Eric Sheffield

I'm pretty new to Max/MSP. Just finished my first composition with a patch that is essentially just a series of reverbs and pitch shifting. 

Anyway, I applied for an undergraduate research grant to compose a percussion and electronics duet that essentially treats the electronic performer as a second percussionist. If the grant is approved, I was going to get an Alesis Control Pad 8 drum pad MIDI controller. I'm a percussionist myself, and the idea is that the electronic performer will need to be at least a relatively skilled percussionist and will play back altered samples of the other live performer with this pad.

I'm looking for other ways to give the player control over the electronics. I could use a second MIDI controller, 1 or 2 of the 8 pads, the keyboard and mouse, etc. but I'm looking for a way this person can do it while playing. Something like an expression pedal. 

I've already seen some of the ideas on the forums for something like this (volume pedal routed back into MSP with an amplitude meter of some sort), but I'm looking for something that can perhaps be more universal. Like a pedal that just plain goes from 0 to 127.

Also, this particular Alesis drum pad has a 1/4" for one of those hihat control pedals. Are these things usually continuously variable or just basically an on/off switch? If it was continuous, then I'm sure that could solve my problem.

Hi, all.
I'm pretty new to Max/MSP.  Just finished my first composition with a patch that is essentially just a series of reverbs and pitch shifting. 
Anyway, I applied for an undergraduate research grant to compose a percussion and electronics duet that essentially treats the electronic performer as a second percussionist.  If the grant is approved, I was going to get an Alesis Control Pad 8 drum pad MIDI controller.  I'm a percussionist myself, and the idea is that the electronic performer will need to be at least a relatively skilled percussionist and will play back altered samples of the other live performer with this pad.
I'm looking for other ways to give the player control over the electronics.  I could use a second MIDI controller, 1 or 2 of the 8 pads, the keyboard and mouse, etc. but I'm looking for a way this person can do it while playing.  Something like an expression pedal.  
I've already seen some of the ideas on the forums for something like this (volume pedal routed back into MSP with an amplitude meter of some sort), but I'm looking for something that can perhaps be more universal.  Like a pedal that just plain goes from 0 to 127.
Also, this particular Alesis drum pad has a 1/4" for one of those hihat control pedals.  Are these things usually continuously variable or just basically an on/off switch?  If it was continuous, then I'm sure that could solve my problem.
Thanks in advance!


foot-controller-w-drum-pad

??? check the pad manufacturer's site - if its a hh pedal input it usually switches a CC or notes on or off(not variable)

if you don't need foot control and money is an issue a joystick and the hi object might be good cheap solution - some of them have an additional "throttle" pot.

??? check the pad manufacturer's site - if its a hh pedal input it usually switches  a CC or notes on or off(not variable) 

if you don't need foot control and money is an issue a joystick and the hi object  might be good cheap solution - some of them have an additional "throttle" pot.


Am 07.05.2007 um 18:05 schrieb Bradford Reed:

> if you don't need foot control and money is an issue a joystick and 

> the hi object might be good cheap solution - some of them have an 

or look for a steering wheel type joystick with foot pedals - not 

exactly rock solid but can be found cheap and gives you 2 continuous 

Am 07.05.2007 um 18:05 schrieb Bradford Reed:
> if you don't need foot control and money is an issue a joystick and 
> the hi object  might be good cheap solution - some of them have an 
> additional "throttle" pot.

or look for a steering wheel type joystick with foot pedals - not 
exactly rock solid but can be found cheap and gives you 2 continuous 
controllers with the hi object.

http://www.behringer.com/FCB1010/index.cfm

try that. I have one of these and find it very versatile.

try that.  I have one of these and find it very versatile.


I had heard of this but thought that it's functionality would be a little different.

I know that Behringer stuff is usually much cheaper than similar items from other manufacturers, but does anyone know of a pedal that does this exact same thing in a smaller package? My guess is that the FCB1010 would still be the most cost effective, but it would be cool to have something a bit smaller for the same cost or less.

