I still use my FI EVERY time I play. I have grown really fond of a kick drum/snare patch that I use w a looper to get a beat.
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Future Impact now available!! WAS: deep impact reissue!!! interested?
- Thread starter lokki
- Start date
Andras Szalay
Commercial User
On the concert photos what I posted a few days ago you find in the "instruments" group the first photo about the major keyboard setup. On top of the Hammond there is a stone age MIDI master keyboard (MIDIMAN Radium). It drives the Future Impact that can be seen left of it, on top of the WERSI piano (that was designed by me too
). The two pedals below the Hammond are connected to a midiBeam 4Control, driving the Future Impact with Cutoff Frequency and Vibrato Modulation info, and merging these with the keyboard info. Some of the 16 Controllers of the master keyboard are assigned to control Delay Time, Delay Amplitude, Delay Feedback, Portamento Time, and other MIDI parameters. It is an extremely flexible MIDI keyboard instrument with amazing Mini Moog - like sounds. You will see and hear that when we will be ready with editing the audio and video tracks.Another Future Impact is on the left side of the piano, it cannot be seen. This is a special version, with custom hardware and software modification to make it a 1 octave/V CV and MIDI expander, both at the same time (but no bass guitar input). The input jack is modified to stereo, 1 octave / V CV input on the tip, and 5V gate signal on the ring. The audio codec was modified to decode the CV instead of the bass signal. The input level is used to switch octaves in three steps, displayed by the VU meter. The second keyboard from the top is an analog synth keyboard. It drives its own analog synth circuitry and the FI at the same time. The two synthesizers are closely integrated, our keyboard player can mix if he wants to use one or the other, or a combination of them.
Andras Szalay
On the concert photos what I posted a few days ago you find in the "instruments" group the first photo about the major keyboard setup. On top of the Hammond there is a stone age MIDI master keyboard (MIDIMAN Radium). It drives the Future Impact that can be seen left of it, on top of the WERSI piano (that was designed by me too
Another Future Impact is on the left side of the piano, it cannot be seen. This is a special version, with custom hardware and software modification to make it a 1 octave/V CV and MIDI expander, both at the same time (but no bass guitar input). The input jack is modified to stereo, 1 octave / V CV input on the tip, and 5V gate signal on the ring. The audio codec was modified to decode the CV instead of the bass signal. The input level is used to switch octaves in three steps, displayed by the VU meter. The second keyboard from the top is an analog synth keyboard. It drives its own analog synth circuitry and the FI at the same time. The two synthesizers are closely integrated, our keyboard player can mix if he wants to use one or the other, or a combination of them.
Andras Szalay
While I am positive that the words you used are at least 95% English.....
Thank you for the reply @Andras Szalay I'm anxious to get my hands on and start learning and tinkering with the FI !
I've owned both Akai Deep Impact and UniBass for ages so this will be the next step for me, or leap beyond. These days I am deeply involved doing synthesis controlled with my bass (instead of a keyboard) and have high expectations from the FI's creative galaxies.
@Quatschmacher the deed is done. What sounds gadzooks?
I've owned both Akai Deep Impact and UniBass for ages so this will be the next step for me, or leap beyond. These days I am deeply involved doing synthesis controlled with my bass (instead of a keyboard) and have high expectations from the FI's creative galaxies.
@Quatschmacher the deed is done. What sounds gadzooks?
Well, living in Illinois has netted me a nice check from Facebook due to a class action lawsuit, so I took the plunge and ordered a FI V1.
Judging by the length of this thread, I just scored myself an awesome synth pedal along with a bunch of homework.
I don’t own a PC (do everything including my H9 from my phone), so I’m not sure if it’ll be worth updating the software to V3.
I was on the fence between the SA C4 and the FI, but I’m looking for old school synth tones and everything I could find online pointed me in this direction.
Really looking forward to the learning curve.
Judging by the length of this thread, I just scored myself an awesome synth pedal along with a bunch of homework.
I don’t own a PC (do everything including my H9 from my phone), so I’m not sure if it’ll be worth updating the software to V3.
I was on the fence between the SA C4 and the FI, but I’m looking for old school synth tones and everything I could find online pointed me in this direction.
Really looking forward to the learning curve.
- May 16, 2007
- 3,395
- 4,869
- Disclosures
- Volunteer developer/beta tester with Source Audio, Morningstar Engineering & MORTRIX
You definitely need to update to the latest firmware. It can even be done using the webMIDI browser app on your phone, you’ll still need something like the Roland UM-One MK2 to connect.
I'm still waiting for my order to ship from PandaMidi
- May 16, 2007
- 3,395
- 4,869
- Disclosures
- Volunteer developer/beta tester with Source Audio, Morningstar Engineering & MORTRIX
When did you place the order? It’s possible it’s already been sent but they’ve neglected to send confirmation as has happened to people before. Send them an email to ask for the tracking number if needs be.
I've done that (took two emails) I ordered on 17/5/22 but the order was not even packed until today 25/5 but has not been picked up by the carrier, so no tracking or eta yet. I really didn't expect the shipment to idle for a week.
