Expression Pedal response/curve

[SHaka40]

The FC7 expression pedals seems to be one of the more popular ones on the market so I'm hoping someone has experienced this and can point be in the right direction. I'm using the pedal going into my x-station and then controlling vsts in Sonar. Problem is I'm getting like half of the MIDI range from just the first 10% or so of pedal travel (going in increasing direction). So by the time I barely move my foot forward, I'm already showing a MIDI value of, say, 65 (both the X-Station and the DAW show the same value, so it's not a DAW issue). I just got the X-Station second-hand, so I suppose there could be some hidden response curve setting that has been changed from its default, but not to my knowledge. I've had the FC7 layin' around for years but never really used it. Has anybody experienced this with the FC7? Is there any easy fix?

 

Thanks

[Delaware Dave]

This question has been answered in another forum post. It's a common tip/sleeve swap issue. Go to the link below which explains the fix:

 

http://forum.sonikmatter.com/forums/index.php/topic/48662-expression-pedal-post-got-zapped/page__p__304434__fromsearch__1?do=findComment&comment=304434

[SHaka40]

This question has been answered in another forum post. It's a common tip/sleeve swap issue. Go to the link below which explains the fix:

 

http://forum.sonikmatter.com/forums/index.php/topic/48662-expression-pedal-post-got-zapped/page__p__304434__fromsearch__1#entry304434

Thanks Dave! I had googled, trying to see if this was a common problem, but I couldn't find the right words to describe the problem. As usual, KC come through for me! I'll probably try this over the weekend.

 

[Delaware Dave]

the quickest and least destructive fix is probably this one. Go here:

 

http://barrysmixedreviews.blogspot.com/2008/09/barrys-mixed-reviews-yamaha-fc7_313.html

 

Then look at the 1/4" adaptors suggested towards the bottom of the article. These can be purchased from radio shack. This way you don't have to mess with any wiring or soldering irons. simply reversing the connections (switching the tip/sleeve).

[SHaka40]

...look at the 1/4" adaptors suggested towards the bottom of the article. These can be purchased from radio shack. This way you don't have to mess with any wiring or soldering irons. simply reversing the connections (switching the tip/sleeve).

 

Yeah, that's the direction I was heading. That way I can use the same pedal with all of my keyboards, depending on whether I use the adapter or not. Makes more sense then permanently reversing the pedal.

[mate stubb]

Then look at the 1/4" adaptors suggested towards the bottom of the article. These can be purchased from radio shack. This way you don't have to mess with any wiring or soldering irons. simply reversing the connections (switching the tip/sleeve).

 

Really? Are modern keyboard players such technical wimps that they would rather have a spaghetti maze of kludged connectors plugged into each other rather than spend an hour learning to solder? Really?

 

Take pride in the appearance and reliability of your rig! Make the proper cabling for the job, neatly harnessed.

[SHaka40]

Then look at the 1/4" adaptors suggested towards the bottom of the article. These can be purchased from radio shack. This way you don't have to mess with any wiring or soldering irons. simply reversing the connections (switching the tip/sleeve).

 

Really? Are modern keyboard players such technical wimps that they would rather have a spaghetti maze of kludged connectors plugged into each other rather than spend an hour learning to solder? Really?

 

Take pride in the appearance and reliability of your rig! Make the proper cabling for the job, neatly harnessed.

I agree. But I would actually be going the adapter route for the purpose of **dual-functionality, not because I don't know how to solder. It's obviously not practical to pull out the soldering gun and switch the wires back and forth every time I switch the expression pedal from one brand keyboard to the other! Of course, the ideal solution is to wire in a polarity switch to the FC7, which I still may do in the future. I'd just have to figure how to mount it to/inside the pedal in a way that looks at least somewhat clean. But in the meantime, spaghetti maze it is!

 

 

**Perhaps my initial post didn't make it clear that this pedal will be used with both the X-station (for which it is wired backwards), and the Korg that I initially bought it for (for which it is wired correctly).

[mate stubb]

My point is, do THIS:

 

http://music.ashbysolutions.com/FC7X-II.jpg

 

not THIS:

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PvaypClbZcs/S9qtJmjVhXI/AAAAAAAAADs/9Y36fO2wnvg/s320/Yamaha-fc7-polarity-switch+cable+syst.jpg

[Delaware Dave]

Dude, really? All the ranting over one extra adapter? Even sound-on-sound recommended it as an alternative. Christ.

[mate stubb]

There is no reason or excuse for musicians not knowing basic repair skills like soldering. Just my humble opinion of course,

[AnotherScott]

There is no reason or excuse for musicians not knowing basic repair skills like soldering. Just my humble opinion of course,

OTOH, soldering really is a skill. I have seen numerous terrible soldering jobs. Some people take to it easily, others not so much. And if it came easy to you, it can be hard to understand how people can be so bad at at. Kinda like playing piano. ;-) Honestly, I believe there are plenty of people who should never hold a soldering gun.

[Delaware Dave]

Ever hear of 'cold' solder joints? Typically created by people who don't know what they're doing, improper flux preparation or the use of the wrong solder type. That's why you don't hand a soldering gun to any Joe SchMOE off the street.

[mate stubb]

Don't mind me, I'm grumpy from running for two weeks straight without a break.

 

That is a hot button issue for me. I always have had to repair guitars and cables for various hapless string players in my bands.

 

In my opinion, anybody can be easily trained to make a good solder joint. I have trained several musicians to make a good solder joint. I have trained my wife to make a good solder joint. It ain't rocket science - if you have the manual dexterity to play keys, you could learn in about 10 minutes. I'll shut up now.