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Setting up Expression Pedals on Viscount 27 note pedalboard (2 replies and 1 comment)
I do not claim to have much knowledge of your organ. You seem to be using far more equipment than necessary just to get expression pedals working. However I would start from the basics and test the expression signals starting from their midi output from the pedals. Use midi-ox to inspect and trace the signal as far as you can. Note that there is a difference in the midi signal for Expression and Volume.
Your Archive expander is setting Volume so you probably need to feed it a Volume midi signal not an Expression signal. Also you need to send the signal on the correct midi channel - check what channel the expander expects.
If this does not solve your problem then come back and tell me your results.
csw900
Thanks very much for your reply. When I listed my devices it's not that I set it up to test the expression pedals, it's just what I was hoping they would control. I have Midi-ox but I can't connect the pedalboard directly as my laptop doesn't have a midi input (I use my Yamaha keyboard with a USB connection to my laptop if I want to record). I have simplified the set up to test the pedalboard and connected it directly just to my Yamaha PSR S750 which is considerably newer than the rest of my equipment. I set up each expression pedal in turn to transmit on channel 16 and to send control (7). I can check on my keyboard what is happening on each channel and there was definite MIDI activity on channel 16 but no control of volume. It was the same for both expression pedals. The Yamaha did play notes from the pedalboard on channel 3. The Yamaha was set up to receive control changes on channel 16.
I set up the pedalboard using the instructions I downloaded - e.g. using pedal C1 to assign control change 7 (volume) Could there be an error in the instructions?
Bryan
I can confirm that Midi Control 7 is Volume but there is no particular reason to use channel 16 for volume. You need to be sure that you are sending the midi Volume on the same channel that your Archive expander is expecting to receive it - the channel should be adjustable.
Just because your Yahama was set up to receive Control Changes on channel 16 does not mean that it expects to receive Volume messages on channel 16 - Volume messages can be sent on ANY channel but will be ignored unless the receiver is set up to receive Volume on the same channel.
There could be errors anywhere - that is why you need to test as you go.
You can send midi to your laptop if you use a midi to usb adapter cable, these are very cheap and do not have to be set up - just plug it in and it will work. (But be aware that there are many "fake" adapter cables for sale on the internet.)
csw900
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Hello, I have been trying to set up the expression pedals on my Viscount 27 note pedalboard to control, via MIDI, volume on my Ahlborn Archive expander, Viscount EXL expander and Hammond XB5. I have tried setting the expression pedals as per the instruction manual but nothing is happening. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks, Bryan.