The EV5 is an expression pedal so it doesn’t work as a traditional volume pedal does. Check these links for a review of volume pedals:
http://equipboard.com/posts/best-volume-pedal
https://wiki.ezvid.com/best-volume-pedals
Keep in mind that several users have shared their experience that volume pedals seem to be too finicky: they felt that there was no real in-between/easy way to change the volume in increments—the pedal either sweeps all the way up in volume or all the way down (off). Here’s a link http://forum.mybeatbuddy.com/index.php?threads/individual-song-volume-setting.6720/#post-29549
My opinion on what type of volume pedal to consider (if any):
- One with a 25K pot probably works best.
- I don’t think you need an active (buffered) volume pedal.
- Determine whether you need a mono or a stereo volume pedal; this is dependent on the type of drum kits you’re using now or planning to use (read below).
- I would not recommend a Dunlop Volume (X) as I think it’s a 250K impedance pot.
- Although a combination volume/expression pedal sounds attractive, you may not get much use out of it unless you have other expression-enabled pedals.
Stereo or mono volume pedal? If you intend to use Phil Flood’s stereo output drum kits, that shouldn’t stop you from using a mono volume pedal as you can join both outputs of the BeatBuddy into a single mono 1/4" patch cable that plugs into the volume pedal. You could also connect the headphones mini-jack into an adaptor plug from mini to 1/4" to the volume pedal input.
If all you’re doing or planning on doing is to use mono output drum kits that are not stereo output such as Phil’s NP Standard Pro Bass or NP Vintage Ludwig Bass, then a mono volume pedal is fine.
Once you’ve narrowed your list of choices, recommend that you take your BB pedal (and mixer?) to a nearby music store and test it with several different volume pedal brands and see which one works best for you.
Several different ways to connect a volume pedal but the left output of the BeatBuddy to the input of the volume pedal and output of the volume pedal to the mixer is one technique. There are others.
Some random parting shots:
- forum users have discussed testing a compressor pedal to see if that helps manage the volume.
- BTW, there is a hack to turn a volume pedal into an expression pedal but AFAIK, there’s no hack to change an expression pedal into a volume pedal.
- you can check Reverb or TGP Emporium for used volume pedals.
Let us know what you settle on.