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At 06:49 PM 6/24/97 -0400, Dan Trueman wrote: >Well, actually the most recent version of the GC DOES treat switches as >momentary. This was my only gripe with the pedal. Now I think it is a >wonderful pedal, with it's flexibility of programming and solid >construction, and I use it with a whole array of different devices. >Perhaps the problem is not the GC, but, dare I say, the Echoplex... My understanding of the latest ground control software is that it does not treat the switches as momentary. As I understand it, this version only removes a "feature" where the pedal would not allow you to send the same program change message twice in a row. In the case of the Jamman, this meant you could start recording, but not stop. If I'm wrong about that and they have an even newer version, I'd like to know! Momentary means the ability to send one midi string when the switch is pressed and a second string when the pedal is released. That way, the length of time that the pedal is pressed can be used as part of the control interface. This sustained press turns out to be a very intuitve gesture, and has been employed in musical instruments for many centuries. As far as loopers go, both the Boomerang and the Echoplex take advantage of this. The Echoplex's interface has been very carefully designed and developed to give the player the maximum amount of control in the most intuitive way, while only using a minimal amount of switches and hardware. It is an instrument that you play, not a passive device that you change a patch on between songs. Matthias' design is really quite ingenious, and I for one find it very musically useful and intuitive. How could this be a problem? For me it is a welcome change in an industry mostly driven by conformity. I think it would be a shame to severely limit this musical quality by forcing it into an interface that is remarkably short-sighted in it's design, not to mention the ethical issues of violating an industry standard to do it! If all you need to do is send the occasional patch change to your effects device, and maybe control a parameter with an expression pedal, you are right, the ground control is fine and probably makes and excellent choice for many applications. As soon as you want to do something more "sophisticated", like sending midi notes or sysex or any other midi message other than program change, you are out of luck with the GC pedal. And the lack of a midi in jack, which eliminates all possibility of restoring backed up data, implies that the ground control was not designed with professional touring in mind. My problem with ground control is not the pedal itself. It is simple, rugged, and appears to do what it sets out to do. My problem is the market image the pedal has of being the most powerful and capable pedal available, which it isn't. hmmm, looks like this qualifies as this week's rant..... :-) Damn, I was really trying not to talk about gear....I didn't even last a week! >---------------- >"we need new instruments very badly..." >Edgar Varese >---------------- Indeed we do! kim > > >On Tue, 24 Jun 1997, Kim Flint wrote: > >> The ground control's midi functions are too limited to control the >> echoplex. All it can send is program change messages and continuous >> controllers in a very limited fashion, which doesn't cut it. It can't >even >> treat it's switches as momentary! It is really only meant to handle >simple >> patch changes on effects devices. There are many better pedals out >there, >> most of which are available used for considerably less money. (I got a >> Digitech pmc-10 for $100, which is quite nice) The echoplex footpedal >> tutorial on the website explains what a midi controller needs to be >able to >> do for use with the plex. >> >> Since many people have apparently been talked in to getting the g.c., >we've >> considered adding a mode to the echoplex software that would allow it to >> work with program-change-only pedals. This would still be a limited >> interface and wouldn't give all the intuitive control features in the >> echoplex's interface, since only a limited amount of info can be >conveyed >> with program change messages. It would also mean violating the midi >spec by >> using program change messages for something other than changing >programs, >> which i'm not real fond of. Not to mention the bad taste of having to >> change because someone else has the unfortunate bad design/good >marketing >> combo..... >> >> amusing aside- I once had a conversation with Mr. Fripp about this >> pedal...our opinions were about the same, except his were quite a bit >> stronger since he had actually tried to tour with it...try storing all >the >> ground control's programming in your computer for backup and you'll see >> what I mean real quick. >> >> kim >> >> >> >-- Forgive me if this has been discussed before... >> >Anyone have any experience controlling the Echoplex with the Ground >> >Control? Does the GC completely replace the Echoplex's footswitch? >> >I have version 2.4 of the GC. Thanks in advance for the help. >> >Dave >> >********************************************************************* >> >'Future Perfect' - progressive art music - visit our website at: >> >http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/8082 >> >'Music is a mirror of who we are.' - Robert Fripp >> >> ______________________________________________________________________ >> Kim Flint | Looper's Delight >> kflint@annihilist.com | http://www.annihilist.com/loop/loop.html >> http://www.annihilist.com/ | Loopers-Delight-request@annihilist.com >> >> >> > > > ________________________________________________________ Kim Flint 408-752-9284 Mpact System Engineering kflint@chromatic.com Chromatic Research http://www.chromatic.com