Ultimate Expression pedal controller.

strke-fender · #1 02-23-2011, 01:11 PM

Here's a thought.

If somebody build a "splitter box" with all TRS Jacks, and activations buttons, so that one expression pedal could control all your expression effects.

For example. Picture a Loop-Master with say 4 buttons, and each button activated an output to an effect, say M9, Moog, EHX Hog, (what have you) and then in had one input for an expression and when you wanted to control an effect, you tap that effects button and then "express."

That way you have one exp pedal and save room.. FOR MORE FUZZ.

Anybody heard of this?

JumboJack · #2 02-23-2011, 01:32 PM

I know Dan at This1smyne can make a tap tempo with more than one output.I think your idea could work.

DannDubblewe · #3 02-23-2011, 01:38 PM

It would be especially helpful for a synth/ electronica based set up to control multiple parameters of expression with just the one expression pedal. That's space saving! It would be fun to switch between them all quickly and have the same place to put your foot for expression.

Very interested to hear more takes on this and if it could be built.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #4 02-23-2011, 02:00 PM

We've discussed it here in the past.

The main problem with it is that some pedals with an expression pedal input will drop their value to 0 if a cable is plugged into the jack but no resistance is coming through the other end of the cable, So whatever pedal isn't currently being used with the expression pedal may drop its exp. value to 0, which would suck if you wanted to control a different effect with the expression pedal yet still have one of the other effects that's hooked to the expression pedal A/B/C box be on.

TOOL460002 · #5 02-23-2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strke-fender

Anybody heard of this?

you mean like this?

wolffman · #6 02-23-2011, 02:21 PM

i beleive a moog mp201 can control up to 4 pedals at once + has added features. depending on how many expression pedals you're using i'm not certain if it's space saving or not, it's also pretty expensive because you're paying for additional capabilities.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #7 02-23-2011, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolffman

i beleive a moog mp201 can control up to 4 pedals at once + has added features. depending on how many expression pedals you're using i'm not certain if it's space saving or not, it's also pretty expensive because you're paying for additional capabilities.

I think that'll only work with pedals with CV inputs for expression.

TOOL460002 · #8 02-23-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

I think that'll only work with pedals with CV inputs for expression.

+1

yeah... so that takes boss out of the running, among others.

i always wanted to run two pitch shifters, with identical settings, but send an inverted expression signal to one, so that the max of one would be the min of the other and vice versa, plus they would meet at one point in the middle. (i could do it with an mp201, and a pair of hogs or pitchfactors, but that is one absurdly expensive way to get one neato effect.)

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #9 02-23-2011, 03:08 PM

You can do it with a single Pitchfactor if you are only doing one pitch per side. I've done it with two pitches per side on my Axe-FX, but it's not quite as musically useful as I'd like.

TOOL460002 · #10 02-23-2011, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

You can do it with a single Pitchfactor if you are only doing one pitch per side. I've done it with two pitches per side on my Axe-FX, but it's not quite as musically useful as I'd like.

no kidding... thank you sir. i knew the eventide was on my wish list for all this time for a reason. the axe-fx is just... well... i would not have the patience required to operate that monster.

pharaohamps · #11 02-23-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOOL460002

+1

yeah... so that takes boss out of the running, among others.

i always wanted to run two pitch shifters, with identical settings, but send an inverted expression signal to one, so that the max of one would be the min of the other and vice versa, plus they would meet at one point in the middle. (i could do it with an mp201, and a pair of hogs or pitchfactors, but that is one absurdly expensive way to get one neato effect.)

Could you do this with an M13? You could split the signal with an LS-2 and run 2 FX units on each side in parallel with the FX loop. You could use one expression pedal to sweep parameters on two instances of Pitch Glide at once.

TOOL460002 · #12 02-23-2011, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharaohamps

Could you do this with an M13? You could split the signal with an LS-2 and run 2 FX units on each side in parallel with the FX loop. You could use one expression pedal to sweep parameters on two instances of Pitch Glide at once.

i have never owned or operated any of the above. not brushing you off or anything, but for that, id start a new thread or hop on/search an existing m13 one. you will get a lot more traffic there.

that said, if an ls2 can split a signal, and its possible for two inputs to be routed to two different pitch shifter units, and the pitch on both patches can be controlled by one foot controller, and one of those expression signals can be inverted... then yes, itll work.

sunbeast · #13 02-23-2011, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOOL460002

you mean like this?

