.png   Supported MIDI controllers (USB host adapter required): - Morningstar MC3, MC6, and MC8 devices - Disaster Area Designs MIDI Baby and MIDI Baby 3 - Tech21 MIDI Mouse and MIDI Mongoose - M-VAVE Chocolate (not Plus) - PaintAudio MIDI Captain (see this helpful user-contributed guide) - Any other MIDI controllers that follow the MIDI standard should also work! OtherMIDI_Stratus_Diagram.png   What are some great options for USB host adapters to pair with my controller? 1. The most convenient option would be the Chaos Audio edition Knot. Knot is super compact, capable of being powered by your guitar pedal power supply, and features consistent updates. This is the only officially supported USB host adapter. 2. Another option is the CAMOLA USB MIDI Host with a Reverse Polarity Plug (which allows you to power the USB adapter from a pedalboard power supply). 3. If you're looking for something wireless, a third option would be a WIDI Uhost combined with a WIDI Jack. It's more expensive, but wireless and low latency.   We hope this helps! Please reach out to support@chaosaudio.com if we can assist with anything else. 🙂

• MIDI Implementation chart

Preset Switching: Our mobile app makes it super easy to download your custom presets directly to your Stratus pedal! While connected to Stratus, simply tap the button at the bottom of your Presets list that says "Sync with Stratus". This will download all of your presets to Stratus' onboard storage for MIDI control. You'll notice a number listed to the left of each preset, starting at "0". This is the Program Change Value associated with that preset. Sending a PC value of 2, for example, will instantly load the third preset in your "Presets" list. Individual Effects Control: With MIDI, you can easily control the on/off state of specific effects in your signal chain. Currently, we offer three functions: "toggle effect", "bypass effect", and "enable effect". Toggling an effect will simply toggle the selected effect between on and off as if you're tapping the footswitch for that specific effect. Bypassing an effect will only bypass (turn off) that specific effect. Enabling an effect will only enable (turn on) that specific effect. The CC Value (starting at 0) will select the specific effect in your chain by order to perform the function. For example, CC #16 and Value 0 would toggle the first effect in your chain. As another example, CC #14 and Value 2 would bypass the third effect in your chain. Looper Control: You can also use MIDI to control the looper functions inside Stratus. You must be in "Looper Mode" to use the looper. Click here to learn more about Looper Mode. Only CC # 17 is used to control the looper, and CC values 0 - 4 control specific functions of the looper. Stratus Modes: MIDI messages can also be used to toggle Stratus between its two available modes: Looper Mode, Stompbox Mode, and Preset Mode. Click here to learn more about Stratus' modes. Only CC # 18 is used to swap between Stratus' modes. Stratus' LEDs will flash red and Stratus will refuse to swap to Stompbox Mode if there are no effects in Stratus' signal chain. Volume Control: MIDI can be used to set Stratus' master volume level. Volume control via MIDI is logarithmic, which more closely mimics how the human ear perceives loudness. Only CC# 7 is used to control Stratus' volume, and the CC Value (0 - 127) sets the volume level. For example, CC# 7 and Value 0 would mute Stratus' master volume. CC# 7 and Value 127 would set Stratus' volume to maximum.