# Multi timbral - one set of controls with switch for midi channel?

**URL:** <https://forum.electra.one/t/multi-timbral-one-set-of-controls-with-switch-for-midi-channel/4315>\
**Category:** General discussion\
**Created:** [March 13, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/multi-timbral-one-set-of-controls-with-switch-for-midi-channel/4315 "2026-03-13T19:48:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BertFerguson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@BertFerguson](https://forum.electra.one/u/BertFerguson)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/multi-timbral-one-set-of-controls-with-switch-for-midi-channel/4315/1 "2026-03-13T19:48:21Z")

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Hello, I have a question about setting up controls for multi timbral synths, where each voice transmits a different midi channel.

I want to have one set of parameter controls, and then use a switch to change which channel the changes transmit on.

Claude and I have been able to get this working using a list control to select the voice/channel we are controlling, and it works for one-way control.

Question: is it possible to use pad toggles instead of the list? I would like to have pads for “voice 1, voice 2, voice 3 etc. in the bottom row, because they are quicker to select than a list and don’t require switching groups, and they also give a better visual indicator.

So far, I can’t get the pads to call lua. Any suggestions would be helpful because we have tried a few methods and so far nothing works.

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**Author:** ![RWilco21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba9def/32.png) [@RWilco21](https://forum.electra.one/u/RWilco21)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 12:03pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/multi-timbral-one-set-of-controls-with-switch-for-midi-channel/4315/2 "2026-03-14T12:03:06Z")

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Maybe an example helps…

 ![Screenshot 2026-03-14 at 7.58.40 AM](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/uploads/electraone/original/2X/1/1628aa02741ea24ff382d4a29a40f61678aa6fd2.png)

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**Author:** ![BertFerguson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@BertFerguson](https://forum.electra.one/u/BertFerguson)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 6:11am UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/multi-timbral-one-set-of-controls-with-switch-for-midi-channel/4315/3 "2026-03-15T06:11:45Z")

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Thanks, that is helpful.

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**Author:** ![NewIgnis](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.electra.one/newignis/32/767_2.png) [@NewIgnis](https://forum.electra.one/u/NewIgnis)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 8:08am UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/multi-timbral-one-set-of-controls-with-switch-for-midi-channel/4315/4 "2026-03-15T08:08:44Z")

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You can do this with one function as well:

- create a function in which the value reflects the midi channel 1-16
- Then assign the function to each pad, and give the expected midi channel as ON value

The OFF value should remain blank not to trigger anything.  
But as a safety measure, I’d set: if value == 0 then return end  
as first rule in the function.

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**Author:** ![BertFerguson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@BertFerguson](https://forum.electra.one/u/BertFerguson)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://forum.electra.one/t/multi-timbral-one-set-of-controls-with-switch-for-midi-channel/4315/5 "2026-03-15T22:20:36Z")

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This is what was missing, thanks very much!