Rayzoon Technologies LLC

johnpdx · Jammer Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 41 Location: tennessee

Can anybody recomend a midi foot controller? I want to control jamstix with a volume pedal for velocity control and also be able to send notes so I can use the live loop function. Under $200 would be nice. Using Cubas by the way here. Thanks in advance

johnpdx · Jammer Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 41 Location: tennessee

Behinger has a unit.. the FCB1010 that looks good for the money but I ahve had bad experiences with behinger in the past.

heyjohn · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:48 am Post subject:

I own an FCB1010, which is currently sitting by some Behringer gear connected to a large amp in the basement, used on those occasions when I want to play guitar loudly. Programming it is somewhat annoying, as Behringer didn't supply software with the unit. I see there are a few user-written things out there now, but haven't checked them out yet. The FCB1010 is pretty good for switching patches, but I'm not fond of it as a wah pedal.

I also have an Emu XBoard 49 MIDI keyboard controller, which can convert a footpedal (I use a Roland EV5) to any MIDI CC, and comes with software to make the task easier. I've used it as a hihat controller with DFHS, but haven't yet (it's on the queue) used it with Jamstix. The XBoard can connect via USB or MIDI, and can be USB-bus powered; it has a bunch of programmable knobs as well as the foot-controller capability and keys.

Either one of these setups ought to work, as I understand it; I just haven't tried either with Jamstix yet. Depending on what else you want to do, the Keyboard/pedal arrangement might be more flexible -- or the FCB1010's patch selection might prove handier. Or there might be something more cool out there, who knows? Smile

I'm using Tracktion2, by the way, but that shouldn't make a difference for gear.

jimoche · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:49 am Post subject:

I use a Behringer FCB1010 for Jamstix volume control, live loops and hi-hat/ride/percussion switching. It's well-made (robust) and the midi output seems to be okay.
I think you can always run into problems getting midi into a computer (I use M-Audio USB Uno) but it's possible to sort them out using, for example, MidiOx to troubleshoot.
Programming the FCB1010 manually (actually with your foot Very Happy

) is a pain, so I use the free editor from Ed Dixon at at Mountain Systems http://www.mtnsys.com/faq-fcb/PCEditorBeta.htm
I can recommend the FCB1010. If it broke I'd buy the same model again.