Purchase
PC-1600v

  $25.00


Download the latest version of PC-1600v

v.1.2


SFX Template

My preset template for operating AKAI Samplers in Theatre

The PC-1600v is a software version of the popular MIDI controller by Peavey. It emulates the functions of the PC-1600x and acts as a remote preset editor that can dump presets to the real PC-1600(x)!

What's new about this version?

Why the PC-1600v?

What are the system requirements?

Is there a Universal Binary version?

Is there a demo version?

What does it do?

What does it not do?

How do I send Presets to my PC-1600(x)?

How do I get presets from my PC-1600(x)?

How do I load a default set of presets?

About Me


What's new about this version?

Version 1.2

  • Updated authorization codes.

    The Good News:

    Your registration code is now linked to your physical computer hardware. This means that that you will no longer have to request additional codes for other user accounts. This also means that the authorization code should still be valid after you wipe your hard drive and reinstall your OS.

    The Bad News:

    All currently registered users will have to request new codes after installing this version!

    Believe me, this is as hard on me as it is on you but hopefully this will simplify things in the long run.

  • Several bug fixes
  • PC-1600v will now remember the MIDI port that was selected when the program quits. If that MIDI port no longer exists when the program is launched (i.e. you disconnected it) PC-1600v will select the first available MIDI port automatically.

Version 1.1.1

  • Fixed a bug where the PC1600 may not respond to the "Request Current Preset" command.

Version 1.1

  • Fixed a bug that would cause PC1600x to not respond when using a global MIDI channel other than 1.
  • Added some missing data in the Preset Datasheet window.
  • Smaller, more compact interface.
  • Removed the metal and drawer windows to allow better compatibility with OS X 10.4.
  • Provided visual feedback to buttons when keyboard access mode is on.
  • The edit panel is now disabled when keyboard access mode is on.
  • Added an autoload feature. Put a preset file called "autoload" in "~/Documents/PC-1600v Autoload" and it will automatically open when PC-1600v is launched. This can be a single preset file or an AllPresets file.

Version 1.0

  • Virtual Faders have been completely re-written to offer much more accurate emulation and performance.
  • All the fader string byte formats are now supported both in emulation and dumping to and from the PC 1600x.
  • Master Fader mode has been fixed to offer much more accurate emulation and editing of Master Faders.
  • All "special bytes" in hex strings are now fully implemented in the editor and virtual controller including global channel and device number.
  • Sending and Receiving data from the PC 1600x is now handled via the Global MIDI channel. Set the global channel in PC-1600v to the ChIn and ChOut settings on your PC 1600x.
  • The Dump tray has been re-designed to accommodate the new dump features and allow clearer access to dump features.
  • A Copy Preset feature has been added.
  • Scenes are now implemented. Users can open and save PC 1600x scenes files, create and edit scenes, fire scenes in the virtual setup string, the scene editor, and virtual buttons. Scene data can be dumped to and from the PC 1600x. Unlike the PC 1600x, PC-1600v will show you the scene data by positioning the virtual faders in the location stored in the scene.
  • A Preset Datasheet window is now available showing all your preset data in a spreadsheet style view. You can navigate through all your presets and open new presets in this window to get an overview of what data is in each preset. An "Export" button will export the preset data to a tab delineated text file with an Excel creator code. You can open this file right up in Excel and edit the information and add info of your own. Great for making cue sheets!
  • Numerous enhancements and bug fixes.

Version 0.6.2

  • Keyboard access mode for buttons.
  • Fixed a bug where the controller window would resize when moved.

Version 0.6.1

  • Fixed a bug that caused a crash when assigning CVs.
  • Select all in Name and String edit fields
  • The current preset in the edit trays is now controlled by and sync'd with the navigation buttons on the controller. The preset menu in the edit trays is now used to copy settings from another preset.
  • Fixed a bug where faders with custom max and min values would send data when the preset was recalled.
  • Fixed a bug where old values weren't updating in edit fields when a new preset was opened.
  • Only one edit tray can now be opened at a time. If you open a tray while another is open, the first is closed before the new one opens.
  • Added an "Initialize PC 1600(x)" button in the dump tray. This will zero out all the presets on your PC 1600(x). Use this if you're getting "NOT ENOUGH MEMORY" errors when sending multiple presets.
  • After sending multiple presets, the PC 1600x is now returned to the current preset in PC 1600v.
  • Several other enhancements to the graphic interface.

Version 0.6

  • Brought back the metal theme.
  • New MIDI implimentation allows new MIDI devices to be recognized after the program is launched.
  • MIDI Destination menu is now in the main controller window.
  • Save and open Peavey PC-1600(x) "All Presets" files.
  • New "Send Multiple" and "Request Multiple" windows allow sending and receiving a range of presets with the PC-1600(x). Send or receive all presets or just a few in 1 click!
  • Fixed a bug with OS 10.3.4 and sending presets larger than 1024 bytes.

 

Verson 0.5 includes several bug fixes with the graphics that solve a lot of refresh and other performance problems. All the special bytes are now available in the Hex strings as well as a syntax checker. Byte format parameters are now programmable along with negative numbers in max and min values for fader string mode. You can now program the data wheel link as well. Also several other additions that should now offer full compatibility with all the features in the PC-1600x preset data.

0.5.1 fixes a bug with the CV editor.

0.5.2 adds the most frequently requested feature: copy funtions in the button and fader edit windows. When you are in the edit window for the button or fader you want to edit, just select the button or fader number you want to copy from and click the "Copy from . . ." control.

Top


Why the PC-1600v?

