M-VAVE Chocolate MIDI Controller: Is It Any Good?

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A detailed review of the M-VAVE Chocolate bluetooth wireless MIDI footswitch, and walkthrough of its desktop configuration app.
Amazon affiliate link to the M-VAVE Chocolate: amzn.to/3RaopDg
Amazon affiliate links to gear mentioned in video (no extra cost to you):
M-VAVE Chocolate: amzn.to/3RaopDg
Hotone Ampero Control: amzn.to/45dBpOA
Subscribe to the channel: / @ambientwithadam
Link to the MidiView website: hautetechnique.com/midi/midiv...
Amazon affiliate links to my recording gear (no extra cost to you):
Rode Lavalier Go microphone: amzn.to/4c3zvlA
Dimmable softbox light: amzn.to/4aPG0rg
Timestamps:
0:00 - Affordable MIDI foot controller
0:45 - Overview and specs
2:22 - Desktop app walkthrough
14:51 - Summary: Pros
15:43 - Summary: Cons
17:14 - Bonus tips
17:58 - Conclusion
About:
In this video I give a detailed review of the M-VAVE Chocolate bluetooth wireless MIDI foot controller. This includes talking about the specifications of the device, the physical quality of the device, what the device can be used for and how to connect it in various ways. I also give an in-depth tutorial on how the desktop application used to configure the device works. Lastly I sum up with my pros and cons of the device and state whether I recommend it or not.

Пікірлер: 35

  • @busylizzie2009
    @busylizzie200927 күн бұрын

    Great bit of kit, but I’ve had pairings issues with it over the past 6 months. Yesterday I discovered why. I upgraded from iOS 17.1 to 17.5 and it immediately paired and became rock solid again.

  • @prpptch
    @prpptchАй бұрын

    great content! 😊

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    Ай бұрын

    Thank you! :)

  • @standingbadger
    @standingbadger9 күн бұрын

    Great review and deep dive. Thank you. Subbed. Do you think this would work with an Eventide H9? Also, did you hear back from M-Wave with regards to showing CC messages?

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    8 күн бұрын

    Thanks for the sub! I haven't tried but I would expect it to work with an Eventide H9. It works both for Ampero ii Stomp and HX Stomp with a TRS->MIDI converter into the device's MIDI input, so I'd expect it to be the same with the H9. I've heard people saying that it doesn't work with all converters though so be wary, but with the BOSS BMIDI-5-35 cable it works with both aforementioned stomps. No I haven't heard anything from M-VAVE. I'll keep you posted if I do :)

  • @standingbadger

    @standingbadger

    8 күн бұрын

    Ok thanks for that 🙂 In the end, I went for a Paint Audio Midi Captain mini. A fair bit more expensive, but really good value all the same for what it offers, (inc. CC messages) and I want to access things more easily on the fly too. Really enjoying this channel.

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    8 күн бұрын

    @@standingbadger Ah nice, that also seems like a great device :) Hope it works out well for you! Thank you, that's kind of you to say 🙏

  • @JT-jw4fv
    @JT-jw4fvАй бұрын

    The issue I am having with is that it does not have a toggle mode where it can send either on or off signal depending on whether the effect is off or on.

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    Ай бұрын

    What device/software are you trying to control? There's no way the controller can detect what the status of the effect is, it can only send the MIDI commands to configure it. This is not the fault of the controller though. But there are three different things I can think of that you could try with "Advanced custom mode" which may or may not work depending on your device/software: 1) Bind the effect on/off toggle to a CC code, and then configure one of your footswitches to send that CC code. The value doesn't matter 2) If you're only able to turn on or off the effect the effect this way, you could try using two footswitches (or long and short press on one footswitch) to send different values for the same CC. So footswitch would send value 0, and the other value 127. Then it might be that one of the switches turns the effect on, and the other off. Which might work for you? 3) Similar to case 1), you could also try a MIDI Note ON command instead of a CC command. This for example works for some DAWs like Ableton Live to toggle things I hope that you are able to work it out. You might also want to check the manual of the device/software you are controlling if you have access to it. In the end it might also be easier to use a MIDI controller from the same manufacturer that is designed for your device/software, if there is one

  • @goodbye-summer
    @goodbye-summer20 күн бұрын

    Hi, thanks for sharing your experience. I have a question: I'm looking for a controller to connect to a recorder on a PC, like Audacity, Ableton, etc. Is it possible to assign functions like record, pause, and new track to the buttons on the controller in such programs?

  • @goodbye-summer

    @goodbye-summer

    20 күн бұрын

    I want to use the controller as a means for recording noodling on the guitar and accumulating guitar ideas.

  • @goodbye-summer

    @goodbye-summer

    20 күн бұрын

    And also, will it work with Garage band ?

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    18 күн бұрын

    Hey! Yes, it definitely works with Ableton - that is primarily what I use it for :) Record, play, pause etc can for sure be controlled with MIDI. But I do not know about creating new track, at least I would not know how to do it. Audacity I do not know about either unfortunately

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    18 күн бұрын

    I do not use Garageband so I do not what you can bind to MIDI in that program. But Garageband does support using MIDI controllers at least, so it is possible it can do what you want :)

  • @VolkanIcin
    @VolkanIcin8 күн бұрын

    Great video, thank you! I have question maybe you can help me :) I have a Hotone Ampero 2 Stage and it has a built-in bluetooth control setting. I wonder if I can pair it over bluetooth. The thing is that I cannot try it by myself because m-vave is not available in my country. I can only order abroad and if it is not compatible with Ampero 2 Stage over bluetooth there is no option to refund the m-vave. Also the Ampero 2 Stage has a 3.5mm TRS midi in connector, it means I would not be able to use a standard TRS-MIDI cable if the bluetooth does not work. Do you think it can pair directly with Ampero 2 Stage over bluetooth?

