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Other ADA Gear => Step On It! => Other MIDI Footswiches => Topic started by: Kim on February 21, 2016, 10:17:59 AM

Title: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Kim on February 21, 2016, 10:17:59 AM
I'd like to add an Expression pedal to my Rig of Fire and am looking for some ideas.   :wave:

I don't want to purchase a Behringer FCB unit (heard way too many horror stories about those breaking) instead I'd like to simply add the pedal itself to my setup (MP-2, Rocktron Xpression, Rolls MidiBuddy) if that's possible.  Or maybe purchase a decent floorboard unit that has one, as long as it's not too expensive?  Eventually I'd like to explore the Macros in the MP-2, but first I'd like to just simply control the Master Volume for fades.  I realize I could use a Volume pedal in the Loop, but that would require cobbling connectors to convert the the Stereo Loop to Mono, then having 2 long cable runs from the back of my rackcase out to front of stage; too much stuff to setup/takedown and more risk of things getting all sonofabitch'd up.  A Volume pedal in front of the preamp isn't the effect I'm looking for either.

I see ADA had an expression pedal, but it doesn't appear to be midi capable from what I can tell.  How would that work?
Appreciate thoughts, advice, etc. thank you!
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: vansinn on February 21, 2016, 12:24:12 PM
Ahh, you have the Rolls MidiBuddy without build-in swell pedal, right?
But Kim, boddy, you're a practical geek with functional lab and all ;)

Buy a used FCB1010, cut the dual swell pedal arrangement off fairly close to the bank up/down buttons. Then fix the plastic siderail from the other side to the now cut-off swell arrangement, and it'll look just fine. Many a player has done the opposite: Cutting off the non-used swells, so..
Now make a cut in the swell frame to fix the controller board sideways next to the swells.
The controller board is pretty much the size of the display, and the swells are connected via ordinary berg-strip connectors.
To compensate for the loss of ordinary switches, you can add mini switches for the programming - or, likely a lot easier, simply use the online available PC/app editor for the programming.  To my knowledge, the controller won't give a shit about being able to 'see' the switches or not.
And you can of course mod it for phantom power.
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Kim on February 21, 2016, 04:26:58 PM
Haven't been doing too much in the way of modding stuff lately, Van.  And I'm just not feeling the idea of buying a FCB1010 just to cut it up and mod it.  lol  Besides, I've read enough other info about it that tells me it's also a dogger to program initially, and I don't think I'll have the patience for that either. 

But after some research, I've found a few other options and carefully sorted them. 
ART X-15 looked promising until I found that it's not Phantom Powered in stock form.
Digitech Control One also looked good until I found that Digitech uses their own proprietary signals with this and NOT midi.  (Shame on you Digitech.)
Rocktron Midi Mate seems good with a Rocktron Hex pedal (or any similar expression pedal).  I have always had a very good relationship with Rocktron stuff to date.  Then.....
WTF was I thinking?!  The ADA MXC floorboard control supports an expression pedal!  Searching the pics confirms it, and it's not to be confused with the very similar in appearance MPC.   I think I've found my answer, now to find an MXC floorboard to start this.   :whoohoo!: 
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: MarshallJMP on February 21, 2016, 05:53:32 PM
You can even hookup 2 expression pedals on the MXC  ;D
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Griphook on February 24, 2016, 04:15:15 AM
But the MXCs are pretty rare aren't they?  :dunno:
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Kim on February 24, 2016, 07:13:33 AM
But the MXCs are pretty rare aren't they?  :dunno:

Well I used to see them for sale a lot....until now that I'm actually looking to get one.  Lol.  Then there's some hoarders with several of them....
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Soloist on February 24, 2016, 07:26:41 AM
You can also hook up 2 expression pedals to the voodo lab ground control pro. Excellent midi controller in my opinion.
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Dante on February 24, 2016, 03:16:25 PM
DAMMIT KIM! You figured it out before I could reply. Get an MXC, hell, get two, they're small.

I rarely use my pedal, but if I did, I'd use it for volume. The Wah wasn't great
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Kim on February 24, 2016, 04:28:38 PM
LOL  :lol:

I'd just like to use one expression pedal, mostly for the macro stuff and volume fades.  Other than that......aw heck who knows what cool shizz I'd end up doing with it if I get one!  Really, it doesn't have to be an ADA MXC, but all the searching I've been doing tells me that it's the one I want without all the complicated extra frills and way more $$ some of the other ones are asking.
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: rnolan on February 24, 2016, 11:01:53 PM
I use the MXC pedal as stereo master vol. Actually the pedal is the only way to access that MP2 feature and it works very well  :thumb-up: . And yes you can have 2 pedals and 2 quad switches with the MXC.
I don't use the quad switch much but it to can be handy and you can have each button either latched or unlatched (momentary while it's pressed).
The last MP2 I bought was mostly to get another MXC pedal set so I can have one packed in my live rig and one in the studio. Sometimes MP2s come up for sale with the MXC included (albeit a more expensive way to get an MXC LoL).
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Dante on February 26, 2016, 08:58:16 AM
Kim,

