Midi sustain pedal (all 128 values)

Post Reply New Topic

I can only get an on/off midi value from my sustain pedal (jack lead), and I think I know why now: The piano I use (much like pretty much every piano) can only store 2 midi values for sustain, and the jack port for the pedal can only read 2 midi values.

I'm trying to gather equipment that will allow me to record with sustain pedal-type things, using 128 different midi values, for more realistic/controlled midi recordings.

I've been told about an old Yamaha device that can turn normal jack-lead pedal signals into midi, but haven't been able to find one. I haven't been able to find a midi-out sustain pedal. If I had a midi-out pedal, I guess I'd need a sampler with 3 midi-in sockets (one for the piano I use (notes), and two for the pedals I'd use (sustain, distortion, other stuff if I assign them differently), and a midi-out socket to patch that through to my laptop, and a stereo jack-out to perform live.

Anyone know how I could achieve this? This one's got me (and countless people I've talked to) stumped.

Additional info:
Piano: Korg SP-250
Pedal: Lost it, will buy another soon if I can't get it back
DAW: Mixcraft 6
Sampler: Don't have one :/

Thanks

I know it's slow, but does Mixcraft 6 allow you to go into an edit page to sculpt MIDI values?

I can, but I need to be able to do stuff with it live, for performances and accurate recordings.

In the Midi spec, sustain is only on/off. You are unlikely to find a midi sustain pedal that does anything else. However continuous controller pedals are available.

If you already have a pedal with a potentiometer then this box for instance will probably do what you want. It obviously can't convert a switch type pedal into a continuous controller. Here is an article on converting a pedal. This google search will find you lots of useful info and links.

That seems like what I need, thanks! Now if only I could afford 2 Pedal Controllers, a Quadra Merge, and a sampler
If I could get a
(Pedal --> Pedal Controller)*2 + Piano --> Quadra Merge --> sampler/laptop --> sound system
Set-up working, do you reckon there'd be a noticeable delay? Soldering an existing non-midi pedal would be a last resort, as I'd have no idea where to start...

Every link in the chain adds a very small delay. Your chain is pretty short - controller/piano->merge->laptop so the delay will be too small to notice.

I think I'll talk to people in shops about the best sampler to get, but is there a cheap (non-DIY) alternative to Midi Solutions' Pedal Controller? I've looked on the web, and it's the only pedal --> midi converter I can find

Aren't you looking for an expression pedal?

Yamaha and some other brands use the yamaha FC7 pedal, and then Roland makes a better expression pedal, but I can't remember what they call it. $80-$100.

I just bought both of them actually. For use with a M-Audio Axiom Pro.

A sustain pedal wont have the continuous action/playability you are looking for. Expression pedals are made for that. And more importantly supports 14-bit resolution.

Unless there's an expression pedal with a MIDI-out, then I'll still need a pedal-controller. My sustain pedal does what I want with my piano, it's just not MIDI

Why does it need to be midi out? An expression pedal will be a 1/4" out which goes into a midi keyboard. The key board will then transmit the expression pedal's control data out of it's own midi ports. It is transmitted on CC11. The same way that modwheel data transmits on CC1.

Is that what you mean?