VirtualAccordionist post_id=47811 time=1498658892 user_id=2348 said:
It is very impressive to see that there are people like Ewe who are able, either on their own or with the help of their friend Greg, to get this working. I was especially impressed by the fact that Ewe was able to get the FCB1010 to invoke the UPG Up operation on the V-Accordion. That, or its equivalent on any other instrument I have played (Roland BK-9 keyboard, Roland BK-7m module), is what I consider to be the most important pedal operation of all. Its the king of the kings. Its what allows me to step through a Sequential Multi Part Orchestration, a technique that I use in all of my best performances. Notice I said best not good. Alas, I am a mediocre musician. But never mind that.
I am also impressed by messages posted to this thread by people who seem able to accomplish the same as Ewe. Although I do not understand your messages (sorry, they are too technical), you seem to know what you are talking about. All I can say is, Good for you. You are much better than me.
Of course, over the years I have seen a few people accomplish similar things using the Behringer FCB1010. Impressed by such demonstrations, several years ago I purchased the FCB1010. Unfortunately, either because of my limited intelligence, or because I do not have a friend like Greg, I was unable to get it to work. I remember how the key to programming the FCB1010 was a flow chart diagram that came with the documentation. Unfortunately the diagram was a convoluted mess of boxes and lines the exact purpose of which I could never figure out. And it is not because I did not try. Believe me I did. Over a six month period I put many hours into the project. But I was completely lost. The bottom line is, I was then, and I still am now, completely lost in the subject of how exactly MIDI is used to control various functions and features on remote devices. I do not understand how the messages are constructed. I do not understand how to program them. I do not understand how to use them. I purchased 5 textbooks on MIDI and spent many hours reading and studying, but with little avail. Those books only talk about how MIDI is used to specify music, not how to control remote devices.
Ironically, I notice in Ewes video that he used some kind of Magic Box called an Event Processor. Well, well. Isnt that just ducky. What the heck is that thing? Whats its exact purpose? Is the fact that I did not have such a magic box the reason why I failed? I dont know what that box costs, but it does increase the cost of the MIDI setup. It is also interesting how Ewe admits that he programmed that box with the help of his friend Greg. Oh, if only there was a Greg in my life.
It is interesting how in my experience every person I have met who seems to have succeeded in setting up a MIDI system from the ground up has said, I dont actually understand it myself, I have this friend who helped me do it. I guess I just dont have enough friends. Hmmmm...
And I should mention that although I dont consider myself to be in the upper range of human intelligence, I did manage to complete an engineering degree and work many years in various positions in the electronics industry, the last of which was as a Windows systems programmer using C++ and the Windows API. But evidently that experience does not seem to be sufficient background for me to understand MIDI. Who knows? Perhaps that background was detrimental to understanding MIDI? Could be...
Because of my inability to comprehend MIDI, when it comes to pedal units, I have only succeeded with proprietary pedal units, like the Roland FC-7 for the BK-9 keyboard and BK-7m module. Its operation is specified by some menu of the instrument. By relying on some Menu Feature of an instrument, I am able to pick a standard feature or operation that I want a particular pedal to do without myself performing any programming. With the FC-300, if I want Pedal #5 to invoke the UPG Up operation, I simply go to the appropriate menu on my FR-4x, pick an item conveniently called UPG Up (what a novel idea - speaking English - who would have guessed that would work?), and then save my selection on the 4x. No programming of the pedal unit, no magic boxes, no convoluted incomprehensible programming diagrams, no obscure MIDI codes, no need for a friend called Greg, no pulling my hair out, no frustration.
So, to those ordinary folk like me who are reading this thread, beware that accomplishing the necessary programming to get the Behringer FCB1010 to do the UPG Up operation on your FR-4x, as I can so easily do on my 4x using the Roland FC-300 pedal unit, may require considerable effort and technical skill on your part, skill that obviously I do not possess. If you possess it, great. Go ahead. But if you dont, you may need a friend called Greg. But I consider it totally beyond my skill set. Also, since the FR-4x does eliminate the need for me to program my FC-300, I have not, nor am I interested in, figuring out how to program it myself from the ground up. Why should I? Ive already got it working using an easy to understand menu. Isnt that how musical instruments should be designed to be used in the first place? And even if I did understand the technology, what about my time? Sure Id save considerable money with the FBC1010, but even if I did understand what to do, what about my time spent getting it to work? With the FC-300, rather than spending hours trying to figure out obscure MIDI codes, I can spend more time playing my instrument. I need more practice time.
Actually, from a quality point of view I found the physical construction of the Behringer FCB1010 to be impressive. It is very solidly built for the rigors of stage performances. I also liked that it has more pedals than the Roland FC-300. On the surface the Behringer seems very much worth the low price. Too bad I couldnt figure out how to use it. Unfortunately, no matter how well built a product is, no matter how attractive the price, its of no value if I cant figure out how to use it. I got rid of my FCB1010 vowing to never again buy another MIDI pedal unit. It was only when I saw in the FR-4x owners manual how I could define my pedals using a menu that I worked up the courage to buy the Roland FC-300. I agree that it is more expensive, but because for the first time I can actually connect a pedal unit to my V-Accordion, something that I have wanted to do for years but could never figure out how, Roland could charge $1,000. I would still buy it in a flash. To me, it quadruples the value of my instrument.
Maybe after I die and go to heaven Ill meet up with Ewes friend Greg, and he can explain the whole thing to me. But maybe I still wont understand it.
I envy you guys who seem have the skill to program and get working the FCB1010. But lucky for me, the Roland FC-300 exists and lucky for me it has been properly integrated into the operating system of my FR-4x such that I can easily use it. To me its the best $450 that I have spent. To those who would like to have pedal control of a V-Accordion and are attracted by the lower price of the Behringer FCB1010, BEWARE. Its not easy to get working.
Leon
