I have plugged a soundking SK18L volume pedal in to my Novation Impulse but I'm not getting any joy assigning CC11 for Mr Sax. Am I being an idiot and this just won't work as I'll need to get a "proper" expression pedal?

Sorry for the potentially daft question!!

Thanks for any advice.

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs

Expression pedals are different from volume pedals; they have TRS jacks. There's some discussion of fudging it with certain pedals and cables, but it's probably easier to just buy a real one.

http://www.strymon.net/2011/10/10/strymon-tech-corner-3-volume-pedal-as-an -expression-pedal
http://www.safaricomputers.com/505/expressionPedal.php

Thanks mate, I'm having no joy so I'll order one asap.

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs

I've just ordered the Yamaha FC7 - should do the job perfectly!!

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs

Looks like you might have to do a bit of rewiring...

http://www.novationmusic.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=561

Back again..........this pedal should work fine with a Novation Impulse controller keyboard?

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs

Well, the link above gives Novation's views on it...sounds like the thing is a bit choosy. If it's just a question of rewiring the jack or fixing up an adapter cable it's not a big issue, but just don't necessarily expect it to work straight out of the box, according to Novation's advice.

Comment on Amazon:

Quote:

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I bought M-audio's sustain pedal and Alesis F2 expression pedal. Both of them can work perfectly with Impulse. If you want to use expression pedal for this keyboard, make sure to go to the website of Novation to check out which one is compatible, since not every expression pedal will be fully functional when used with Impulse.

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Thanks for that mate. I suddenly cancelled my order until I looked in to it a wee bit deeper. I'll check with Novation. Cheers.

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs

Thanks again for your advice mate. I would have ran straight in to ordering one that wouldn't have suited. I just ordered the Moog EP2 so I shouldn't have any problems.

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs

(Great, yep, should be just the ticket...)

The Yamaha pedal is extremely well built - I would go for that one. You can't guarantee that any specific pedal will work out of the box with any keyboard, but flipping a couple of wires around is no big deal.

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

And if you're unsure what this wire-swapping is all about, you need to have a read of my FAQ on the subject

Here it is, along with plenty of compatibility information on the two main wiring types found in expression pedals:

http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=322584

Hope you find it useful!


Martin

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YewTreeMagic

Quote Martin Walker:

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And if you're unsure what this wire-swapping is all about, you need to have a read of my FAQ on the subject

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Sorry, you did say wire-swapping?

Andy

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When the going gets weird, the Weird turn Pro.

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YewTreeMagic

Thanks everyone for the comments.

I ended up getting the recommended Moog expression pedal but........

(I also posted this on the novation website....)

Hi, relatively new to the Impulse so apologies if I'm being remarkably thick!!

I bought the Moog expression pedal after checking recommended models from the novation website. However, I am getting no joy when I have it plugged in. Trying to use it with Sax Brothers VST and it is still saying "connect controller to CC11" - also trying to control volume in Efimov guitar........nada.

I have changed from basicmidi to usefulmidi in the hope that would kick things in to life but still no joy.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs

So you have the Novation plugged into a PC...? Might be worth loading up the free MIDI utility MidiOx just to check that the keyboard is transmitting expression info. Expression and volume are different parameters, so using an expression pedal with a Kontakt instrument on default settings won't control the volume. (Maybe you could post up a link to the other thread so we can keep an eye on it.)

Quote BJG145:

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So you have the Novation plugged into a PC...? Might be worth loading up the free MIDI utility MidiOx just to check that the keyboard is transmitting expression info. Expression and volume are different parameters, so using an expression pedal with a Kontakt instrument on default settings won't control the volume. (Maybe you could post up a link to the other thread so we can keep an eye on it.)

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Thanks for replying mate. Here is the link to the novation site - no replies as yet..... http://forum.novationmusic.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=116163

Just downloaded and installed midiox. When I press keys, pitchbend, mod or sustain I am getting activity but nothing when I press the expression pedal. I'm officially confuddled!!

