FaderFox PC4 - Wonder of Midi Control

[GMC]

There isn't a FaderFox Thread, So I thought I'd start one about the FaderFox PC4.
I'm getting a lot of interest and enquiries about this curious little device on my board.

The FaderFox PC4 is a very interesting device that I was first made aware of by #Quatschmasher. It's a very powerful Midi device that's a little bit bigger than an old calculator. It's a device that's not without it's own set of issues and complications because it's not specifically for pedalboards. It's orientated to DAW use, hence the weird USB power requirements.
So what's it do then? It's an array of 24 physical knobs, where each knob is digitally encoded (7bits) and individually assignable to Midi CC, Pitch Bend or Program Change numbers and values.
These knobs are arranged on a page (a bit like a patch) and are edited via a HTML applet located on the Faderfox website here: Faderfox PC4 Editor

The FaderFox web site for the PC4 is here: Faderfox PC4

Here's some piccies from their web site and a few of this device integrated into my board:

 

[frankzap]

Nice indeed. How do you use this on the pedalboard? What are you controlling with it?

 

[GMC]

Nice indeed. How do you use this on the pedalboard? What are you controlling with it?

I'm controlling 24 parameters across 9 different Midi pedals. I've colour coded them below.

Nemesis : Volume
EQ2: a 3khz +/- and a Master Vol
Aftershock: Channel 1 Wet / Dry mix, Channel 2 Wet / Dry mix
H9 Primary: X & Y controls (this makes the H9 a lot easier to work with.
H9 Ambience: X & Y controls
Lunar: Vol, Treble, Bass
C4: Vol, Expression, Trem speed
Spectrum: Vol, Expression, Wet Dry Mix
Ultrawave: Balance, Expression, Morph Ch1, Morph Ch2, Bass, treble (really important with the UW)

 

[GMC]

Here's an image of my current board:

 

[GMC]

One of the issues that I've had integrating it, it's only got a 5v USB B power inlet. Getting 5v USB power from my Strymon Ojai has been difficult. It has to have a step down transformer, You can't use a cable adapter because that will be too much voltage / current for this unit.
If you are fortunate enough to use the latest Cioks DC7 PSU's then USB power is going to be an issue.
I tried a "One Control" USB Porter. It fine, it has 4 ports which can draw a lot of current from you PSU, so that can be an issue. It's small...but darn heavy (225g).
So I tried a Temple Audio Design USB output module, which is excellent for this intended use. It's small, light and easy to hide. It's got a 9v feed at one end and a single USB port at the other.

 

[GMC]

It's a pity that this device cannot be powered via a 5 pin Midi port. This is important to know up front and has caused me a fair amount of problems, with dialogue to FaderFox's support.
Why is this problem? My Boss ES-5 outputs Midi and +5v power to the Midi out jack. This is normal and industry standard. So much, a lot of midi interfaces use it as an invisible power feed because it's an isolated and fully grounded feed. My Midi Solutions Quadra Thru is one of those devices. I raised this with FaderFox and their responce was quite blunt and unhelpful. So USB power it is...

 

[frankzap]

Here's an image of my current board:
View attachment 4558364

Beautiful! Great to take out pedal hard-to-access settings and put them on a physical knob nearby.

 

[GMC]

Another slight issue is that it uses 3.5mm TRS B Midi ports. Apparently there are 2 formats / Wirings for 3.5 TRS MIDI and this device uses the slight less common type B. I need Midi 5 pin cables and that requires expensive adapters...they give you only one in the box...mine was quite flaky and needed replacing.

 

[frankzap]

It's a pity that this device cannot be powered via a 5 pin Midi port. This is important to know up front and has caused me a fair amount of problems, with dialogue to FaderFox's support.
Why is this problem? My Boss ES-5 outputs Midi and +5v power to the Midi out jack. This is normal and industry standard. So much, a lot of midi interfaces use it as an invisible power feed because it's an isolated and fully grounded feed. My Midi Solutions Quadra Thru is one of those devices. I raised this with FaderFox and their responce was quite blunt and unhelpful. So USB power it is...

You could workaround this by mounting a 7-pin DIN connector in the PC4. You will need a custom cable and solder custom wires for power inside the box (from the DIN connector to the power socket. If only 2 pins are used in the actual 5-pin DIN connector, you can use two wires for power as well. A custom MIDI cable will be needed as well.

 

[frankzap]

Another slight issue is that it uses 3.5mm TRS B Midi ports. Apparently there are 2 formats / Wirings for 3.5 TRS MIDI and this device uses the slight less common type B. I need Midi 5 pin cables and that requires expensive adapters...they give you only one in the box...mine was quite flaky and needed replacing.

Ah, I didn’t noticed that. Yes, if a 5-pin DIN connector can be fitted in, you can do the modification. MIDI is transmitted over 2 wires only.

 

[GMC]

Beautiful! Great to take out pedal hard-to-access settings and put them on a physical knob nearby.

Thanks, Source Audio pedals have a lot of extra controls beyond what's on the pedal. It's way more preferable to route these to a physical knob via midi CC than plugging in a USB connected, attaching it to a PC and firing up the SA Neuro Editor editor.

 

[GMC]

Another feature is that the PC4 has a set of pages, this is a complete list of 24 knob assignments. I can then cycle through 16 pages, each with a new raft of 24 knob assignments.
My Primary page is as shown above. However, I have another page that is EQ2 centric. I have a knob for each of the 10 band sliders and a knob for each frequency. Plus a pair of vols and an expression knob.
Id like to get a page set up for my EHX Hog2, but at the moment the PC4 doesn't have access to that device via midi.

 

[ilansgroove]

My faderfox EC4 is my under the hood tool for my pedalboard
I can tweak my C4, spectrum,aftershock,H9 … launch presets on the headrush and even tweek the miniature

it’s an amazing tool

 

[marionobilio]

I'm controlling 24 parameters across 9 different Midi pedals. I've colour coded them below.

View attachment 4558357
Nemesis : Volume
EQ2: a 3khz +/- and a Master Vol
Aftershock: Channel 1 Wet / Dry mix, Channel 2 Wet / Dry mix
H9 Primary: X & Y controls (this makes the H9 a lot easier to work with.
H9 Ambience: X & Y controls
Lunar: Vol, Treble, Bass
C4: Vol, Expression, Trem speed
Spectrum: Vol, Expression, Wet Dry Mix
Ultrawave: Balance, Expression, Morph Ch1, Morph Ch2, Bass, treble (really important with the UW)

That is brilliant!

 

[doran.dragic]

It's a terrific peace of gear. I'm waiting for my Behringer BCR2000 to stop working so that I have a good reason to order one.
What type of music are you performing?

 

[Mr. voodoobass]

The usb power and cable work arounds makes me possibly not getting one. But using it with my h9’s and eq2 sure would be great!

 

[GMC]

I've just swapped out my Midi Solutions Quadra Thru box (1 in / 4 out) for a Quadra Merge (4 in / 2 Out). Now I can run my FaderFox PC4 as a midi out device into one of the Quadra Merge's inputs. Then means that the Quadra Merge box draws power from my Boss ES-5's Midi jack and the PC4's midi data is now being routed to all of the Midi outputs. I can now send PC4 CC commands to my EHX Hog2! Sweet!