Project: MIDIPedal

[atomicalex]

It was suggested I start a build thread.

It started 20 years ago when my spouse introduced me to MIDI. My first thought was, damn, I need a pedal bay.

20 years, a move to Germany, a chance internet search after the 13YO decided Bach was cool, and 250€, and it turns out that you can fit an entire AGO pedal bay into the back of a MkIII Kombi. Who knew?



More discussion with the organ junkyard place revealed that no, you cannot buy a used pedal bay in the US. Organs aren't actually scrapped in the US, and they are rarely replaced, so no goodies. I did actually have to move to Germany to get this.

Next step... acquire a MIDI controller to part out into switches, actual controller parts and controls.

The final goal: the Weird Al of pedal bays - fully velocity-sensitive with aftertouch, 4-channel multi-timbral, minimum 64 voice polyphony (dependent on what we hook it up to, of course), some sort of piston-type control (multiple programs per channel), and whatever else I can get. The hard part is getting the velocity sensitivity and aftertouch. Once I get that done, I am pretty much there.

[atomicalex]

Donor controller - first attempt at cutting up the keyboard strip did not go well. I got some new Dremel bits, should be smoother this time.

[atomicalex]

Old electronics removed and ready to scrap.

[Ed52]

'''interesting''', will watch this.

[abeR]

'''interesting''', will watch this.

agreed

[Rogerthat]

Awesome project!

These guys might like to see what you're up to. http://casperelectronics.com/

[atomicalex]

More progress, even though I tend to sit on my ass about this for months on end...

Had to scrap my original idea about using the controller switches as-is. They are not possible to separate for an amateur electrician like me. So, on to the more professional reed switches.



That there is a pair of offset reed switches that function as a velocity sensitive trigger for the MIDI controller. I have a lot of work ahead with figuring out the proper offset and the magnet distance and so forth, but I have created a velocity sensitive trigger using the donor controller as a power source and a signal harvester. In other words, it works! I triggered an old RX-7 and had a bit of a time trying to get the magnet speed right, but it works! Fully velocity sensitive. Aftertouch will have to wait, but I have a plan for that, too. I'll need a new controller setup, but the switchgear should be suitable for just about any controller out there. Challenge will be finding one with aftertouch and getting those strips positioned properly.

[atomicalex]

Worked on reed switch spacing and directionality of the switches. I think I have it figured out.

[atomicalex]

First of the switch arrays spaced and assembled.