[sdiy] MIDI channel footswitch changer gizmo ..

[Mike Bryant]

I’m not into the sound of old synths but music hardware definitely looked so much better back then

From: Synth-diy [mailto:synth-diy-bounces at synth-diy.org] On Behalf Of Jean-Pierre Desrochers
Sent: 09 February 2022 18:58
To: 'Tom Wiltshire'
Cc: 'SDIY'
Subject: Re: [sdiy] MIDI channel footswitch changer gizmo ..

Tom,

My MIDI Bass pedal is a VERY OLD design made in th 90’s using a Motorola HC11
that I had on hand and was used to it (programming at work).
Here are some pictures of my MIDI bass pedal.

[cid:image001.jpg at 01D81DF6.5DC5E400]
[cid:image002.jpg at 01D81DF6.5DC5E400]
[cid:image003.jpg at 01D81DF6.5DC5E400]
The cabinet is walnut salvaged from a vintage Electrohome Kinsman Clarion organ..

So far the MIDI channel is selected at power up. (channel 1 default).
But if you keep pressed one of the first 16 keys down at power up
this will be the new channel number.
By the way this beast has its complete internal synth
with a genuine ARP VCF module !

Back to my needs..
No way I’ll get back to my original HC11 machine code (yes machine code) to include
any MIDI channel editing since it will also involve salvaging the wood housing
for some footswitches..
The easiest way so far is a transparent MIDI IN/OUT device
that will read 2 x UP/DOWN footswitches, display the new channel number
on 2 x 7 seg. Display then grab any incoming MIDI commands that has MIDI channel number
on the MSB side first byte, then replace it and send the edited command to the MIDI OUT.
All other commands will get through this device untouched..
I could even have another untouched MIDI OUT that would keep
the original Bass pedal channel for other MIDI devices to drive..
These are my thoughts so far..
Thanks for your curiosity Tom.

De : Tom Wiltshire <tom at electricdruid.net>
Envoyé : 9 février 2022 13:34
À : Jean-Pierre Desrochers <jpdesroc at oricom.ca>
Objet : Re: [sdiy] MIDI channel footswitch changer gizmo ..

If the bass pedals are DIY, doesn't this count as a "feature request from a valued user", JP?!?

To put that another way, couldn't you reprogram the bass pedals to add the on-the-fly-midi-channel-change? Presumably there's some reason why not, since I'm sure you've thought of this. I'm curious what it is is all!

Tom

On 9 Feb 2022, at 14:20, Jean-Pierre Desrochers <jpdesroc at oricom.ca<mailto:jpdesroc at oricom.ca>> wrote:

Hi all,
I own a DIY MIDI bass pedal that sets it’s MIDI channel on power up.
You press one of the first 16 keys (2 octaves pedal board) while powering up
and that’s the MIDI channel that remains. Ok.
But what if I need to change the MIDI channel on the fly while playing ??
I tried to find a footswitch gizmo that would have MIDI IN/OUT
that I could connect the bass pedal MIDI OUT to the gizmo MIDI IN and set/change
the gizmo MIDI channel using its footswitches then the incoming MIDI channel
would be overridden by the gizmo’s channel  and this one would use its channel
number for my pedal board..
But no luck to find this type of MIDI ‘interface’..
So far I’m thinking about building one..
Any clue for this type of gadget to buy ?

Cheers,
Jean-Pierre
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