Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    These things are great.
    
    I was going to buy an MX-8 to merge the outputs of my two keyboards
    for live gigs, but I am instead going to get the Pocket Merge.
    
    It's so small that I can store it with my main cable snake and it
    doesn't require batteries or mounting, etc. etc.
    
    	db

    
    Dave! 
    
    For the price I'd get a merger just to merge.......
    
    but the MX-8 does SO MUCH for $CHEEP$ that you should 
    reconsider.
    
    I mean, you need MORE THAN 3 of these little bugs to do 
    a fraction of what the MX does....which is about same $$$.....
    
    Great little boxes tho.
    
    rr
    

    I hadn't really intended to compare them.
    
    But see, the Anatek really does all that I need it to do.
    
    The nice thing about the Anatek is that I won't need to bring my
    rack, and because of that, it's size and because it uses phantom power
    it doesn't extend my setup or breakdown time at ALL.
    
    Basically, it's sorta simpler to deal with.  However, I imagine that
    once I got a few more of the things I'm planning to use for home
    recording (drum pads, another controller, etc), I will probably
    need an MX-8 to manage things at home in the "studio".
    
    	db

	I agree, the Anatek stuff looks like a real simple solution to some 
simple problems.  If you've only got a single  need, they are a wallet saver.

	I'd like to get the Pocket Channel thingy.  It would allow my master 
controller (my RD200) to send on an alternate MIDI channel at the touch of a 
foot switch for a quick solo.  I'd also be interested in the Pocket Pedal
unit as I have no means of sending pitch bend/mod wheel data  from my RD.  Now
that would net me somewhere between $150 and $200 for the two, but if I got the
MX8, I'd still need to get something to transmit pitch bend/mod wheel data.

	Dan

I just picked up a used Pocket Pedal, minus the user documentation. 
Is there anybody out there willing to copy some for me, or at least
provide me with a description about how I should use it. I did see
a demo before I bought it, but we only did very basic things.

Note .0 seems to imply that it does things that I didn't see. (auto calibration)
I'd like some more info on the '*' starred items below...

  Pocket PEDAL
*              Sends on multiple midi channels.
               Supports 1 continuous controller.
               Supports 1 momentary footswitch.
               Sends sustain,portamento on/off,sostenuto,start/stop,
               pitchbend,modulation,portamento time, and midi volume.
*              Auto pedal/footswitch calibration.
*              Forward/reverse pedal operation.
*              3 mode pitchbend operation.
*              Combine data types.
   
I don't currently have a volume pedal, and I'm thinking about building a simple
one, purely to control this device.

I could use some electronic advice about just what a volume pedal does.
What's the signal on the stereo plug that you connect it with.

any help, advice gratefully appreciated.

Rick

    
    
    re -.1
    
      Volume pedals are usually some some of variable resistor. I don't
    really know if you would need a "stereo" cord from the pedal to
    the Anatek, as two conductors should be all you need.
    
      I'm also interested in picking up one. Can you elaborate on the
    control dip switches and I/O on the little widget. I understand
    you don't have the manual but maybe we can dope it out...
    
    
    RichC
    

I went to Radio chack and picked up a 100kOhm linear taper potentiometer,
in the hope that it would work with the pocket pedal. I connected it up, in
what seemed to be the most likely manner. Center tab of the pot to the tip,
of the stereo plug, each of the other two pot tabs wired to the ring and 
sleeve. 

To my suprise, it worked the first time.  The pot cost me $1.99. The Yamaha
foot pedal the guy demonstrated at the store was $89.99. Quite a mark up,
even though it's packaging does let you use foot control. Mine requires a hand.
Still, for What I need, it works fine.

I also got a momentary pusbitton switch, and a mono 1/4" phono jack.
I mounted the pot, the phono jack and the monemtary switch in a little black
plastic box. The pot was wired thru a 3 conductor wire to a stereo plug
which connects to the pocket pedal.

