egotrich

Q: Live Performance Hardware (Current Rig Described)

I want to be able to assign different aspects to my M Audio expression pedal.... which should be easy .... and I know how to logistically do it through the MainStage program.... the problem is that my keyboard (my rig is listed below) only has two 1/4 outputs.... "sustain" and "volume"  where I can plug in an expression pedal.... so it doesn't matter what I assign to the expression pedal... the simple fact is that because its connected to the "volume" output on the keyboard itself, it will ALWAYS change the volume and does not maintain the mapping I assign to it through MainStage.

 

It would appear without the additive of purchasing a new keyboard (which I don't want to do) which has more 1/4 inch outputs that can be more easily mapped, there should be a product out there.... like a USB powered 1/4 inch multi-input/output midi interface of some kind that I can plug a sustain pedal and expression pedal into and run straight from this device via usb into my laptop, and then be able to assign it whatever mapping I want without having these problems.... I NEED HELP FIGURING OUT WHAT HARDWARE TO GET WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK....  I am very new to midi, I've been a blues pianist for about ten years.... used old school ACTUAL Hammond B3's and acoustic piano set ups for years... but the portability of midi has caught my eye.... please keep your comments "dummy proof" for this old school guy   thanks!

 

My RIG:

-M-audio Key Station 88 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Keystation88)

out of that is the following:
-M-audio expression pedal running out of the output labeled "Volume" (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PedalExp?utm_source=MSN&utm_medium=PPC&ut m_campaign=none&utm_term=Bing_PLA_All_Pr…

-M-audio SP2 Sustain Pedal coming out of the output labeled "sustain"

-iConnectMIDI1 out the keyboard and into a MacBook Pro running MainStage 3 ( http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/iconnectivity-iconnectmidi1-30-pin-usb- ios-midi-interface?cntry=us&source=3WWRWXGP&gclid=Cj0KEQjww42tBRCO-sfEiO3DvYMBEi QAHeqMKF2Xth9fke_2mbGYD6hap43W9vWgv0b-Llnat5sCcnYaAuT98P8HAQ&kwid=productads-pla id%5E18283950120-sku%5EH98162000000000@ADL4MF-adType%5EPLA-device%5Ec-adid%5E465 04699467 )
-Macbook Pro: 10.10.3 OS X Yosemite, 2.9 GHz intel Core i7, 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Jul 13, 2015 5:05 AM

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Q: Live Performance Hardware (Current Rig Described)

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  • by lifenoise,

    lifenoise lifenoise Jul 13, 2015 5:54 AM in response to egotrich
    Level 3 (758 points)
    Jul 13, 2015 5:54 AM in response to egotrich

    If you only need the expression and sustain pedals to perform one function at a time, you won't need extra hardware. Even though your pedals are sending volume and sustain from the keyboard, they can be mapped to any MIDI control on a per patch basis. For instance, if you want to use the sustain pedal for Leslie slow/fast on a B3 patch, set up this way:

     

    Select a B3 patch in edit mode. Select the sustain pedal icon.  In the screen control inspector below, the default mapping at concert level is same as input. Select the organ instrument>vintage B3 organ>rotor cabinet>rotor speed. Now when you select a different patch, say a piano, the sustain pedal will operate normally as a sustain pedal.


    Screen Shot 2015-07-13 at 8.37.19 AM.png


    If you need to use more pedals simultaneously, an inexpensive choice is the Logidy UMI3.

    http://www.logidy.com/?pid=1


  • by egotrich,

    egotrich egotrich Jul 13, 2015 12:28 PM in response to lifenoise
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 13, 2015 12:28 PM in response to lifenoise

    yea i'll need the sustain and expression pedal to be simultaneously working.... (sustain and leslie cab on a b3 sound to be more specific) .... I like the Logidy UMI3... I've seen it before.... the back side expression pedal input would certainly fix my problem.... but then I have these three buttons that I would have little use for in live performance.... Is there a product with the same expression pedal output but has KNOBS INSTEAD of BUTTONS? 

  • by lifenoise,

    lifenoise lifenoise Jul 14, 2015 4:55 AM in response to egotrich
    Level 3 (758 points)
    Jul 14, 2015 4:55 AM in response to egotrich

    For less than $100 you may want to consider a used M-Audio Axiom 49. It has sustain and expression pedal inputs as well as 9 sliders that you can route to drawbar control for the B 3.

  • by trinitycadet,

    trinitycadet trinitycadet Jul 14, 2015 6:19 AM in response to egotrich
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Jul 14, 2015 6:19 AM in response to egotrich

    I'm also using a Line 6 FBV Express Mk II pedal with four assignable footswitches and an assignable volume/modulation pedal.  It's built like a tank and is pretty easy to assign.  I use it for main volume, leslie speed control, muting sounds in layers and triggering samples.  You are only limited by your imagination.

  • by trakar,

    trakar trakar Jul 31, 2016 12:14 PM in response to egotrich
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 31, 2016 12:14 PM in response to egotrich

    My sustain pedal works, but I can't get my EX-P expression pedal to adjust the volume of my patches. It is getting a MIDI signal from MS 3 when I plug in to my keyboard, but the MS volume pedal icon doesn't respond when I assign it. I am a novice with MS 3. Any way to use a pedal to adjust my keyboard volume when I'm playing live?

  • by trinitycadet,

    trinitycadet trinitycadet Aug 1, 2016 5:49 AM in response to trinitycadet
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Aug 1, 2016 5:49 AM in response to trinitycadet

    I've been using the Line 6 FBV Express Mk II as well.  I use the "A" button as a sustain pedal.  I like the fact that I can bring one solid piece of gear and not a handful of smaller pedals.  It works great standing up.