Pedal connected to a knob?

[cybersnyder]

Does anyone remember an expression pedal that directly attached to one of an effect's knob? It looked like a wah pedal that would turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise. I think this was from back in the 80's. Couldn't find anything on a search here or Google.

[jonpopu]

Here you go

http://www.musictoyz.com/guitar/pedals/tip.php

[cybersnyder]

That's it! I'm trying to remember what the hell I did before the Internet.

Thanks!

[Joe Gress]

Whoa! Thats kind neat!

[sonicvi]

The one from the 70's/80's was the Electro-Harmonix Hot Foot.

[Wounded Paw]

That is very cool. I wonder how it anchors itself to turn the knob? Is it turned by electric motor? hydraulic?

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I believe it attaches with a nut and actually uses a rubber band of sorts- it didn't get very good reviews when it first came out due to its lack of solid parts. I was hoping they were going to redesign it a little- I contacted the company via email a couple months back and they never responded. Also, the pedal has been on backorder from Musician's Friend for months now- they apparently aren't shipping them out. Which leads me to believe they are either redesigning it or are getting rid of it altogether.

[Wounded Paw]

the T.I.P. site only has the one product and is dated from 2006 so I imagine they're mia. Rubber band drive seems pretty flimsy. A spring loaded cable pull like a bike's brakes or electric would seem to be more suited. Or maybe I should keep my suggestions to myself and come up with a new product.
No wait, spring loaded would be bad cuz you'd have to keep your foot on the pedal. Unless that's what you wanted. Which brings to mind a whole new bunch of applications. Kind of like a car's gas pedal for any knob on any pedal. But now I'm rambling and should get back to mixing.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Spring loaded would be too annoying to be put to good use- exp. shouldn't need that much attention Make a solid version of this and I'll buy it from you. I'm sure the $150~ or so you'd get from me would TOTALLY be worth all the R&D time and money you'd put into it

It's actually a great idea for a exp. pedal, particularly if one can be made small enough. I had the idea to attach it to my Xotic X-blender to make the blend expression controllable, but the company seems to not be there. Lots of great applications for something like it.

[Joe Gress]

I'm thinkin' delay time to go crazy with oscilations.

[rustynuts]

Hmmmm...Something like a VP Jr, modified with a shaft, couple of ball bearings, flexible steel cable and a rubber cup.....

It's doable.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Originally Posted by rustynuts

a shaft, couple of ball bearings, flexible steel cable and a rubber cup.....

It's doable.

[Wounded Paw]

I can readily make blender pedals in an expression pedal shell, I'm already offering those for $150 but I'm now intrigued by the possibilities of a universal knob controller. The problem with expression pedals is that the values of the potentiometer you're trying to control vary hugely. This mechanical solution bypasses that completely.

[rustynuts]

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

Why the scowls? If someone had the time and the desire it really wouldn't be hard at all.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Originally Posted by rustynuts

Why the scowls? If someone had the time and the desire it really wouldn't be hard at all.

Man, you're making this too easy. Your username doesn't help

[KarateKid25]

They are eyebrows, not scowls

Also, its only a kinda minor thing, and im not sure how real the problem is, but I believe some of the bad reviews came from the angles etc putting excess pressure on whatever knob your controlling. Im sure I have read that people have reported damage to pots / knobs after extended use.

Id be interested to hear some real responses to how smooth the 'Third hand' really operates.

[KarateKid25]

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

That's it! I'm trying to remember what the hell I did before the Internet.

For me, I seem to remember this place called 'outdoors'.

Also, Im pretty sure I used to communicate with people who didn't have avatar heads

[rustynuts]

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

Man, you're making this too easy. Your username doesn't help

Gotcha now.....Too tired to think straight. Time for some sleep!

[cybersnyder]

Another key feature is that the knob couldn't drift when you take your foot off the pedal. I was thinking about this tonight when I was playing with my sons RC truck and had it flipped over while he was playing with the steering. I wonder if a motorized knob would be easier to engineer than a mechanical connection? Of course you would want it wired rather than wireless to avoid radio interference. But with the motorized knob solution, you could control several knobs at once or have the ability to select from several different parameters from one pedal. Probably too expensive to build though.

[GeneralElectric]

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

Probably too expensive to build though.

Effects too expensive?

I've seen 500$ Wah Pedals...

Still doesn't compare to those $6000 cables.