fcb 1010 questions

jendask · Post by **jendask** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:22 pm

I think many people here use FCB 1010 controller.
Is it risky to buy a second hand FCB 1010 from e-bay? I mean what are the chances that there could be something wrong?

Another question:
Is it possible to control two different sources with FCB 1010? For example while it is connected with Ableton could it at the same time be used as a foot switch to switch between presets in a multi-effects rack or Boss rc 20xl loop station?

Meef Chaloin · Post by **Meef Chaloin** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:33 pm

for the first question - i got mine off ebay, good as new. Its just the risk you take i suppose for the price discount.

jendask · Post by **jendask** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:39 pm

I mean what could be wrong with the machine if it has been used?
For how much is a logical price?

martron · Post by **martron** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:42 pm

#2 - I don't see why it would be a problem to use a split cable or midi thru port on the additional unit. Just avoid mapping the same buttons to different things or you'll start getting confused.

FCB out ---> in RC20 out/thru --> Ableton

jendask · Post by **jendask** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:46 pm

Thanks for help
Could you make it a little bit more specific, because I am not experienced with this stuff

D K · Post by **D K** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:46 pm

these units are so cheap new i'd probably buy new to get the warranty.
unless your paying like 50 bucks total or something....
and yes, you can control multiple units and there are a few ways to do this,
the most simple being taking a midi out of your interface, (make sure that
in/out is enabled in preferences so you can get midi throughput), and assigning the midi note or message from the pedal
to both the desired function in live and the desired function in the external unit.
there is also a way to send multiple messages using a few programs(i believe midiox
and plogue bidule) but i haven't had the need-so perhaps someone with this experience will chime in, or you could try a search....

edit: this method would be for controlling multiple parameters with a single switch

jendask · Post by **jendask** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:13 pm

About the "simple" way you said...
Sorry I still don't get it!

D K · Post by **D K** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 4:38 pm

ok...
plug a midi cable from the output of the fcb into the midi input of your soundcard/interface.
go to preferences>midi in live. make sure the midi in and midi out on your interface/soundcard is enabled.
plug a midi cable from your soundcard/interface midi out
(or midi through if it has this option) into the external processors' midi input.
assign pedal parameters to the appropriate/desired fuctions.
you will need to program the fcb to send the type of info the external and live required to execute the desired function. if you are trying to make a single pedal control multiple functions, then you will need another program like the aforementioned to enable multiple functions.

jendask · Post by **jendask** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:49 pm

So as I understand I can only connect one more external device since my audio card has only one midi output...
Ok I can understand how to assign pedal parameters to Live functions but how can I select that some of the pedals (4 of them) will control the two other machines? (Boss SE-50 and Boss RC20xl loop stations where I just need up and down selection of programs)Or is that programmed through the hardware unit?

No luckily I don't want to assign many functions to the same pedal! That is certainly too much for me!

If it's too much for you to explain more, it's OK
Thanks anyway

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:37 am

I'd agree, $149 is pretty inexpensive for new. You likely will find relatively good used ones, because people got frustrated trying to program them.

fwiw, my experience with the fcb is that you read the manual, scratch your head, realize what it's intended for (a preset selector for behringer amplifiers), then realize that the information in the manual you need tends to be in the various more advanced 'programming' sections, so you have to study it a bit. Then you realize, theoretically, you can do all sorts of stuff.

So you figure out how, in practice, you can send various messages with the various buttons and pedals which you can configure by following the somewhat tedious but easy-once-you-get-the-hang steps in the manual.

Then something you are sending to needs to be configured to "do the thing" when you send the signal you've more or less arbitraily assigned to a pedal (say midi note 72 to pedal 1) so you use the midi learn function in Ableton, OR that the pedal needs to be configured to send a particular signal-- in your case the hardware might need particular midi messages to "do the thing" (RTM for that hardware).

If you send notes as a way to trigger things, make sure you set up your prefs to receive only Remote (not track) from the MIDI in that the 1010 is connected to.

jendask · Post by **jendask** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:46 pm

Its price here in Europe is 166euro that is 205$. Still ,I don't know if I'll take the risk to buy it second hand.
You people around here who have been using it, might know if the machine can easily get to a state of not working properly. (of course I don't mean after been hit!).
As far as programming is concerned, I understand that it needs study but I just needed to know if the things I am asking are possible! Or if it is better to buy seperate foot pedals for use of each extra device...(Boss effect rack and Boss loop station )
Thanks

Shebb · Post by **Shebb** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 4:51 pm

The things really are solid so I would risk a second hand model. I have given mine enough grief without any problems. There is a third party editor for the PC at least that makes setting it up far faster availible here:
http://www.mtnsys.com/faq-fcb/PCEditorBeta.htm
If you are looking into buying one it may be a good idea to download this first as it really lets you figure out if you can integrate it into your setup well.