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs

It seems that if you press the "Controls" button and adjust a control, the Impulse should display info about that control, its assignments, etc (page 19 of the manual)

http://d19ulaff0trnck.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/downloads/3993/im pulse-user-guide.pdf

Can you get this to work with the thing's controls...? And if you try it with the expression pedal, does it register...? Maybe it needs to be configured somehow, but it's not particularly obvious how...(it's definitely plugged into the right socket, right...?!)

yeah have it connected OK but have been trying the control setup but nothing.

Once you press control it says "movectrl" - if you use mod wheel or pitch bend etc., it recognises it but neither pedal (sustain or expression) has any sign of life. Obviously, sustain is working fine though and has done since I plugged my pedal in when first getting the keyboard.

I really thought this would just be a case of plugging the expression pedal in and it working

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs

...yeah...I'm stumped!

Novation have a how-to explaining the expression pedal on the X-Station, which makes me think it might not be blindingly obvious, but I can't find anything on the Impulse.

http://www.novationmusic.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=298

You need to try all combinations of connections to prove it's not simply the pedal wired wrongly for the input.

A spare stereo jack lead and a couple of crocodile clips should let you check it out - that's how I typically set my expression pedals up first time.

What I then do is create a stereo socket=>plug adaptor cable that crosses the wiring to where I need it and label it up 'FC7 to K2600', or such. This way I can leave the internals of the pedal as they came out of the factory. I have several pedals around the studio all connected through adaptor cables like this, so I can swap them around at will.

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

BJG - yeah, I'm thinking you win a prize if you get this working!!

Elf - I really appreciate your post but I struggle to make beans and toast and wouldn't have a clue

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs

Quote The Elf:

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You need to try all combinations of connections to prove it's not simply the pedal wired wrongly for the input.

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The Moog EP2 should really work straight out of the box. It's recommended without any caveats on Novation's website...

http://www.novationmusic.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=56...

...and the review in keyboard magazine confirms that: "The Impulse has the usual jacks for sustain and expression pedals, with the latter defaulting to expression (CC 11). I connected a Moog FS-1 momentary switch and a Moog EP-2 expression pedal, both of which worked without a hitch."

http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/novation-impulse-61/14788...

I can only think that:

a) Either the keyboard or the pedal is faulty, which seems unlikely
b) The keyboard needs a factory reset, possibly worth a firmware update if available
c) Configuration isn't as simple as it should be. (Are you using this Automap thing...?)

Time to hit reset methinks.

Quote:

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Please follow the procedure below to perform a factory reset on the Impulse.
1) Hold down the 'shift', '+' and '-' buttons then connect the USB cable to the Impulse.
2) You will now be in the boot menu. 'Exit' should be displayed on the LCD screen. Press the '+' button three times.
3) 'Fac Rst' should now be displayed on the screen. Push the 'Data' encoder three times.

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Firmware updates are done via Automap.

http://www.novationmusic.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=741

Quote Dee:

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Once you press control it says "movectrl" - if you use mod wheel or pitch bend etc., it recognises it but neither pedal (sustain or expression) has any sign of life. Obviously, sustain is working fine though and has done since I plugged my pedal in when first getting the keyboard

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Sorry if this is too obvious, but did you set up the expression pedal input to "CC" or "control change" and control number to "11" on the Novation itself?

I have the old Novation Remote 25, and if I remember correctly the expression pedal input was not even active by default

Cheers

I bought Mr Sax and The Trumpet a few years ago and reeeally struggled to make the programmes work, just kept getting a 'CC11 expression pedal not found' notice - the guys here were very helpful with the expression-pedal woes, but have you contacted Sample Modelling? They were great too. Best of luck.

Edited by kinglouis (11/12/12 09:12 AM)

Thanks again everyone for all the suggestions and comments.

I haven't been too well this past few days but will hopefully try and get this sorted again tonight. Frustrating doesn't do it justice!!

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs

Hi everyone, just a quick update.......I'm still stumped

I have contacted Novation support and they will get back to me - but it looks like it'll be after the New Year now, which is obviously understandable considering I don't expect anyone to answer my expression pedal query in between copious amounts of turkey and beer

Still very frustrating that I can't get to the bottom of this though

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Hail Hail and up the VSTs