RE: Most programmable midi foot controller

["David Huffman" <dave@linkify.com>]

Does that require the use of the hands?

That's the other constraint I'm working with: trying to make it all foot 
controllable.

I'm pretty stoked now, though, with the current config: very flexible.

dh


-----Original Message-----
From: midifriedchicken@comcast.net [mailto:midifriedchicken@comcast.net] 
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 1:19 PM
To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
Subject: RE: Most programmable midi foot controller

Have you considered using the Mackie Control emulation? People rave about 
this. I have not had the time to try it. It seems like you could 
streamline your pedalboard. 
MFC





 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "David Huffman" <dave@linkify.com>
>  
> 
> My need is to "reconfigure the footswitch in real-time as (I) 
> perform".  I use Ableton Live as the patch librarian (and executor, and 
>legal counsel).
> 
>  
> 
> I've now got a workaround that meets my need - e.g., having a few 
> different controls available on many different tracks in Ableton Live 
>while performing.
> Here's an example of what it can do:
> 
>  
> 
> ·         Assume you're playing/recording on Track 1, 
> 
> 
> 
> o    4 or 5 of the 13 available pedals do things at the "track-level" to 
>help 
> control the Ableton track behavior.
> 
> 
> 
> o    But, you'd like to jump onto another track (or perhaps 2 or 5 or 10 
>in 
> succession) and have the same pedal controls on each of them
> 
> 
> 
> o    Clearly, you can't support that with 13 pedals.  You run out of 
>pedals 
> pretty fast.
> 
> 
> 
> ·         My setup allows me to step on the "Next" pedal with a single 
>click, 
> and Ableton then automagically...
> 
> 
> 
> o    Disarms Track 1
> 
> 
> 
> o    Arms Track 2
> 
> 
> 
> o    Now "hears" the track-level foot controller commands on the new 
>track
> 
> 
> 
> o    (in my case, it switches from a pair of tracks - one for audio & 
>one for 
> midi - to the next pair of tracks)
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> If anyone is interested, here's a synopsis of the workaround.
> 
>  
> 
> ·         Foot controller sends controller messages, which I convert to 
>note 
> messages using MIDI-OX, on the way to Ableton Live.
> 
> 
> 
> ·         I map track controls in Ableton...
> 
> 
> 
> o    ...to the foot controller "notes" (e.g., "D" is "Arm", "E" is 
>"Launch" etc)
> 
> 
> 
> o    ...where each track has it's own octave - e.g., D-2 (two octaves 
>down from 
> middle D) is track 1, D-1 is track 2, etc.
> 
> 
> 
> ·         I've set up a track in Ableton that has a set of MIDI Pitch 
>Shifters
> 
> 
> 
> o    All are set to +12 - e.g., go up an octave
> 
> 
> 
> o    All have their "Device On" mapped to a MIDI note (e.g., A#), each 
>in a 
> given octave
> 
> 
> 
> ·         Set up 2 clips in Ableton, one as "Next", one as "Back", which 
>"play" 
> the note - A# - to trigger the Device On of the Pitch Shifter
> 
> 
> 
> ·         Two pedals on my foot controller are programmed with 
>Controllers to 
> trigger the Next & Back clips
> 
> 
> 
> ·         Then, for instance, if I'm recording on Track 1, and I step on 
>the 
> "Next" pedal, it:
> 
> 
> 
> o    Disarms Track 1 (e.g., the Next clip plays the D-2 note, which 
>toggles 
> "arm")
> 
> 
> 
> o    Triggers the "Next" clip to turn on a +12 pitch shift (e.g., the 
>clip plays 
> A#-2)
> 
> 
> 
> o    Arms Track 2 (e.g., plays D-2 note, which is now transposed to D-1, 
>to 
> toggle "arm" on the new track)
> 
> 
> 
> o    And, when subsequent track-level pedals are clicked - e.g., Launch, 
> monitor, etc. - they are transposed up an octave to the current Track.
> 
> 
> 
> §  E.g., the Foot Controller says D-2, but this MIDI note command is 
> routed through a pitch shift and becomes D-1, which Track 2 can "hear".
> 
> 
> 
> §  So, this is using the fact that MIDI notes can be transformed by 
> MIDI effects, and that there are a lot of octaves, to enable "patch 
> changing" on the fly.
> 
> 
> 
> This is better than using different patches in MIDI-OX (which also 
> works) because it's more flexible, can change more on the fly and 
> doesn't require loading a a new set of patches to MIDI-OX every time I 
> tweak the setup.  But, a patch changeable programmable foot controller 
> might also be a good approach, with a lot less of the MIDI spaghetti 
> required to get the above scenario working.
> 
>  
> 
> If there's more interest, I can put a diagram up on a webpage somewhere.
> 
>  
> 
> dh
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeff Larson [mailto:jeff.larson@sailpoint.com]
> Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 12:25 PM
> To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
> Subject: RE: Most programmable midi foot controller
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> > Do any of these controllers have remotely changeable patches?
> 
>  
> 
> The FCB and GCP support sysex messages to completely change patches.
> 
> I don't know if you can send them something that will make them change
> 
> banks though.  Out of curiosity, what are you trying to accomplish?
> 
> Are you interested in making a patch librarian, or do you want
> 
> to reconfigure the footswitch in real-time as you perform.
> 
>                 
> 
> Jeff
> 
>  
> 
>