Initial thoughts:
PROS:
Its Extremely well made (tank etc)
Very small, but usable (and very light!!! Goodbye FCB)
Seems to have a good feel (haven't tried it with anything other than the software yet.)
CONS:
One tiny con,
I don´t really believe that the pressure and 360degree movement is actually very usable, not for musical purposes anyway, Im sure it takes some practice, and sure I can SEE the sensors changing, but its not really possible to smoothly increase a value (like you would need for a pan or a volume or a wah. its a bit haphazard... I think you need tobe wearing soft light shoes, something with a flat surface, which is a bit aukward for us skandinavians who basically NEVER wear shoes indoors (not the done thing due to sand/grit ruining parquet floors) I have to get some "soft-stepping shoes".
&
ONE HUGE CON!!!
The midi box… Needed for US hardware users.
Hmmm… is this an afterthought? Doesnt seem to fit withe the wonderfully
designed pedal, light breakable, connected by, get this.. A MICRO USB
UGH!!! How is it powered when NOT using USB (which is the only way you
WILL use it after all..) Well by another usb connection, into a USA USB
conector… I cant use that!!! And probably cant find one here with a Euro
plug… WHAT WRONG WITH A FUCKING WALL WART??? Well OK we KNOW what is
wrong, but a USB cable??? into a MICRO USB socket.. This with fail, NO
DOUBT ABOUT IT.. I have had a micro usb on my work cameras changes,
oohhh maybe 7 times? TOTALLY USELESS for a rock and roll product..
Because I think Keith Mac is forgetting this a bit, due to the fact that
is target group are profesional experimental violinists, and laptop
loopers… what about heavy footed guitarists..?
SOLUTION: They SHOULD have come up with a midi module that clamped
onto the pedal, had MIANS (110/240 switchable) input socket, with midi
in/out. (and a mini usb for the convenience of programming from the
computer at the same time as having the hardwre plugged in.)
The module could have clicked into place around the current USB input.
OK the transformer would have added some weight, but this fiddlin
solution now, is gonna break, Im sure of it…
Im going to try to mount the midi box IN my pedal board, and have a
short jumper cable over to the Softstep, but Im gonna be nervous!
OK grumble over… LOVE the pedal… OK better launch the program…. BRB…
Mark