PRODUCT REVIEW
unit. The MasterMind makes programming
the RG- 16 simpler, faster and a no-hassle
process. To program the RG- 16 with other
MIDI foot controllers can be a mind-boggling process. For presets, you would
have to go into the controller’s edit mode,
select an empty bank and preset, and designate a program number that corresponds
with the RG- 16 preset number, before even
designating what the preset number is
going to be. For instant access switching,
you would have to go to the designated
instant access button on the controller
On the RG- 16, I
selected Audio Loop
buttons 1, 3 and 4 and
pressed “Write”—
that’s it! I was then
able to turn on my dis-
tortion, analogue filter,
and delay all with one
footswitch.
and assign the controller number that corresponds to one of the eight audio loop or
eight function switches. Oh, you also have
to refer to the MIDI Implementation Chart
in the manual to figure out what the controller number is. Way too many programming steps for me!
When using the Mastermind with the
RG- 16, it’s literally a “plug and play”
operation. I created audio loops with a
few effect pedals into the RG- 16, and then
started planning out what kinds of presets
I wanted. For the first preset, I wanted my
distortion pedal with my analogue filter
pedal, and a bit of delay. On the second
preset, I wanted a clean sound with a
chorus pedal, and so on. I began programming my first preset. On the RG- 16, my
distortion pedal was on Audio Loop 1,
my analogue filter was on Audio Loop 3,
and delay on Audio Loop 4. First, I simply pressed button 1 on the Mastermind
controller to designate that preset. On
the RG- 16, I selected Audio Loop buttons
1, 3 and 4 and pressed “Write”—that’s it!
I was then able to turn on my distortion,
analogue filter, and delay all with one footswitch. I continued to program ten different
presets of all kinds of effect combinations
in under five minutes. The Mastermind also
includes an “Alternate Presets” feature,
allowing you to call up a slightly different
sound (adding chorus to a clean tone, for
instance) for every preset. I can imagine the
possibilities if I’d spent more time planning
out a more detailed setup, incorporating
rack gear, amp channel switching and other
MIDI devices. I could probably even program this thing to start my coffee maker in
the morning via MIDI.
Both amateur and professional players will
appreciate the Mastermind, since it can
handle simple rigs as well as more complex
setups. It allows instant switching of pedals,
rack effects, amps and more with a single
press of a button. Since it’s so easy to setup
and operate, MIDI-phobes will be running to
the MasterMind, instead of away from it!
Buy If...
You want to put together
a high quality guitar rig that’s
easy to control.
Skip If...
You really want to show off your tap
dancing skills on stage.
Rating... 4. 5
ONTHEWeb
Head online to read a
review of the RG- 16 in
our June 2008 Issue at
premierguitar.com
RJM MasterMind
MSRP $349
RJM Music Technology
rjmmusic.com
