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#1940276 - 05/10/08 01:01 PM Just bought an 'expression' pedal
spotty
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First time I used one of these things. Set it to control cutoff frequency on my synth filter. What a blast! How did I ever live without one of these things?

Its an Mgear EX.P.

BTW, whats the little knob on the pedal for?
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#1940283 - 05/10/08 01:21 PM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: spotty]
Sven Golly
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I'm guessing you meant the M-Audio EXP. I've got 2 of these now, and they are great.

The knob allows you to set the 'minimum' value; generally these get used as volume control pedals. Setting the knob at a value higher than '0' lets you set a minimum volume that is still audible. For your application, just leave it cranked all the way to 0 and you'll have full range control.
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#1940316 - 05/10/08 02:43 PM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: Sven Golly]
Jazz+
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I just sold my Roland Expression Pedal. I thought I would use it for the FP4's organ but I never play organ so I sold it after 1 year.
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#1940362 - 05/10/08 05:33 PM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: Jazz+]
timwat
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Those things should come in a "full band" box set with:

1) A "Succinct yet tasteful" pedal for the guitar player,
2) An "In the Pocket" pedal for the bass player,
3) An "Ego Mitigation" pedal for lead vocalist, and
4) A "Don't step on Keyboard Player's Solo" pedal for drummer
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#1940552 - 05/11/08 07:33 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: timwat]
KenElevenShadows
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 Originally Posted By: timwat
Those things should come in a "full band" box set with:

1) A "Succinct yet tasteful" pedal for the guitar player,
2) An "In the Pocket" pedal for the bass player,
3) An "Ego Mitigation" pedal for lead vocalist, and
4) A "Don't step on Keyboard Player's Solo" pedal for drummer


5) A "No Giant 9-Note Chords" pedal for the keyboard player
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#1940559 - 05/11/08 07:46 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: Jazz+]
delirium
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 Originally Posted By: Jazz+
I just sold my Roland Expression Pedal. I thought I would use it for the FP4's organ but I never play organ so I sold it after 1 year.


I bought yamaha expression pedal, never used yet though but looks cool under my keyboard...

p.s.
do we really need expression pedal to express ourselves these days? ;\)
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#1940622 - 05/11/08 09:29 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: delirium]
suraci
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I believe the term ( and device ) is associated with organs

I do not know the history of organs but
Hammond organ expression was a brilliant device.
without it, there would be a very limited expression on organ indeed

It simultaneously control volume AND tone
by using electrical gadgetry

The changing of tone has to do with balance of highs and lows as the volume changes

Clonewheels sink or swim partly based on having this ability

Edited by suraci (05/11/08 09:41 AM)
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#1940743 - 05/11/08 03:44 PM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: suraci]
learjeff
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You can't really play much in the way of Hammond style parts without an expression pedal. For one thing, the volume varies so much as you go up and down the keyboard, you need one just to stay level. More importantly, though, good pedaling is an important part of playing the instrument.

For the other keyboard sounds I play, the pedal is mostly a set and forget piece, and one I could do without since I can reach up and turn a knob instead. Handy for string and horn swells, but I don't play many string or horn parts. There are a number of excellent players who can put it to good use for a variety of other purposes.

Incidentally, on a Hammond, it's called a "swell" pedal.

I have to replace mine; I seem to have worn it out after about 3 years. It was a cheapie.
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#1940905 - 05/12/08 04:33 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: learjeff]
spotty
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 Originally Posted By: learjeff
...Incidentally, on a Hammond, it's called a "swell" pedal...

A zillion Dollars to anyone who..WITHOUT GOOGLING IT...knows why its called a "swell" pedal.
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#1940912 - 05/12/08 04:58 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: spotty]
suraci
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Can I receive double my money if I give the 2 main reasons?

The swell is like a wave- from low to high

It is really swell having one!

Edited by suraci (05/12/08 05:00 AM)
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#1940919 - 05/12/08 05:19 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: suraci]
spotty
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bzzzzzzt - wrong, try again.
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#1940951 - 05/12/08 06:46 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: spotty]
Sven Golly
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Smaller pipe organs had some of their pipes contained within a box that had vents/louvers that could be opened to varying degrees. The box is/was called a "swell", and the pedal controlled the louvers, allowing more or less sound to emanate from the box (oversimplification, and physics majors need not apply ;\) ).
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#1940957 - 05/12/08 06:51 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: Sven Golly]
spotty
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ding ding ding!
Sven has won 1 zillion $.
Congrats.

To this day, one of the manuals on a pipe organ is still called the Swell, the others are Great, Positif, Choir and a bunch of other variants.

The check is in the mail!

Edited by spotty (05/12/08 06:52 AM)
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#1940976 - 05/12/08 07:29 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: spotty]
Sven Golly
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Y'know, I never thought listening to my friend who is a pipe organ afficionado (read: fanatic) would ever pay off. I figured it might come up in 'Trivial Pursuit: The Music Geek Edition' or something. Who knew it would earn me such a huge winfall!

Now ask me something about the mating habits of the African Swallow... ;-)
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#1940983 - 05/12/08 07:43 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: Sven Golly]
retrokeys
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If one bought the sticker set for a B3, everything referring to the upper and lower keyboards was labelled "swell" or "great" e.g. the upper and lower vibrato. We Hammond types used to tweak the pipe organ people by remarking, "What's the difference? They both sound damn good." Now was that a laden or unladen swallow?
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#1940997 - 05/12/08 08:09 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: spotty]
mate_stubb
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 Originally Posted By: spotty
A zillion Dollars to anyone who..WITHOUT GOOGLING IT...knows why its called a "swell" pedal.


Oh c'mon, that's WAY too easy. A bit more pipe organ trivia: the THIRD manual on a pipe organ is usually known as the "Choir" and is mounted below the Great manual.

The historical reason for this was that it usually controlled a separate remote organ, at the back of the church in the choir loft.
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#1941027 - 05/12/08 09:01 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: learjeff]
loumi
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 Originally Posted By: learjeff
You can't really play much in the way of Hammond style parts without an expression pedal. For one thing, the volume varies so much as you go up and down the keyboard, you need one just to stay level. More importantly, though, good pedaling is an important part of playing the instrument.


I am finding the same thing is true when I am playing a pad on the synthesizer. It also needs to be raised and lowered in level.
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#1941976 - 05/14/08 05:44 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: Sven Golly]
StanC
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 Originally Posted By: Sven Golly
Y'know, I never thought listening to my friend who is a pipe organ afficionado (read: fanatic) would ever pay off. I figured it might come up in 'Trivial Pursuit: The Music Geek Edition' or something. Who knew it would earn me such a huge winfall!

Now ask me something about the mating habits of the African Swallow... ;-)


Ahh and here I thought you just downloaded the Manual!! LOL
(Sorry Sven - couldn't pass that one up!)

Stan
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#1942034 - 05/14/08 07:04 AM Re: Just bought an 'expression' pedal [Re: StanC]
Sven Golly
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 Originally Posted By: StanC
Ahh and here I thought you just downloaded the Manual!! LOL
(Sorry Sven - couldn't pass that one up!)

Stan
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