If you get an MXC, you gotta get a Quad switch. I don't know which FX unit you'd be using, but it allows me to toggle individual FX on/off in my Boss GX-700

I toggle the EQ to get a clean volume boost (its a flat EQ, turned up) of each patch = Solos on each patch!
I toggle the delay on/off of each patch (whether the patch has delay or not)
The other two buttons are for special FX, like a tremolo or a harmonizer, etc. They vary from patch to patch

And...as Richard says, you can hook up TWO Quad switches and TWO CC pedals.  :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: MarshallJMP on February 26, 2016, 10:19:17 AM
+1 i also use my mxc with 2 quad switches and 2 pedals.
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Griphook on February 27, 2016, 12:59:29 AM
What are thos Quad Switches you are talking about?

And are those Pedals just normal Expression Pedals or special CC Pedals?
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: rnolan on February 27, 2016, 02:05:13 AM
Hey Griphook, If you bought a MP2 new, as I did back in the day... it came with the MXC pedal pack which included 7 pin midi cable, MXC midi pedal, one expression pedal and one quad switch. The expression pedal and quad switch connect to the MXC via standard stereo (R/T/S) jack leads, apart from that it's really solid, the expression pedal is no different to any CC type expression pedal, it has a pot inside which is turned up/down by the pedal movement. It includes a "soft" switch when you press at "full on" position (like a wah that tuns on/off). You can assign the pedal and the switch to any parameter in a CC compatible gadget you want to sweep (vol, wah, an eq freq, delay time etc...) or toggle with the switch (eg turn wah on/off)
The quad switch  (again really solid) is 4 buttons (same sort as the MXC buttons) with a LED under each button. You can assign each button to a CC controllable parameter you want to turn on/off. The buttons can be individually set to latch or unlatched. Latch means when you press it it stays pressed (on or off). Unlatched means its on as long as you hold the button down and reverts to off when you stop pressing on it.
The quad switch is probably a bit more special than the expression pedal but all the groovy midi pedals being discussed here lately do much the same. The CC number assignment is done in the MXC which has 4 stereo jack inputs, 2 for pedals and 2 for quad switches (so it matters which jack you plug into (pedal 1/2, switch 1/2) as this decides their controller numbers (which you can change BTW via the pedals function commands). The MXC sends the midi change data so anything reading the midi stream can respond to it (assign controller number(s) to parameter(s) in the CC compatible device).
The quad switch was designed to give you more real time control over some MP2 on/off parameters (FX loop, tremolo, tuner mute etc) but as Dante likes to do, you can also use them to control other CC devices.

http://adadepot.com/manuals/MXC_Owners_Manual.pdf
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: MarshallJMP on February 27, 2016, 06:17:45 AM
The quad switch has some electronics inside,so it's specially designed for use with the MXC.You can't use it with pedals from other brands.
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: rnolan on February 27, 2016, 11:42:52 AM
Hey MJMP, why aren't I not surprised  :wave: , but conceptually it does does a similar/same thing to other units which have come "much later". Crap these guys at ADA were soo ahead of the curve...
Time to stuff around with the MP2 macros, never played in that space before....  :whoohoo!:
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: MarshallJMP on February 27, 2016, 11:55:37 AM
Yes it does.

I also like the idea they had with that softswitch in the expression pedal.They switch without a switch.It was a genius idea.
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: rnolan on February 27, 2016, 12:28:31 PM
Man they cream me, hey I've been on the ADA road for a long while now (as have many here). Such great gear, so well thought out, well IMHO  :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: MarshallJMP on February 27, 2016, 01:49:55 PM
Yep now you mention it,i've been using ADA since '91 so that's 25 years already  :o
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Dante on February 29, 2016, 03:56:16 PM
I bought my first MP-1 around '90-'91 too

Got my MP-2 in 1996

Got my classic about ten years after that (right Kim?)
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Kim on February 29, 2016, 08:09:03 PM
Got my MP-2 in 1996

Got my classic about ten years after that (right Kim?)

About 2010 or so, iirc. 
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Dante on March 01, 2016, 09:28:32 AM
well, I don't remember anything correctly, so I'll take your word for it!

BTW: I LOVE that Classic - still my preamp of choice  :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: Griphook on March 21, 2016, 03:15:03 PM
This ADA Foot-Gear seems to be nice pieces of engineering  :thumb-up:

I also love my Classic. Lacks a bit of bottom end, but that's nothing one could fix with a bit EQing ^.^

My FCB1010 totally nails it, for what I'm doing PLUS it has 2 pedals on Board :) Could be a bit more solid though
Title: Re: Adding an Expression Pedal?
Post by: tomy on March 21, 2016, 04:58:50 PM
Hi everybody,there is a turkish quad switch on ebay 90$