Some guys have used the Behringer fcb 1010.
1 Like
Phil,
Thanks, I’ll check it out.
Glenn
This pedal seems to have the same problem. You can’t send a command on pedal release. You have to set up another pedal to complete the transition.
1 Like
Have you seen anyone using this to control both the Beatbuddy and Aeros?
No
That describes a Nektar Pacer. 10 programmable Boss-like buttons are one of the reasons I use it. And you can program it to send midi on release.
No. I only recall some folks using with the BB, prior to the release of the Midi Maestro.
1 Like
Ah, well, I was just thinking about the quiet aspect. Sorry.
That looks really cool
i took a sharp knife and cut the plastic around the mini midi cable and it now clicks in smothly to the beat buddy
Okay got my Nektar Pacer.
A bit tricky to set up (but aren’t they all).
Switches are dead silent.
Pretty close to the FS-5U Boss pedals, but a bit trickier to get to tricker (2nd to FS-5U Boss pedals)
I have 6 usable switches
Here’s how I have them setup
1-Stop
2-Part 1
3-Part 2
4-Part 3
5-Pause (Down pause and up Unpause- so just hold it down for a bit
6-Voice Live 3 harmony
This setup seems to be working okay for now
Notice that there is no ‘start’. I just hit part 1 (or any part) to start.
All the buttons are in one row (perfect for me)
It’s also built like a tank. Super heavyweight.
All in all, I’d say the best I’ve found so far and I’ve looked a lot
and bought a few.
I’d say the Morningstar is in second place, but I ended up not using it in favor of two FS-5U Boss pedals.
I still have the FS-5U Boss pedals set-up (not - Midi) for emergency start and top.
I will start putting more parts back into my songs and give this thing a try.
1 Like
I just purchased a second hand Keith McMillen SoftStep 2, hoping that this will give me silent control over my BB and Aeros (replacing the Maestro). I have some learning to do before I can use the Softstep, but will report back. In the meantime, if anybody use the Softstep, I’d be interested to hear from you.
Seems like a good starting point for an external midi controller. Will try something similar with my Keith McMillen SoftStep 2 when the times comes.
There are a couple of users that mentioned they used the Soft Step II. You can search the forum and reach out to them. Don’t know if they’re still using it. I used to and changed to a G Lab GSC-4.
I’m a novice when it comes to this. It would be interesting to hear why you switched. I’ve just had a look at the Softstep editor, and it seems really outdated.
There were several reasons:
Although the SoftStep 2 (SS2) software is 64-bit (a good thing), it doesn’t appear that the developer has updated it since 2017 and the firmware since 2014.
You will need the KMI MIDI Expander. It has far more capabilities than I needed at the time.
The great news is that it did everything I needed to do with the BeatBuddy, a delay, compressor and my looper; I recently added a MIDI capable wah wah. The programming was not that difficult and it just worked—quietly and without issues.
The pedal keys for me are a drawback simply because of the spacing and their cruciform design. I’m too clumsy to always be accurate. Loved the overall smaller footprint but it just wasn’t for me.
Their manual for the basic and advanced editors is well-written and could serve as a model for Singular Sound as it’s organized, complete and clear.
The developers were responsive when I had questions which is a plus and they appear to be monitoring and responding to their forum.
Bottom line is that the SS2 is a very good pedal but I just found something that better suited me.
So why did I change to a different controller? I wanted some flexibility in other areas e.g., I wanted to be able to program the MIDI controller without the use of a computer going thru an external add-on. I also wanted to have better control of my pedals. Enter the G Lab GSC-4. I already have two other G Lab pedals and I really like them (other than the price). When the chance came up to get the GSC-4 (which wasn’t widely available in the U.S.), I jumped on it. It’s less complex than the SS II and I can program everything on the pedal itself. I can now connect to and put all of my other pedals in a drawer and run everything from the GSC-4. Much less footprint and I like the single function (and quiet) switches.
Thank you for your extensive answer. The SS2 has a small footprint indeed, and the spacing between switches might be to small for my feet. You’re being a great help for me at the start of this journey.
Oh, and just one more question: Are the switches on the GSC-4 as quiet as the SS2, or is there a “metal” sound when you press them? I intend to loop during yogasessions, and want no “artficial” sounds …
To me the sound of the switches has never been an issue as I play loudly thru an amplifier and I bought the SS2 before I got the Maestro.
If I were to rank with a number from quietest to loudest switches, it might be
SS2 = 0-1 (pretty much dead silent with almost no tactile feedback)
GSC4 = 4-5 (depressing the switches makes a mechanical sound but without the loud, hollow box spring noise made by the MM; it is noticeable in a quiet room but not overbearingly so).
MM = 7-8
1 Like