Our Batverb pedal was designed with guitar in mind, but it’s equally capable as a desktop unit for processing other hardware, or as an effects send in your DAW. On top of sounding great on pretty much everything we’ve run through it, Batverb features full MIDI control, so it can easily be automated with other devices. In today’s post, we’ll be exploring a few techniques for integrating Batverb with your DAW.
Setting up the MIDI
Batverb features input and output jacks for MIDI. They’re on 1/8th inch TRS type A jacks, so you’ll need to either use type A-to-DIN adapters, or connect to other type A devices with a TRS cable. I like to use my Batverb with DAW control, so I’ll connect the MIDI output of my interface to the input on Batverb, and the output of Batverb to my interface’s input. If you’re not a computer fan, you could also use any MIDI device that sends MIDI CCs or program-change messages to play with external control of Batverb. Check out the MIDI spec in the user manual for mapping details.
The next thing you’ll want to do is configure the MIDI channel that Batverb will use to send and receive data. By default, it’s set to channel 1, so if you want a different channel, hold down the bat button and turn the Time parameter.
The LEDs by the switches will illuminate different colors for each channel, making it easy to set it to the number you want. I use channel 10 for effects, so I’ll turn until I see the LEDs illuminate dark green.
DAW control
Now that I have everything plugged in and configured, I can control Batverb from a DAW session. In this example, I’m using Ableton Live, and I want to record and playback some parameter automation.
I have a MIDI channel configured to work on channel 10, with monitoring off to avoid controller feedback. I also have a second audio channel, set to use Batverb as a processor using the External Audio Effect utility.
Now, I can hit record and move the parameters I want to automate on the Batverb.
I created a couple of swells with the Regen parameter on CC19. If I want to go back and refine the shape of the movement I created, I can play the MIDI back to Batverb and it will automate the Regen parameter with the new automation data.
Changing presets
If you have a more extensive session with the need for a big variety of different reverb types, you can use program-change messages to swap between presets, changing all of Batverb’s parameters at once. You can use a mix of CCs to automate individual parameters and program change messages to change all parameters in a session for complete control of what the Batverb does at any given time.
Batverb will change presets when sent PC messages 1-16, and will save a preset when sent a PC message while the bat button is pressed. We covered Program Change messages in more detail in a previous blog, so you can read about that here.