Behringer FCB1010- VERY COOL!
I had heard of this but thought that it's functionality would be a little different.
I know that Behringer stuff is usually much cheaper than similar items from other manufacturers, but does anyone know of a pedal that does this exact same thing in a smaller package?  My guess is that the FCB1010 would still be the most cost effective, but it would be cool to have something a bit smaller for the same cost or less.
Thanks again!


The Roland GFC-50 in conjunction with a couple of expression pedals 

will give similar functionality in a more portable package. I had the 

Behringer unit and liked it for studio use, but abhored the idea of 

lugging it to gigs. I'm replacing it with the GFC-50, 2 Roland 

expression pedals, and 2 Roland footswitches. More money, no doubt, 

On May 8, 2007, at 11:53 AM, Eric Sheffield wrote:

> I had heard of this but thought that it's functionality would be a 

> I know that Behringer stuff is usually much cheaper than similar 

> items from other manufacturers, but does anyone know of a pedal 

> that does this exact same thing in a smaller package? My guess is 

> that the FCB1010 would still be the most cost effective, but it 

> would be cool to have something a bit smaller for the same cost or 

The Roland GFC-50 in conjunction with a couple of expression pedals  
will give similar functionality in a more portable package. I had the  
Behringer unit and liked it for studio use, but abhored the idea of  
lugging it to gigs. I'm replacing it with the GFC-50, 2 Roland  
expression pedals, and 2 Roland footswitches. More money, no doubt,  
but eminently more portable.

>
> Behringer FCB1010- VERY COOL!
> I had heard of this but thought that it's functionality would be a  
> little different.
> I know that Behringer stuff is usually much cheaper than similar  
> items from other manufacturers, but does anyone know of a pedal  
> that does this exact same thing in a smaller package?  My guess is  
> that the FCB1010 would still be the most cost effective, but it  
> would be cool to have something a bit smaller for the same cost or  
> less.
> Thanks again!

> My guess is that the FCB1010 would still be the most cost effective, but it would be cool to have something a bit smaller for the same cost or less.

You've guessed correctly. The Behringer is the cheapest one on the 

market right now, as far as I know, and yes, it is *huge* if you ask me.

What I ended up doing recently was buying the following:

http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/

and building them into a small metal case I had floating about here.

Total price is around half of the Behringer unit, it weighs a LOT less, 

takes up just 18 x 36 centimeters and can also hold some knobs and up to 

It's also bus-powered, works directly with the Hi object in max (or 

preferably Joystick, if you're on pc) and you can connect all your weird 

experimental controller stuff directly to the pins. I'm very happy with 

the purchase, and the soldering is almost done! :-) the whole thing can 

Eric Sheffield skrev:
> My guess is that the FCB1010 would still be the most cost effective, but it would be cool to have something a bit smaller for the same cost or less.
You've guessed correctly. The Behringer is the cheapest one on the 
market right now, as far as I know, and yes, it is *huge* if you ask me.

What I ended up doing recently was buying the following:
http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/
with these guitar-stomp type buttons:
http://tinyurl.com/339kbe
and building them into a small metal case I had floating about here.

Total price is around half of the Behringer unit, it weighs a LOT less, 
takes up just 18 x 36 centimeters and can also hold some knobs and up to 
36 buttons in total.
 It's also bus-powered, works directly with the Hi object in max (or 
preferably Joystick, if you're on pc) and you can connect all your weird 
experimental controller stuff directly to the pins. I'm very happy with 
the purchase, and the soldering is almost done! :-) the whole thing can 
be assembled in an hour or two.

> What I ended up doing recently was buying the following:

Wow, that's a cool little package. I had never seen that one before.

