Introduction to the Editors
What are the Editors?
In previous articles in the series, we’ve looked at the FM3 and the Fm9, So, you pretty much know what’s where on the machines themselves. However, the key to using these modelers accessibly is by using their software editors. These are apps which run on your mac and which, for the most part, work with VoiceOver.
If you have an Fm3, then download FM3Edit from this link.
If you have an FM9, then Download FM9Edit from this link.
Once you have the editor for your model, Install it by copying it to your Applications Folder.
Both Editors essentially work in pretty much the same way. Rather than go through every feature of the editors, We’re going to go through a pretty long list of tasks. Your job is to practice each of these tasks until they are automatic, then you’ll be able to Master your modeler. So, let’s get started.
Connecting your modeler
Your machine connects to your Mac via a USB cable. The square B end of the cable goes in to your modeler, and you’ll need a C at the other end. I just bought a USB to C lead from amazon to avoid messing with dongles. Got your lead? connect it switch on your modeler and start either Fm3Edit or Fm9Edit.
If you get any dialog boxes that ask you to update the software, press escape to dismiss them for the time being.
Let’s check that your Editor can talk to your modeler. For many procedures in these tasks, you’ll need the Item Chooser, It’s fast and precise.
So, open the Item Chooser with vo-i and type connect.
You’ll either land on the word connected. If you do, that’s great, you’re ready to rock. If you land on the word Disconnected, then check that you’re modeler is on and that your cable is good, then find connect in the item chooser again.
Basic Preset navigation
Finally, in this article, we’re going to talk about preset navigation. So, by now you know what a preset is, it’s the big bucket that holds everything about how your modeler is setup right now, which amp you’re using, which effects you’ve got and whether they are active or not, which scene your on etc.
You’ve got 512 presets in your machine, so How do you get to a preset? How do you know which preset you’re on and how can you get back to it from anywhere?
Well, Presets have numbers and there is a handy dialog that lets you see which number your on or go to a different number.
Press Command g. You are now presented with an edit box containing the current preset number. If you want to get back to it later, note it down. Now you can type any number and press return and boom you’re now at the new preset. Practice doing this.
Presets also have names. If you want to find the name of your preset, open the Item Chooser and type name. You will then find the name of your preset in the Item chooser.
You can also quickly move between scenes in a preset. So, as a reminder, scenes are primarily responsible for which effects are either active or bypassed in your preset and you’ve got 8 of them per preset.
You can move to each scene with command 1 through 8.
Scenes also have names and if you type name into the Item Chooser, you’ll find both the preset name and the scene name.
There are some other ways to get to presets and scenes, but command G and command 1through 8 is the quickest and easiest way to do this.
In the next article, we’ll be looking at the grid, effect blocks, how you find out what effects you’ve got in your presets and how to start changing effect settings. Read it now, it’s called