Behringer FCB1010 w/ Pitchfactor?

rasthedoctor · #1 11-03-2010, 08:17 PM

Any thoughts on this? Any experiences? I "need" a MIDI foot controller for my Pitchfactor - I'm playing in a semi-acoustic duo, and we're going to make an effort to thicken our sound by using the Pitchfactor and some looping. I would prefer at least 10 switches (check) and at least one foot controller (check). However, it's Behringer, which certainly doesn't have the best rep.

Help me, TB effects denizens, you're my only hope.

**TheMutt** · #2 11-03-2010, 11:07 PM

I used to own a PitchFactor, but did not have the Behringer control unit with it. However I remember reading elsewhere that the Behringer foot controller unit worked decently well with a few glitches here and there which could be fixed with a few mods (I forget which site I read this on, might have been the Eventide forums). However, I found my setup to work much better:
PitchFactor
Ernie Ball Volume Pedal Jr 25k ohm version as expression pedal
3-switch aux switch (I made mine myself, but you can get one from This1smyne or other sites, possibly Loop-Master, as well)

Why would you need all 10 buttons? I found that clicking through banks with the added functionality of the aux switch to be more than enough for what I needed. I set the banks to two sounds that I would generally need for a song, with the expression pedal controlling numerous parameters to change functionality of the preset (eg. changing the octaves from +1 to -1, changing the key, etc). It's certainly a cheaper route (especially if you get a used EBVPJr. or even a broken one and repair it yourself, which is extremely easy to do).

Hope that helps!

rasthedoctor · #3 11-04-2010, 05:31 AM

Thanks for replying!

The idea would be to have the ability to access a variety of options immediately, without any (or minimal) scrolling (kinda like an M13 or similar). We plan on segueing a number of songs (eventually, full sets) so the ability to have almost all of my patches immediately available is necessary.

Regarding the foot pedals, I guess I should have said:

at least one foot controller, or foot controller input, preferably two.

Swimming Bird · #4 11-04-2010, 08:59 AM

I use my pitchfactor quite a bit, with a two-button external switch and an EB VP Jr. -- I've never found the need for more switches. You can scroll banks without changing sounds, so you can have the next patch ready to go...

If you can find the dealer (cough..MC Audio in Madison..cough) you can get a very good price on the FCB1010. In fact, it'd barely cost more than just the EB VP Jr. I had one to control my Kaoss Pad 3. The issue was the KP3, not the Behringer, though there are a couple things you might need to know. First off, you will need to calibrate the foot pedals as they almost certainly won't work out of the box. Second, it's friggin' huge and heavy.

There are assuredly tweaks you can make to have it perform better, but I thought it was fine. I agree with theMutt, I think it's overkill, but it's cheap enough and if you don't mind the extra weight, go for it. It's whatever floats your goat man.

rasthedoctor · #5 11-05-2010, 08:42 PM

Right on - sounds like it's right up my alley. I know it's kind of ridiculous, but I just really like the idea of having a button for oct up, oct down, organ 1, organ 2, crystals settings 1, crystals 2, etc. without any scrolling whatsoever (or at least a minimum). Thanks a lot for the input - sounds like it will be my next purchase!