sustain/hold button to replicate a sustain pedal

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danny klim
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Joined: Wed May 24, 2017 1:34 pm

sustain/hold button to replicate a sustain pedal

Post by danny klim » Tue Dec 05, 2017 4:19 am

Hi I’m trying to figure out how to program a sustain/hold button to replicate the effect of a sustain pedal while playing keyboard live. Could you please help?

I love the sound of sustain pedal, but I play keyboard standing up and its not convenient to hold down an actual foot pedal while standing. So I want to be able to control this function with one of my hands, and I also want it to be a button that I can toggle on/off, rather than needing to physically hold it down while I’m playing.


How can I do this?


Thanks, Dan

EnjoyRC
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Location: USA

Re: sustain/hold button to replicate a sustain pedal

Post by EnjoyRC » Tue Dec 05, 2017 12:18 pm

danny klim wrote:Hi I’m trying to figure out how to program a sustain/hold button to replicate the effect of a sustain pedal while playing keyboard live. Could you please help?

I love the sound of sustain pedal, but I play keyboard standing up and its not convenient to hold down an actual foot pedal while standing. So I want to be able to control this function with one of my hands, and I also want it to be a button that I can toggle on/off, rather than needing to physically hold it down while I’m playing.

How can I do this?

Thanks, Dan
What MIDI keyboard controller are you using?
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(STUDIO I/O) MOTU UltraLite mk5 (w/ADA8200), (LIVE I/O) Behringer X Air XR18
Ableton Live Suite 11 (Live performances), Studio One 5 (Studio Stem Creation)

danny klim
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Re: sustain/hold button to replicate a sustain pedal

Post by danny klim » Tue Dec 05, 2017 1:52 pm

Keystation 88, why?

EnjoyRC
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Location: USA

Re: sustain/hold button to replicate a sustain pedal

Post by EnjoyRC » Tue Dec 05, 2017 2:42 pm

danny klim wrote:Keystation 88, why?
You didn't mention where the button is. Laptop key, or MIDI controller button.
You can edit the buttons on the M-Audio Keystation Pro 88. Easily set one to TOGGLE CC / Controller 64 0 / Controller 64 127
MacBook Pro (MacOS 13.0.1) i9 Processor, 32gb RAM, 4tb SSD
(STUDIO I/O) MOTU UltraLite mk5 (w/ADA8200), (LIVE I/O) Behringer X Air XR18
Ableton Live Suite 11 (Live performances), Studio One 5 (Studio Stem Creation)

danny klim
Posts: 73
Joined: Wed May 24, 2017 1:34 pm

Re: sustain/hold button to replicate a sustain pedal

Post by danny klim » Fri Dec 08, 2017 1:58 am

Thank you!

Sorry for leaving that info out. I would prefer to use a midi controller button because the keystation only has a few buttons that i'm already using for other functions.

How can i set it "TOGGLE CC / Controller 64 0 / Controller 64 127"? I know how to midi map buttons using the Midi map button and clicking the Live interface (then hitting the button), but i don't know how/where to find that CC function to map it.

fishmonkey
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Re: sustain/hold button to replicate a sustain pedal

Post by fishmonkey » Fri Dec 08, 2017 4:55 am

he/she isn't talking about MIDI mapping. they are suggesting you re-program your Keystation to send the appropriate Sustain message from another button.

if you aren't going to use the sustain pedal, you could simply DIY a basic toggle switch and plug that into the Keystation's sustain footswitch port...

danny klim
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Joined: Wed May 24, 2017 1:34 pm

Re: sustain/hold button to replicate a sustain pedal

Post by danny klim » Sat Dec 09, 2017 3:41 pm

Oh ok, thanks fishmonkey!

So its not possible to do this with midi in ableton then? I need to program it from the keyboard, is this correct?


How can i DIY a basic toggle switch? I've never done that before. I just googled it and came across some videos where people were doing wiring and it seemed kind of complex. Is there any way to do it simply with an existing button or something like that?

doghouse
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Re: sustain/hold button to replicate a sustain pedal

Post by doghouse » Sat Dec 16, 2017 2:57 pm

So why have you not just bought a latching foot switch and plugged it into the sustain pedal input? You are making this way more complicated than it needs to be.

danny klim
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Re: sustain/hold button to replicate a sustain pedal

Post by danny klim » Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:28 pm

doghouse wrote:So why have you not just bought a latching foot switch and plugged it into the sustain pedal input? You are making this way more complicated than it needs to be.

Thanks doghouse, i never used a latching foot switch and didnt know that was possible. I will try this


One thing i'm still wondering and also one of the reasons why i was wondering if its possible to do it thru ableton controls instead of the keyboard controls - is it possible to use some sort of hold effect in Live to adjust the amount/type of sustain? It would be nice to be able to adjust some parameters on the sustain, whereas the piano footswitch always gives me a single length/mix level of sustain.

jerry sperry
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Re: sustain/hold button to replicate a sustain pedal

Post by jerry sperry » Tue Apr 10, 2018 1:28 pm

There's a couple max for live devices I've found online that do this. I think it's called "simple latch"
http://www.maxforlive.com/library/devic ... and-chords

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