Boss ES-8 switching two Synergy Syn-2 preamps issue

[Spaced Out Ace]

Update: I have SOLVED the issue! There was something in "Patch Midi" for each patch of the GT-1000 Core. Removing this from both patches solved the issue. (I initially though messing with Omni and Device ID in the GT-1000 Core worked, but it only worked while the menu was still active. Going back to the display with the patch name and number still produced the issue until the Patch Midi stuff was addressed.)

So switching from one channel on a module to another ends up activating the other Synergy despite having it set to bypass that Syn-2. I'll switch to another patch with that channel selected and then go back, and it is activating stuff correctly, but that's tapdancing. Frankly, at present, the MS-3 worked better than this is. Not sure what the issue is. Would be great if the unit didn't require midi to use the editor, because I have to keep disconnecting shit just to troubleshoot. "Surely the manual has some information." Yep, no luck.

Frustrating after all the effort I put into building my pedalboard just to have this thing not work as I want it to.

I'll let you all know if Sweetwater is getting a demo ES-8 if you want to frustrate yourself with this shit.

Even if I get it working, do yourself a favor and get a midi loop switcher with a USB editor.

[Guitarbilly]

Yeah that's very strange. It's hard to troubleshoot this without being there to look at the settings but this is what I'd suggest:

Disconnect one of the Syn2s completely.

Put the other Syn2 in one of the ES-8 loops

Create 4 presets, one for each channel of the Syn2 that's connected. (Say presets 1-4)

Test the 4 presets and see if everything is working.

Now disconnect that Syn2 and plug in the 2nd one in a different loop.

Create 4 new presets (5-8).

Test them.

Go back to Presets 1-4 and make sure the current Syn 2 is set to bypass on all 4.

Now reconnect both Syn2s and test all 8 presets.

[Spaced Out Ace]

I've got the Syn-2 bypassed that is not the one I'm trying to use in each preset. I built 8 presets, then basically copied and modified those for additional banks.

The most frustrating part is the manual sucks majorly. The lack of USB requires me to unhook the midi, hook up the midi interface, open the program, find nothing seemingly off, and have zero clue what the issue is.

Might just box it up and tell Sweetwater it was fun, but no dice.

[Spaced Out Ace]

A couple of patches as examples. If I can't figure this shit out by this weekend (or my patience is completely gone, which ever happens first), I'll likely be shipping it back next week and getting something else with USB. Boss, how about instead of requiring a goofy ass "midi interface" to set this up and being unable to troubleshoot quickly when issues arise, you just add USB. When was this thing released, 1994?

Boss ES-8.png (99.18 KiB) Viewed 786 times

Boss ES-8 2.png (89.88 KiB) Viewed 786 times

[Guitarbilly]

Why the CC#s? This should all be done with PC commands.

The Synergy can store channel changes on Program Changes. I'd set the CC# to OFF on all presets.

I think the process should be:

First set the loops you want and save the preset.

Then press that preset button again (to send the PC to the synergy). Use the synergy channel button to select the channel you want, then press and hold the channel button to store.

My other question is the MIDI channels. The Synergy receives on channel unless you changed it. So I'd set all presets to MIDI channel 1.

[Spaced Out Ace]

Why the CC#s? This should all be done with PC commands.

The Synergy can store channel changes on Program Changes. I'd set the CC# to OFF on all presets.

I think the process should be:

First set the loops you want and save the preset.

Then press that preset button again (to send the PC to the synergy). Use the synergy channel button to select the channel you want, then press and hold the channel button to store.

My other question is the MIDI channels. The Synergy receives on channel unless you changed it. So I'd set all presets to MIDI channel 1.

Syn-2 #1 = Ch 1
Syn-2 #2 = Ch 2
GT-1000 Core = Ch 3, which has two patches (one clean, one rhy/lead)

The CCs for Ch 3 (#3-7) turn effects on and off on my GT-1000 Core, which is about the only thing the ES-8 can manage to do right at present. If you mean the CCs to turn on the channels on the Syn-2, I used those on my MS-3 and it worked flawlessly. I wanted more loops than the GT-1000 Core provided.

[Guitarbilly]

I think separating MIDI channels for a setup like this is unnecessarily complicated but that's just me, if you prefer to work that way that's fine.

What are all the PC mapping doing? Like #3 is mapped to PC#90?

I'd go 1:1 on everything and just save everything you need into the same PC on all units.

[Spaced Out Ace]

PC 90 = 90th preset on my GT-1000 Core for the clean stuff. I have it setup for a rotary, univibe, chorus, and delay.
{00.1 = ChD Chorus Delay, 00.2 Uni Univibe, 00.3 Rtr Rotary)

PC 87= 87th preset for distortion stuff.
{00.4 nothing, 00.5 Chr Chorus, and so on)

I don't know if the PC thing on the Syn-2 will allow me to have it like I mentioned above.

[Marc G]

just checked the SYN2 manual.... do you have it configured like this?

[Spaced Out Ace]

just checked the SYN2 manual.... do you have it configured like this?

Yes, it is.

On a side note, the ES-8 is very quickly taking the "worst pedal purchase" slot from the previous holder, the Loud N Proud. What an awful sounding pedal that was.