That Robot Factory pedal looks to be the best solution- even has controls to keep a fixed value on the outs not currently selected. That guy does some awesome custom pedal builds!

TOOL460002 · #14 02-23-2011, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunbeast

That Robot Factory pedal looks to be the best solution- even has controls to keep a fixed value on the outs not currently selected. That guy does some awesome custom pedal builds!

yeah... mario is awesome. actually, the knobs are to adjust the range of the sweep, since every pedal isnt alike. each channel is also, as i understand it, a little bit different in its range, so certain pedals play well with certain channels.

sunbeast · #15 02-23-2011, 09:52 PM

But wouldn't the range be dictated by resistance on either end of the tip/sleeve of the expression pedal- in other words, depending on how the bypass switches were wired, the resistance could still be in the circuit and retain a fixed value of resistance to the pedal? I guess that is just speculation- I bet it would be easy to rewire it that way if it isn't already though...

behndy · #16 02-23-2011, 10:00 PM

i LIKE the exp splitter box. i've wanted something like that for aWHILE.

anybody have a better email for Mario than the hotmail one on the Robot Factory site? i got at him on there about sumphin and he hasna got back yet.

woof. GIMME.

TOOL460002 · #17 02-23-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunbeast

But wouldn't the range be dictated by resistance on either end of the tip/sleeve of the expression pedal- in other words, depending on how the bypass switches were wired, the resistance could still be in the circuit and retain a fixed value of resistance to the pedal? I guess that is just speculation- I bet it would be easy to rewire it that way if it isn't already though...

i think your knowledge of electrical stuff is greater than mine. im going to go play with it (boards have been in flux as of late) and try to pay more attention and give you a full run down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by behndy

i LIKE the exp splitter box. i've wanted something like that for aWHILE.

anybody have a better email for Mario than the hotmail one on the Robot Factory site? i got at him on there about sumphin and he hasna got back yet.

woof. GIMME.

no. his hotmail account is the correct way to contact him. he will definitely get back to you.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #18 02-23-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunbeast

But wouldn't the range be dictated by resistance on either end of the tip/sleeve of the expression pedal- in other words, depending on how the bypass switches were wired, the resistance could still be in the circuit and retain a fixed value of resistance to the pedal? I guess that is just speculation- I bet it would be easy to rewire it that way if it isn't already though...

It would probably just drop the resistance to the lowest set point- the "0" as far as the knobs are concerned. I don't think it could maintain the previous resistance when switching to another pedal unless it had some sort of active circuit there. bongomania once suggested a sample/hold circuit may work to hold the value there, but he may have just been spitballin'.

sunbeast · #19 02-23-2011, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

It would probably just drop the resistance to the lowest set point- the "0" as far as the knobs are concerned. I don't think it could maintain the previous resistance when switching to another pedal unless it had some sort of active circuit there. bongomania once suggested a sample/hold circuit may work to hold the value there, but he may have just been spitballin'.

That's what I meant- not that you would hold the value that you last had with the expression pedal, but the value set by the lowest value knob on the expression splitter. Still not ideal, but a set value that could be chosen in advance rather than just sending an "open" to the pedal. Who knows if that's even how the expression splitter functions though! Also- I bet Mario could easily figure out a way to make a "static" expression setting knob that would basically act as a remote knob setting for when that pedal isn't selected (independant of the upper and lower value knobs).

jesseRSA · #20 02-24-2011, 08:12 AM

I'll chime in here...
Nowadays, there are digital potentiometers which are very cool parts. It's basically a big resistor network on a chip that switches values on and off depending on the value you write to it digitally.

So even though it is in a sense an "active" output, it still appears to be a resistance to whatever you plug it into.

We use one on the MIDI-exp unit.

You could definitely use something like that to make a multi-expression setup. Where one pedal can alternately control a number of outputs. It's also very easy to invert and set start and stop points.

There are some limitations with digipots though. Most are limited to 5V operation which is fine for most exp inputs but some of the Moog stuff and other synth related gear can supply higher and also negative voltages.