Using foot pedal to initiate START/STOP of recording

Question

Using foot pedal to initiate START/STOP of recording

Hi,
I'm using Logic 7 and am trying to decide upon an Audio/MIDI interface which will allow me to use my feet to start and stop recording while I'm jamming. I'm most interested in M-Audio's Ozone and trying to have Logic "learn" it's start/stop command from a sustain pedal attached to the Ozone. I'm not sure if I'll have problems, however, as I don't know if I'll need two separate switches, or if the variable or momentary nature of sustain pedals will confuse matters (or allow my plans to work.) I'll have to choose a different interface if the sustain pedal doesn't work as there's only a jack for one foot pedal and no MIDI In on the Ozone. Any help/advice whatever appreciated. Thanks!

Robbie Collins

Posted on Aug 9, 2005 8:09 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 10, 2005 4:04 PM in response to Robbie Collins

You might want to consider a foot pedal, like the Behringer FCB1010. Unfortunately, there aren't many choices of foot pedals for triggering loops or other midi uses. The FCB1010 is specifically made to interface with an effects unit (e.g. POD). It's not specifically designed to control Logic, Reason, or Live. However, it CAN be used to send midi info and do a few things. Many of these midi controllers are a travesty to setup (but once it's setup, Reason or Logic will be fine with the device).

I finally got me FCB configured to change patterns in Reason's Redrum, module. Again, it's just a nightmare to program. This inspired me to actually think about making a foot controller that is more geared to working with logic/reason/live.

To reiterate, the FCB (or equivalent) is designed to work with guitar effects units. But with some delicate crowbar work, you can use these controllers to do basic tasks (e.g., start/stop, trigger loops in UB, etc...) I can offer you some assistance if you want to pursue that route.

I think there is a need for a good quality foot controller, So any feedback on that would be appreciated.

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Answer 2

Aug 10, 2005 5:38 PM in response to Robbie Collins

I'm not too sure about this, but couldn't it work like this - attatch a latching footswitch to your keyboard. Get Logic to learn that when you hit your footswitch from off to on, to record using the contoller assignments? I haven't got a latching one with me at the moment, but it seems to me that it would work. I'm not sure how you would get it to stop recording, but it might just work that when it goes from on to off it will stop. Not really sure. I'm sure some environment fiend in here might be able to sort you out with midi events or meta data or something to perform this. I don't know much about the environment though as I have a very simple setup and my autoload does everything for me hehe, so I might well be barking up entirely the wrong tree. Not saying this will help, just an idea. Please anyone correct me if I'm wrong, I would like to learn too! Well, not sure if this helps, but hope it does, Fred 🙂

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Answer 3

Aug 10, 2005 9:35 PM in response to Robbie Collins

Any foot controller that can send different (programmable) control values will work. Set it up in Logic under "Midi Remote". I used to use the ART X-15 Ultrafoot to stop, start, record, rewind . . . all sorts of things.

RW

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Answer 4

Aug 10, 2005 9:56 PM in response to Robbie Collins

Hi Localhost, Freddie & Rick,

Thanks so much for your thoughts! I really appreciate it.

I'm hearing you all say the same thing more or less, that, be it an FCB1010, a latching foot pedal, an ART X-15, or any other programmable MIDI-sending foot pedal, my START/STOP goal is possible. Which leads me to fine tune my question to as follows...

Does anybody know if the sustain pedal on an M-Audio Ozone (or other brand/model for that matter) sends a manipulable MIDI signal to the computer that can be used to control logic? Or do I need a foot pedal that works with its own MIDI OUT?

If the sustain pedal doesn't work, I am thinking a MIDI Mouse:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_id/85457

... or a Rocktron MIDI XChange Controller:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/154208/

... in conjunction with a MIDI - USB interface could give me the input controls I need. Can anybody confirm or point me elsewhere? Many thanks!

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Answer 5

Aug 11, 2005 9:28 AM in response to Robbie Collins

Well, I see no reason why not. A sustain pedal is a non-latching footswitch, so if you did it the way I suggested which I reckon could work quite well, you would have to keep your foot on the pedal while you want to record, and when you want to stop take your foot off. It should work in exactly the same way really. In this way, you could get that footswitch to control pretty much anything in Logic, just like the knobs on your Ozone. If you give us examples, I'm sure we can come up with something. Best, Fred

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Answer 6

Aug 13, 2005 6:54 PM in response to Freddie Woolfe

Hi Freddie,

Thanks for your interest in this goal. I am going to buy the following foot pedal, which appears to have variable expression capabilities, and I am hopeful that there's a way to program it so that if it's all the way to one extreme it's recording, all the way to the other extreme, not-recording.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/EXP-main.html

I'll keep in touch as I am able to test it out, but it will probably be a few weeks before I assemble all the pieces and try it out.

Best,
Robbie

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Answer 7

Aug 14, 2005 1:06 AM in response to Robbie Collins

try this

http://www.xkeys.com/xkeys/xkfoot.php?PHPSESSID=0473932023908b8ed2541111df8951d6

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Answer 8

Aug 14, 2005 1:21 AM in response to David Baerwald1

Hey Dave,

You are the bomb for suggesting this thing. It would be PERFECT except... they say their software is not yet (yet) OS 10.4 compatible, and with these @#$%'ing USB key with Logic, I only have one USB port with which to work, and that will be taken up by the Ozone keyboard. I suppose I could get a USB hub, but hate to have more equipment than necessary for my "portable" recording rig. I will keep an eye on this product though, and really appreciate your thoughts. Any other suggestions I'm totally open to.

Thanks,
Robbie

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Answer 9

Aug 27, 2005 8:07 PM in response to thelocalhost

Hello, I'm trying to use the 1010 to control various effect plugins live. I can get the volume and mod pedals assigned. But I can't get logic to "learn" the individual switches properly. At one point, I could program them to switch the bypasses off/on on several different effects so that each effect could be turned off/on from the 1010 - but I'm unable to recreate that now . . . when I try to learn one of the program switches . . . it ceases to appear in the transport window . . . even though midi is still detected by my separate midi monitor software.

I'd like to have a footswitch for each bypass on 3-4 effects AND for the mod wheel (expression2)to follow along with whatever effect is active - but I think this is too much.

Can you tell me what you've been able to make the Behringer do?

Thanks
Bradley

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Answer 10

cigame2

Level 3

548 points

Aug 28, 2005 10:22 AM in response to Bradley Leighton

Hi Bradley
I'm playing live with Guitar Amp Pro using a very old DYNACORD midi controller
for programm changes.
I had to build a very complex environment to get the sounds I need.
It's working with transformer moduls mainly because the controller only
sends program changes that have to be transformed into fader events.
You may download an example song on my .mac site.
Hopefully future logic versions will bring us easier solutions.
http://homepage.mac.com/WebObjects/FileSharing.woa/wa/default?user=rdamisch&temp latefn=FileSharing4.html&xmlfn=TKDocument.4.xml&sitefn=RootSite.xml&aff=consumer &cty=US&lang=en

Reiner

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