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    8 күн бұрын

    Hi! I don't know about connecting via bluetooth to the stage unfortunately, sorry. I thought the bluetooth was mainly for connecting your phone to the device? But perhaps it can accept other input devices too. Regarding the 3.5 mm output: I wonder if it would work to use a 1/4" from the Chocolate into a 1/4" to 3.5mm converter, and then in to the stage. Could be worth trying? But I understand if you don't want to gamble if you cannot return it :/

  • @VolkanIcin

    @VolkanIcin

    8 күн бұрын

    @@AmbientWithAdam Actually, Ampero 2 Stage's bluetooth audio and control options are separated. This is the user manuel info about bluetooth control: "When switched on, SEARCH button will appear for searching and pairing nearby BLE devices like MIDI controllers (e.g. Ampero Control)." As I understood, I am able to pair Ampero Control easily but I am not sure that I can pair M-Vave Chocolate as well. I think I am going to give it a go. By the way, I didn't think I can use 1/4" to 3.5mm converter with a midi cable. It would not be the desired outcome but at least I can use it with the cable. Thanks again!

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    6 күн бұрын

    @@VolkanIcin Oh ok! Yes, hopefully it will work with the chocolate over BT then. I'm not use the 1/4" to 3.5mm converter works either, but it could be worth a try :) Hope it works out for you!

  • @jospower8802
    @jospower8802Ай бұрын

    Hi thanx, do you think I can use it to play stop next and previous songs on vlc, media windows etc? can change the controls??

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    Ай бұрын

    Hey! On your request I've tested this a bit now. Using the "Video Model" mode of the controller, I was able to control VLC on Windows: Go backward, go forward and play/pause all worked, but I'm not sure what the last button ("loop playback") does. I didn't work at all with Windows Media Player unfortunately. It appears like there are also other ways of controlling VLC with MIDI too: www.quora.com/How-can-you-control-VLC-playback-with-MIDI (using any controller). Hope this was helpful

  • @jospower8802

    @jospower8802

    Ай бұрын

    @@AmbientWithAdam Thank you so much you're great! so kind and professional, super answer, have a great time..

  • @goodbye-summer

    @goodbye-summer

    20 күн бұрын

    Hi, thanks for sharing your experience. I have a question: I'm looking for a controller to connect to a recorder on a PC, like Audacity, Ableton, etc. Is it possible to assign functions like record, pause, and new track to the buttons on the controller in such programs?

  • @TakisKoroneos
    @TakisKoroneosАй бұрын

    can it be used as a simple footswitch? for example, switching from a clean channel to an overdrive channel on an analog amp?

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    Ай бұрын

    Hey! That might be possible if your amp has some kind of MIDI / USB / bluetooth input. What kind of amp do you have?

  • @TakisKoroneos

    @TakisKoroneos

    Ай бұрын

    @@AmbientWithAdam Just ordered a Blackstar ID:Core V3 Stereo 20. I also ordered the m-vave to use with archetype plini but was wondering if it works with the amp as well. Guess I’ll test it out once everything arrives.

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    Ай бұрын

    ​@@TakisKoroneos Ok, nice :) It looks like one can control it with a "Blackstar Foot Controller FS-11". That also also seems to have a TRS-like output, so it might be possible with M-VAVE Chocolate if you put it in TRS-to-MIDI mode, and connect via TRS to the amp. But it's still hard to know what kind of MIDI commands you'd need to send. It depends on what the FS-11 sends since we'd want to mimic that. Probably they wouldn't reveal what kind commands they send with the FS-11 to force you to buy it. Likely it would be hard to get this working with the M-VAVE Chocolate I think unfortunately :/ But you never know, good luck!

  • @TakisKoroneos

    @TakisKoroneos

    Ай бұрын

    @@AmbientWithAdam Thanks for your input! You’re probably right, I just feel the fs-11 is a bit much for the value it provides. It literally works only on a couple of amps.

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    Ай бұрын

    @@TakisKoroneos No worries! I hope it works out :) Yes, I totally agree about the fs-11. Annoying that they do that instead of just providing a general purpose MIDI input and document what codes need to be sent :/

  • @Shiv-jt4uw
    @Shiv-jt4uw28 күн бұрын

    Can it be used to control LoopyPro App?

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    27 күн бұрын

    Hey! I'm using Android myself so cannot test whether it works or not. But in principle it should work I think. At least you can connect to your iOS via bluetooth and configure the device. I'm not sure if the iOS device can receive MIDI from the controller over bluetooth though, but hopefully it can. And that would be what LoopyPro requires is my understanding. Perhaps someone with an iOS device could let us know? Hope if works out for you :)

  • @renanCaguioa
    @renanCaguioaАй бұрын

    Could you use 2 mvave chocolate simultaneously?

  • @AmbientWithAdam

    @AmbientWithAdam

    29 күн бұрын

    Hey! Great question. Unfortunately I only have the one unit, so not able to test this. But your software/hardware (given enough inputs) should in principle be able to receive MIDI from multiple controllers. But I'm not sure how they'd handle several controllers of same type of device. For example, it could be (and it would be unfortunate) that the Chocolate device drivers can only handle one device at a time. If I ever get a second M-VAVE Chocolate I'll test this and let you know

  • @scienceed5031

    @scienceed5031

    10 күн бұрын

    I’m using two simultaneously on my iPad. There is an app that sort of combine the two M-vave chocolate as one MIDI source. The name of the app is MidiFire.

  • @jimmywilliams3972
    @jimmywilliams3972Ай бұрын

    No, the best value is a Morningstar MC 6 Pro.

  • @thatoneocto

    @thatoneocto

    11 күн бұрын

    thats more than 10 times the price of the chocolate?

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