I ended up keeping the original (green) circuit boards because the switches were mounted on these. I even used many of the original circuit tracks - especially for the LED's, which are now all wired to simply turn on with the unit. This makes selecting the right switch with only a glance at a dark stage floor all the more likely. (I used the same idea when I recently modified my Digitech Control 8.) Each of the 12 momentary footswitches simply creates midi note-on and note-off data. The project is based around a PIC microcontroller. I got the circuit and the hex programme for the PIC from here. I had never programmed any Eproms or PIC's or anything before, but with a little reading, I felt confident enough to buy a USB PIC programmer and build the project. It works perfectly, and is great fun to use. Of course with a programme like "Bome's Midi Translator" I could also use this as a regular midi controller with a computer. I would like to eventually put a basic analogue synth in this so that it can work as stand-alone bass pedals. |
Midi Bass Pedals |
Midi Bass Pedals |
I found a floor controller for an old Yamaha guitar effects unit in a second hand shop a few months ago. As you can see I moved the fourth footswitch from the left in the top row over to the far right, and now I have a keyboard from F to E. |
I ended up keeping the original (green) circuit boards because the switches were mounted on these. I even used many of the original circuit tracks - especially for the LED's, which are now all wired to simply turn on with the unit. This makes selecting the right switch with only a glance at a dark stage floor all the more likely. (I used the same idea when I recently modified my Digitech Control 8.) Each of the 12 momentary footswitches simply creates midi note-on and note-off data. The project is based around a PIC microcontroller. I got the circuit and the hex programme for the PIC from here. I had never programmed any Eproms or PIC's or anything before, but with a little reading, I felt confident enough to buy a USB PIC programmer and build the project. It works perfectly, and is great fun to use. Of course with a programme like "Bome's Midi Translator" I could also use this as a regular midi controller with a computer. I would like to eventually put a basic analogue synth in this so that it can work as stand-alone bass pedals. |
