Re: Roland FC-200

[Mark Hamburg <mark_hamburg@baymoon.com>]

All that you say is true. (Well, I can't confirm the last part.)

One MIDI channel only. For the pedals on the device, you need to choose
between prog change, notes, or controllers though external pedals (of which
you can have 6) can always transmit controller information as can the
onboard expression pedal. There's also one control switch that works in
program change mode but gets turned into a note in note mode. And the notes
aren't assignable beyond what octave you want to send.

It is probably better built than the Behringer (from what I've heard about
the Behringer) though it does require a wall wart if you don't want to use
batteries.

So, I would have thought that it would be reasonably easy to match it's
capabilities. But...

The Behringer will only transmit on/off information for footswitch controls
if you get the EPROM upgrade and then it won't do latching. Or is it
vice-versa (i.e., the EPROM will let it do latching but it still won't do
momentary controls)? In fact, I couldn't find any cheap pedals that were
good at handling the momentary v. latching issue for control information.

I also couldn't find anything that comes close on expression pedal inputs.

That being said, I've sold it. I just know that if I find myself missing 
its
capabilities, it won't be trivial to replace it.

Mark

P.S. What I want in a MIDI controller:

2 banks of roughly 5 program change sends (i.e., two devices, 5 programs
each, independently selectable); a couple continuous controllers; a couple
footswitches configurable for either latching or momentary behavior.

I think the DMC Ground Control Pro will do this, but it's pricey.

And that's without thinking about EDP or Repeater control.

on 9/27/02 4:39 AM, SoundFNR@aol.com at SoundFNR@aol.com wrote:

> Beware though, if you want to send Note-Ons
> then you can only do it from a keyboard type layout
> of buttons, you can't program which note number you want.
> 
> ...and it seems to only work on one MIDI channel !!!!
> 
> Won't send a mixture of Prog Change, CC, Noteon
> from the same bank
> as it has a separate Mode to send each of these independently.
> 
> Only got this info by pestering the poor 'guy in the shop'
> so maybe not 100% accurate, though we did get the manual out.
> 
> Costs more than Twice the Behringer FCB1010,
> (which it resembles in appearance)
> 
> ...but it has about six programmable expression pedal inputs,
> (and one ped onboard)
> (but remember these are probably all on the same channel)
> 
> Matthias tells me that MIDI pedals made by big companies
> are designed by the apprentices and the idiots.