Why did I do this? I'm a theatre sound designer. The Peavey PC-1600x is my weapon of choice for controlling the sound playback of my shows. It works great but let's face it, it's expensive. I can usually convince the theatre to buy one but for tech rehearsals, I really need two. One with the sound operator and one with me in the theatre for programming and remote control. Convincing the theatre to buy two is a tough sell.

So that's problem 1: I need two, I can only afford one.

The second problem is that it's a pain to program these things. I spend all day staring at that two-line screen and pressing those little editing buttons over and over. One day when programming the PC-1600x I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be great if I could do this on the computer and then dump it to the controller?"

Well, I found a couple of Windows programs that allow remote editing but they're pretty clunky and cluttered in my opinion and I use a Mac so they aren't very useful to me. Also, neither of them offer emulation of the real controller in a way that would be useful to me.

So I decided to write a program myself. I think it's great. And I hope you do too!

Top


What are the system requirements?

Well, first, you gotta have a Mac! I'm not going to write a Windows version of this since there are already two similar (though nowhere near as cool) programs that run on Windows.

Here's the breakdown:

Any Mac that will run OS X

Mac OS X 10.3 - 10.5 (Not compatible with 10.6 Snow Leopard)

A MIDI Interface with current CoreMIDI drivers

Top


Is there a Universal Binary version?

No. The current version is a PowerPC binary. It runs fine on Intel Macs using the Roesetta emulation. If the day come when the PowerPC binary stops working I'll investigate updating but for now, I have other priorities.

Top


Is there a demo version?

Sure! Just download it using the link above. The demo does everything the full version does except save presets and scenes and dump presets and scenes to the real PC-1600x. That should give you an idea of what it does and whether it would be useful to you.

If you want to unlock all the features, you can buy a license for $25. Just use the "Buy Now" Button above. The transaction is processed via PayPal. Then just email me your PayPal Receipt ID number and the registration code generated when you launch the PC-1600v. I'll e-mail you back an authorization code that you can enter into the empty field in the registration window. Click the "register"button and you're all set! I'll respond to up to 3 registration requests per Receipt ID. That should cover you for all your machines.

Top


What does it do?

PC-1600v emulates all the buttons, faders, setup strings, and scenes just like the real PC-1600x. You can edit the parameters using simple edit windows and dump presets and scenes to the PC-1600(x) via your MIDI interface.You can also save presets and scenes to standard .syx files to your hard drive and open standard Peavey PC-1600(x) preset and scenes sysex files from your hard drive.

Try it! Go to the Peavey website and download a preset. Select "Open to Current Preset" from the "File" Menu in PC-1600v and choose the .syx preset file you downloaded. When the preset is loaded, select a midi destination from the MIDI menu and try out the preset. If you pay the license fee, you can then send that preset to your PC-1600(x). Or you can build your own presets from scratch in seconds and send them too!

Top


What does it not do?

At this point PC-1600v does not offer remote editing of PC 1600x globals. The global parameters have been slightly modified in each revision of PC 1600 and the changes have not been well documented. Consequently, it will be a pretty tough task to implement remote editing of the Global parameters. I'm not completely abandoning the idea but until I can turn up some more information, I have no immediate plans of implementing a Globals editor. This should not be a problem for most users but I'm open to suggestions if you have a real compelling argument.

Top


How do I send Presets to my PC-1600(x)?

First, pay the license fee using the "buy now" button above. Then you can unlock the dump feature.

Now, set the global input channel on your PC-1600(x) to the same thing set in the Global Channel in the Globals tray in PC-1600v.

Use the MIDI Destinations menu to select the MIDI port your PC-1600(x) is connected to.

Now click the "Dump" button on the virtual controller and select the appropriate option under the "Send data to your PC 1600x" header. Click GO.

If you selected "Send Current Preset", PC-1600v will send the current preset to your PC-1600(x) and save it to the same location as in the virtual controller. For example, if I've edited a preset on preset 10 on the virtual controller, that preset will be saved to preset 10 on the PC-1600(x).

Now you can do the "Dance of Joy" as you celebrate never having to program your MIDI controller using that little screen again!

Top


How do I load a default set of presets?

When PC-1600v is launched for the first time, it creates a folder called "PC-1600v Autoload" in your "~/Documents" folder. Put a single preset or AllPresets file named "Autoload" in that folder and PC-1600v will automatically open that file at program launch. Use this if you have a set of presets that you are always using or if you have a template that you always want to start with.

Top


How do I get presets from my PC-1600(x)?

First, set the ChOut on your PC 1600x to match the Global Channel in PC-1600v.

Connect the MIDI input and output of your PC-1600(x) to your MIDI interface. Select the MIDI destination in the MIDI menu in PC-1600v that matches the input of your PC-1600x. Now navigate the virtual controller to the preset number that you want to receive. Select the appropriate option under the "Request data from your PC 1600x" header and click GO.

Top


About Me

My name is Jason Romney. I'm a theatre sound designer and my hobby, lately, is developing useful software for theatre sound designers and engineers. That's not to say they're the only ones who will find my programs useful but understanding my target audience may help explain why I've done it this way.

My first program was GainSet. It's an amplifier gain setting calculator. Pretty handy if I do say so myself. Check it out!

To see and hear some of my other work, visit my homepage.

If you have any questions, comments, feature requests, bug reports about pc-1600v or you just want to say "hi" you can e-mail me.

Also, many thanks go to Jon Daggett for his help testing PC-1600v and making sure I keep the bugs out! Jon also does some interesting things with the PC 1600x and you can visit his website www.midilite.com to see how he uses the PC 1600x to control some very cool lighting systems.

Top

Get Firefox!

Last Updated on April 18, 2010