FCB1010 expression pedals don't go all the way???

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Silkwood
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FCB1010 expression pedals don't go all the way???

Post by Silkwood » Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:15 pm

Hey, been lurking as a guest for a while and have found answers to many issues regarding live. Great forum! I haven't found anyone with this problem though...

I use the FCB1010 (as so many others) with Live 4 and find it amazing - freedom at last!

BUT I cant seem to get the expression pedals to go all the way to 0! I configure each pedal to 0-127, but when I use it they don't go all the way down! The problem seems to be in the FCB, because if I use the expression pedals when assigning numbers in the preset configuration (ie), I only the range between 27-127...

I have also tried to assign them 1-127, with no result.

Since I've heard noone else with this problems, I wonder if it is a fabrication flaugh (or the previous owner messed it up...)?
Or does anyone have the solution?

Hoping to get help...
/Daniel

djastroboy
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Post by djastroboy » Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:01 pm

Have a similar problem using a Roland EV-5 pedal through a Novation Remote.
Never can get to 0. I think it has to do with the fact that the expression pedals generate a voltage and that output is imprecise, it depends on an analog circuit in the pedal.
Novation is working on a fix for the Remote: a calibration routine that would let the Remote learn what voltage constitutes '0'.

Silkwood
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Post by Silkwood » Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:02 am

djastroboy wrote:I think it has to do with the fact that the expression pedals generate a voltage and that output is imprecise, it depends on an analog circuit in the pedal.Novation is working on a fix for the Remote: a calibration routine that would let the Remote learn what voltage constitutes '0'.
Ok, but is that the fact with all Roland ev-5:s? Or is it a manufacturers flaugh? Because if thats a "bug" other people who owns the FCB should have experienced the same problem. And they hasn't, I guess. Enoying is it anyway...hope that the Behringer folks start working on a fix as well...

/D

meeble
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Re: FCB1010 expression pedals don't go all the way???

Post by meeble » Tue Nov 01, 2005 9:39 am

Silkwood wrote: Since I've heard noone else with this problems, I wonder if it is a fabrication flaugh (or the previous owner messed it up...)?
Or does anyone have the solution?
heya,

my FCB1010 has a similar problem. My Exp pedal A send out 0-127 fine. My Exp pedal B sends out about 17-127. I had just discovered it tonight - so no solution yet. I'm guessing its a bad pot, or an incorrectly calibrated pot. Have you contacted Behringer yet?

peace-
meeble

djastroboy
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Post by djastroboy » Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:38 am

I wouldn't call it a flaw at all. I think it's just an inherent part of being analog. Basic electronic parts are rated with tolerances of +/- 5-10% of the value that you want. I'm sure you can get tighter tolerances, but it probably gets expensive fast.
I could be wrong, I haven't taken these things apart and studied them, just guessing on a general knowledge basis. Way back in the day, I used to solder together my own synths, cables & efx.

Machinate
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Post by Machinate » Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:47 am

The EV5 and the FCB are two very different creatures...

The EV5, as far as I can recall, is a "classic" foot pedal design, in that it uses a potentiometer turned sideways to attenuate voltages coming through. In other words it's just like any knob on a regular midi controller.

The FCB uses a gradient on a strip of plastic film inbetween an infrared transmitter and receiver - most likely because it was cheaper to make, but also because it practically cannot wear out, unlike a regular knob, which typically only has tens of thousands of turns before kicking the bucket ... But the way I see it that fact doesn't matter, since the pedals don't operate properly at all.
mbp 2.66, osx 10.6.8, 8GB ram.

drummond
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Post by drummond » Tue Nov 01, 2005 5:39 pm

Hola,

I have a FCB1010 and had a similar problem - found out this is due to the default factory calibration of the pedal.

If you have a search around the interweb you can find out how to re-calibrate it - I would post a link but I'm not allowed to use the internet here at work :wink:

After re-calibration my exp pedals go all the way from 0-127 and work perfectly! The only problem I have with the FCB board now is the spongy floor pads underneath keep coming off...grrr....

Hope this helps :)

couch boy
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Post by couch boy » Wed Nov 02, 2005 12:03 am

check the yahoo group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fcb1010/

You'll find a tutorial on how to recalibrate the expression pedals. It worked for me.

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