Best MIDI Foot Controller

smartabletonuser · Post by **smartabletonuser** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 3:19 pm

Behringer is too cheaply made and doesn't offer the functionality I need.

Been looking at the Ground Control Pro.....

I also read about (i think here) using the Trigger Finger as a foot controller.

Any other suggestions? I want it primarilty to send program changes and toggle effects.

bigbadotis · Post by **bigbadotis** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 3:59 pm

http://www.zzounds.com/item--RFXMP128

The midibuddy is simple, light and really well built in my experience. The only problem is that it only sends program change messages, you would need to convert these to toggle effects in Live using a program like Midi Translator / controlAid / midiPipe / etc. etc. etc.

couch boy · Post by **couch boy** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:15 pm

I've got a Behringer FCB1010. It's great:

http://www.behringer.com/FCB1010/index.cfm?lang=ENG

I would not describe it as cheaply made. It's quite sturdy, in fact.

bigbadotis · Post by **bigbadotis** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:31 pm

The expression pedals on my Behringer are not usable... they consistently drift. The buttons work fine though, and it is very flexible in terms of programming. I've tried recalibrating the pedals numerous times... doesn't help.

Maybe it's just a matter of whether or not you get lucky... anybody else have problems with the FCB?

quandry · Post by **quandry** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:45 pm

bigbadotis wrote:The expression pedals on my Behringer are not usable... they consistently drift. The buttons work fine though, and it is very flexible in terms of programming. I've tried recalibrating the pedals numerous times... doesn't help.

Maybe it's just a matter of whether or not you get lucky... anybody else have problems with the FCB?

I've had good luck with the re-calibration procedure from the 1010 yahoo group--sometimes I lose the first or last few cc #s (like I'll be getting 3-124 instead of 0-127). that said, I don't use them that much, so it might happen more often if I did. Have you looked at the mechanics of the exp pedals--I think it is like a piece of acetate with a gradient on it that passes in front of a little light. Interesting design, but if you little gradient strip isn't nice and flat, could be problematic. The exp pedals are the weak point--the rest of the 1010 is solid as all get out, mines been flawless at many gigs for 3 years now. I would say that the 1010 is highly functional, though the GCP does off more flexibility in terms of multiple midi out channels, and more commands per patch. Then again, it is $400 instead of $140 and has zero exp. pedals instead of two.

An interesting note to 1010 users on pcs--if you are running midi ox/yoke, you can actually use Pdoom's awesome, free DM2midi software (meant for converting the "DJ Toy" DM2's signal to midi) to start to get really complex things happening from your 1010. the DM2midi software allows unlimited midi events to be triggered by one incoming event, so if you route your signal through DM2midi via ox/yoke, you can take one 1010 pedal and make control as many parameters in live as you want, on as many different midi channels as you want. check it out.

Ryan

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 8:26 pm

smartabletonuser wrote:I also read about (i think here) using the Trigger Finger as a foot controller.

the triggerFinger is a formidable foot controller! You get 16 expressive pads at about ½ the footprint and about 1/3 the price, iirc. Can't beat that - the only caveat would be that you'd have to go shoe-less. But once you start doing that you'll probably find that you have a lot more control over your rig.

I would buy two more TriggerFingers tomorrow if I had the cash!

D DAS · Post by **D DAS** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:20 am

This ones pretty sweet.

MrYellow · Post by **MrYellow** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:49 am

The expression pedals on my Behringer are not usable... they consistently drift.

Apparently the lasers might need a clean or better fixing in position too.

the only caveat would be that you'd have to go shoe-less.

Always tried to avoid barefeet on stage.... Tho I do like it......
Just all the power, water and other hazards around can be scary at some venues.

-Ben

frugalpole · Post by **frugalpole** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:29 am

the worst thing about the FCB1010 is how difficult it is to program. the instructions/manual that come w/ it are: worthless. and there is help available on the net, but it is honestly overly difficult to program. plus i couldn't get some of the functions to work.

as for its build. it is built like a tank. a big fat german tank.

couch boy · Post by **couch boy** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 6:42 pm

ditto frugalpole

quandry · Post by **quandry** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:42 pm

frugalpole wrote:the worst thing about the FCB1010 is how difficult it is to program. the instructions/manual that come w/ it are: worthless. and there is help available on the net, but it is honestly overly difficult to program. plus i couldn't get some of the functions to work.

as for its build. it is built like a tank. a big fat german tank.

there is a pc editior that makes it a snap to program, it can be found on the yahoo 1010 group. Even mac users could use this on someones pc to program and dump the info on to the 1010, which is obviously platform independant. I personally don't think it is that hard to program--it seems to be fairly logically laid out. This was my first piece of midi gear ever (I'm a bassist), and I was able to program it fine using the manual. Granted, it is $150, and only has a limited display window, and no explict programming buttons/knobs. That said, I think the implementation of programming using the pedals makes sense to me. If you are programming 100 patches, each with a program change, 2 ccs, midi note on/off, and two exp. pedals--sure that will take half a day--get the editor.

Ryan

Best MIDI Foot Controller

Best MIDI Foot Controller

Re: Best MIDI Foot Controller