If you are willing to do a little soldering and fabrication work, there

are many, many options for a fully configurable controller. I would add

the Arduino, MakingThings modules, and MIDItron to the list of

possibilities for the DIY-er. Also, you can often find really cheap

switches and whatnot at online electronics surplus stores like

> What I ended up doing recently was buying the following:
> http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/

Wow, that's a cool little package.  I had never seen that one before.
If you are willing to do a little soldering and fabrication work, there
are many, many options for a fully configurable controller.  I would add
the Arduino, MakingThings modules, and MIDItron to the list of
possibilities for the DIY-er.  Also, you can often find really cheap
switches and whatnot at online electronics surplus stores like
allelectronics.com

How does the Hi object work?
It's help file wasn't very helpful.


I've been looking for more compact midi pedal solution

Ever since i've had Behringer FCB1010( too big of a

i've never found yet nothing on the market, but

meanwhile i've been experimenting trying use my Boss

GT3 effects processor for both : audio effects and

midi controlling, it takes some tricky programming,

but , at least i can eliminate one extra foot

controller from my rig.So if you own a guitar effects

pedal, you may try to explore it's midi capabilities

if it has such and utilize them.In fact Boss GT-3

looks very similar to GFC-50, so why have two

controllers when you can do everything with one.

> The Roland GFC-50 in conjunction with a couple of

> will give similar functionality in a more portable

> Behringer unit and liked it for studio use, but

> lugging it to gigs. I'm replacing it with the

> expression pedals, and 2 Roland footswitches. More

> On May 8, 2007, at 11:53 AM, Eric Sheffield wrote:

> > I had heard of this but thought that it's

> > I know that Behringer stuff is usually much

> > items from other manufacturers, but does anyone

> > that does this exact same thing in a smaller

> > that the FCB1010 would still be the most cost

> > would be cool to have something a bit smaller for

Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.

I've been looking for more compact midi pedal solution
Ever since i've had Behringer FCB1010( too big of a
device for gigging), and so far 
i've never found yet nothing on the market,  but
meanwhile  i've been experimenting trying use my Boss
GT3 effects processor for both : audio effects and
midi   controlling, it takes some tricky programming,
but , at least i can eliminate one extra foot
controller from my rig.So if you own a guitar effects
pedal, you may try to explore it's midi capabilities
if it has such and utilize them.In fact Boss GT-3
looks very  similar to GFC-50, so why have two
controllers when you can do everything with one.
Anya

> The Roland GFC-50 in conjunction with a couple of
> expression pedals  
> will give similar functionality in a more portable
> package. I had the  
> Behringer unit and liked it for studio use, but
> abhored the idea of  
> lugging it to gigs. I'm replacing it with the
> GFC-50, 2 Roland  
> expression pedals, and 2 Roland footswitches. More
> money, no doubt,  
> but eminently more portable.
>
>
> On May 8, 2007, at 11:53 AM, Eric Sheffield wrote:
>
> >
> > Behringer FCB1010- VERY COOL!
> > I had heard of this but thought that it's
> functionality would be a  
> > little different.
> > I know that Behringer stuff is usually much
> cheaper than similar  
> > items from other manufacturers, but does anyone
> know of a pedal  
> > that does this exact same thing in a smaller
> package?  My guess is  
> > that the FCB1010 would still be the most cost
> effective, but it  
> > would be cool to have something a bit smaller for
> the same cost or  
> > less.
> > Thanks again!
>
> ----
> Steven M. Miller
>
> Home 
> SFIFEM 
> Atrium Sound Space 
> OVOS 
>
>
>

Looking for earth-friendly autos? 
Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/


Quote: mopppish wrote on Wed, 09 May 2007 03:03

----------------------------------------------------

I think the max reference describes it very well.

Quote: mopppish wrote on Wed, 09 May 2007 03:03
----------------------------------------------------
> How does the Hi object work?
> It's help file wasn't very helpful.
----------------------------------------------------
I think the max reference describes it very well.


foot controller w/ drum pad