The good news is I've read the manual 2x and answered a lot of my own questions already.
- May 16, 2007
- 3,395
- 4,869
- Disclosures
- Volunteer developer/beta tester with Source Audio, Morningstar Engineering & MORTRIX
I know it can be frustrating to wait, but please remember that Panda is a tiny company with just a few people and Covid is still a thing causing disruptions. Rest assured, you’ll get your pedal.
I had a Future Impact, but there was an issue with its compatibility with a Tech 21 MIDI Mongoose switcher: the FI used displayed the patch numbers using the 0-127 scheme whereas the MM used 1-128.
However, the FI's patch didn't use 0, so they started at 1.
Thus you had to select 2 on the MM to get the first patch.
And then the MM had +/-5 and +/-10 switches, so you had to do mental arithmetic to figure out how to use them to skip to a given patch (eg. how to get to patch 123 from 11).
I emailed both companies and asked if there was an option to switch their units to the opposing numbering (I have another switcher which allows this): Tech 21 simply responded a rather blunt "No" and Panda responded that they were correct so it wasn't their problem.
Neither were very good responses IMHO.
I ditched the MM and got a Morningstar MC6 as controller; though I got it working TBH I'd turned a bit lukewarm to the FI and never really gelled with it.
Plus the FI is a strange size for a pedalboard; most of the inside is wasted space; there was someone doing replacement housings, but they weren't available at the time and also they left a control too near to the selector switch for my liking.
So, after a while, I ditched the FI too.
Now, I know I could've done better research before buying the MM to pair with the FI, but in all honesty, I wasn't happy with the responses from Tech 21 nor Panda and as a result I stepped away from their products.
However, the FI's patch didn't use 0, so they started at 1.
Thus you had to select 2 on the MM to get the first patch.
And then the MM had +/-5 and +/-10 switches, so you had to do mental arithmetic to figure out how to use them to skip to a given patch (eg. how to get to patch 123 from 11).
I emailed both companies and asked if there was an option to switch their units to the opposing numbering (I have another switcher which allows this): Tech 21 simply responded a rather blunt "No" and Panda responded that they were correct so it wasn't their problem.
Neither were very good responses IMHO.
I ditched the MM and got a Morningstar MC6 as controller; though I got it working TBH I'd turned a bit lukewarm to the FI and never really gelled with it.
Plus the FI is a strange size for a pedalboard; most of the inside is wasted space; there was someone doing replacement housings, but they weren't available at the time and also they left a control too near to the selector switch for my liking.
So, after a while, I ditched the FI too.
Now, I know I could've done better research before buying the MM to pair with the FI, but in all honesty, I wasn't happy with the responses from Tech 21 nor Panda and as a result I stepped away from their products.
@prowla the midi numbering issue is not unique to panda or tech 21 but happens between many different manufacturers as to whether zero or 1 comes first ~ mathematicians can't agree either. I can deal with the size as the Akai UniBass has been on my board for ages and the FI will go in its place. I'm looking forward to the creative potential of the FI as electronic music becomes more my outlet for creativity and income.
What’s the patch number? I don’t recall hearing it when I scrolled through the presets on mine… sounds like fun!
- May 16, 2007
- 3,395
- 4,869
- Disclosures
- Volunteer developer/beta tester with Source Audio, Morningstar Engineering & MORTRIX
As I mentioned, I have other units which allow the presentation to be switched, but neither the MM nor the FI had that option; that's the issue - their being hard-wired causes the incompatibility.
As for mathematicians; I'm sure that they all understand that 7 bits gives you numbers 0-127 - that's basic binary 101. It's not a novel thing - precisely the same counting system is what allows IP addresses to comprise numbers 0- 255 (ie. 8 bits or octets).
The numbers are 0-127, but some choose to present them as 1st, 2nd, ..., 256th; the idea that in this century we have MIDI equipment manufacturers who indulge in some sort of 0-127 vs 1-128 religious war and can't/won't cater for both is ridiculous.
The fact that Panda supports 99 programs/patches numbered 1-99 obfuscates the fact that it's using the numbering system which starts at 0 and there's no warning in the sales blurb or product documentation about it.
As mentioned, there are other products which cater for it, for example this controller has a compatibility dip-switch, which nicely makes it a non-issue.
Link Removed
impressive...I've had the device for a few years and have read the manual maybe 25% so far. I really need to get that number to 100% especially since I really want to edit one of my favorite patches and parse it into 2. It's a drum sound patch that has a tonal spread tied to drum sounds...I'd like to parse the drum sounds into their own patches so I don't accidentally snare when I'm trying to bass drum and vice versa.
My FI arrived today, two days early on Memorial Day! Only had a chance to sample a few sounds but very pleased already ~ already feel and hear the difference between it and the C4 , pretty sure to love both.
Will dive deeper tomorrow.
Will dive deeper tomorrow.
I got mine Saturday. I haven’t had much time to mess with it, but I made this loop sampling some of the cool sounds.
I’m going to see if I can get that “Boogie on Reggae Woman” tone later this week when I have time.
