FR-8X Re-program the Spacebar

[gerrymar]

As chin switches can be program to do various functions, is there away to program the spacebar to do the same? I would like to use the spacebar to perform a "Pitchup or Pitch down" and save it in the registry as a User Program.

 

[mbaggio65]

In the manual section 15.5 Master bar the available functionality is listed, so the answer is no:
This parameter allows you to choose the Right Hand register (1~14) that can be activated by pressing the Master bar. This is only possible while the Accordion section is play in solo (no other Right Hand section are selected) or while the ORCHESTRA part is set to “CANCEL”. In all other cases (High, Low keyboard modes), the Master bar is used to mute the ORCHESTRA section.

Quite frankly it wouldn't make much sense to use pitch bend (up or down) on the master bar as it would be mechanically challenging. Why don't you set this feature on aftertouch of the sound? Works fine for me.

 

[JerryPH]

Not logical. The master bar is nor as long as the keyboard and trying to hold a chord or notes while hitting the space bar is completely awkward and IMHO useless. The 8X has aftertouch, playing the notes/chords, whatever, it is ridiculously easy to just increase hand pressure to
‘activate” the pitch bend, that is something that I often do in a few songs.

Works well, is 100% reliable and easy.

 

[gerrymar]

The reason I was asking, In this demo video for an 8X button accordion it looks as the spacebar is being used as a pitch down effect. In part of the video he does use pressure on the buttons to get the pitch bend effect. I've used the after touch as well but it seem I really have to exert a lot of pressure on the keys and I haven't found the adjustment to lower the pressure. Maybe I'm just getting week.

 

[Alan Sharkis]

I’m mo expert on the 8x, and certainly not on any sort of CBA. I watched the video very carefully and it seems to me that when the accordionist seems to reach for the master bar, he’s actually doing something else and those are not the events that produce a pitch bend.

I used to have an amateur band, in which I often had to supply the sound of a clarinet, complete with trills, ornaments we referred to as “Krechtsn,” and pitch bends, usually downward. I accomplished this with an acoustic accordion equipped with MIDI and a glide pedal.

My FR-4x has pitch bend by default built into the uppermost row of bass buttons — not the most convenient spot. If I had to do what I did then with the 4x, I’d need a Greg V Pedal to do it conveniently.

So, hang on to those chin switches. I know one guy, an 8x player, who does pitch bends with them, and he’s happy with the way it works out.

 

[gerrymar]

I’m mo expert on the 8x, and certainly not on any sort of CBA. I watched the video very carefully and it seems to me that when the accordionist seems to reach for the master bar, he’s actually doing something else and those are not the events that produce a pitch bend.

I used to have an amateur band, in which I often had to supply the sound of a clarinet, complete with trills, ornaments we referred to as “Krechtsn,” and pitch bends, usually downward. I accomplished this with an acoustic accordion equipped with MIDI and a glide pedal.

My FR-4x has pitch bend by default built into the uppermost row of bass buttons — not the most convenient spot. If I had to do what I did then with the 4x, I’d need a Greg V Pedal to do it conveniently.

So, hang on to those chin switches. I know one guy, an 8x player, who does pitch bends with them, and he’s happy with the way it works out.

Thanks Alan, I watched that video at least a dozen times and I had a hard time believing the spacebar could be used for anything else. With the amazing things the 8X can do and considering all things being electronic maybe that option was accidentally left out.
Thanks for your reply.
Gerry

 

[JerryPH]

He wasn’t using the spacebar at all, he was just doing what 99% of all CBA players do and placed thumb on the side of the keyboard and his fingers pressed downward pressure on the buttons, not the spacebar.

 

[gerrymar]

He wasn’t using the spacebar at all, he was just doing what 99% of all CBA players do and placed thumb on the side of the keyboard and his fingers pressed downward pressure on the buttons, not the spacebar.

Jerry, you are right as I did notice the thumb on the side of the keyboard. The 8X seems to have almost endless adjustments and I though what are the chances just incase there was something in the manual I may have missed.
Thanks for your reply.
Gerry