FC7 pedal

[keyguy]

Is anyone using an FC7 pedal with MIDIExpression? I can't get it to work right. I run through 0-127 in the first 10% of the motion of the pedal. The scaling doesn't really help much.

[Rob]

Have you tried the calibrate function?

[keyguy]

Yes, I used Calibrate. I am getting the full range of 0-127. It's just that I run through almost the whole range by barely moving the pedal at all.

I heard that the FC7 pedal might benefit from switching the polarity. I tried this -- I got two 'splitter' adapters and reversed the connection. This didn't help... in fact, when I do this, the pedal shows up as a sustain pedal (not an expression pedal).

Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Rob]

Hi Keyguy,

What firmware version are you on? Instead of calibrating, try the 'reset'. Does that improves things?

Regards,
Rob

[keyguy]

I'm using the latest firmware & app --- just updated it a few days ago.
Yes, I tried clicking the Reset button.

Have you tried the FC7 pedal with the MIDIExpression? Has anyone else here tried it? I'd like to know if this problem affects everyone or if it's something I'm doing wrong. Thanks!

[Rob]

To answer your question, no I have not tested with that pedal. I've just ordered one and should have it in a week or two. To be honest, I can't see why this pedal would not work properly with MIDI Expression, but I'd like to know for certain. I did a customer survey a month ago and sadly, I didn't think to ask my customers what pedals they were using.

In the meantime, it would be helpful to me if we can confirm that both your pedal and your MIDI Expression are working properly. Do you have any other pedals to test with? Do you have any other expression pedal inputs to test with?


Regards,
Rob

[keyguy]

It works well with sustain pedals. I don't have another type of expression pedal, so I can't test that.

I think I may know the problem: The FC7 pedal must be polarity-reversed in order to work correctly with some keyboards (for example, the Nord Electro 2). I think my problem is that I don't have the right adapters to reverse it. I am having trouble finding the right adapters to do this.

[Rob]

I can't see the polarity having anything to do with the issue, so don't go rewiring your pedal. Just wait until mine comes in so I can test and then we'll take it from there.

[Rob]

So, I got my FC-7 today. It's a nice pedal. The pot inside the thing is not linear, so it won't be able to produce a smooth linear transition from 0-127. That is why you see those values change so quickly. In fact everything is working as expected for this type of pedal. If you are looking to simulate a linear transition from 0-127 set your Expression curve like the one in the attached image.

Regards,
Rob

[keyguy]

Rob, I solved my problem. I bought a FC7X-II from Ashby Solutions. It reverses the polarity. Now it works perfectly! I have the full range of the pedal without having to change the expression curve at all.