The 1/4" jack was wired in parallel with the switch. I can either use the
hand activated switch built into my black box, or use a 1/4" cable to wire it
to a monemtary foot-switch. (i already had a momentary footswitch to for 
punck-in on my recorder)

Switch-pack switch 1 on the pedal is for volume. When you turn switch 1 on, the 
unit will send CC 7 nn, where nn is between 0 and 127, proportional to the pot.
It seems to send on channel one, but I have also seen it send on channels 1, 11
and 16. I can't recall how I got that to happen. There may be some 
auto-calibrate function happening here. Perhaps it sets up a channel to send on
based upon the channel number of the first note it receives. I'm guessing now.


I figured out what auto calibration is as far as the pot. The state of the pot
when power is applied to the pedal will determine which direction the pot will
need to turn to increase the continous controller. This will allow you to
select which direction a foot pedal will rock to increase volume. I understand
that this varies with different manufactures of pedals.

There is another switch for CC 1, (modulation). Works exactally like volume.
Volume (CC7) and modulation (CC1) continous controllers will both be sent if
both switches are on. They follow each other within a clock or so.

There is also a switch for pitch bend (PB). This can be used in conjunction with
the others as well. Keep in mind though, that they will all corrospond to
the same pot position. Pitch and modulation can be useful simultaneously.
Volume and pitch togather are not as useful (IMHO).

The switch pack is soo small, that you won't be able to change it during
a performance, unless you hire a gnome.

There is one more continopus controller. I can't recall which.

There are 4 switches that control what is sent when the momentary switch is
activated. Thet are CC 64 n thru cc 67 n I believe, but I don't recall
for sure. There is one switch labeled start/stop. I'm not sure what this is.
It doesn't seem to generate a midi message that I can view with my 
sequencer. I suspect that it may be midi song start/stop. I was able to
get my sequencer into an unknown state using it. 
Switchs work by sending "CC 64 127"  for ON and "CC 64 0" for OFF.

I still have a bit of experiemnting to do to really understand this.
It's fun 'reverse engineering' it to determine it's fuctionality. The only
thing is that I might miss some neat feature or function, if it is a bit
tricky, or difficult to observe. Hope someone comes up with a manual for me.

I'm real happy with it. I've been using it to record pitch bends in my sequences.
Since the MC300 sequencer I use can change and CC # to any other CC #, I have
been recording volume (CC7), then translating it to pan (CC10). Now I can
do sweeping pans, without step recording individual events.

I even used it last night to do a simulation of a slide guitar.

I'm enjoying this little gizmo. It's great when you have an El-Cheapo keyboard
controller, with no pitch bend or mod wheel.

>    but the MX-8 does SO MUCH for $CHEEP$ that you should 
>    reconsider.
>    
>    I mean, you need MORE THAN 3 of these little bugs to do 
>    a fraction of what the MX does....which is about same $$$.....
    
    I only NEED a fraction of what the MX does.
    
    However...
    
    I've pinned down a "stuck note" problem to the Anatek MERGE.  Mark
    Hastings is having similar problems with his so I have reason to doubt
    that mine is "broken" or that this can be "fixed".
    
    Sigh... this is the second goddamned merger that hasn't worked out.
    
    I'm ready to give up - I don't want to spend the bucks and rack space
    on the MX.
    

RE <<< Note 2164.8 by DREGS::BLICKSTEIN "I'll have 2 all-u-can-eat platters" >>>
    
>    Sigh... this is the second goddamned merger that hasn't worked out.

 	Since I'm familiar with the first situation (Yamaha merger unit), I
    want you to know that Yamaha's ROM update DOES take care of the merge
    problem.  'Course, its not as portable as the pocket merge...
    
    	Dan
    	    

    

    re: .8
    
    Sorry, just to set the record straight I don't know *WHAT* is causing
    my problem. When I attempt to run my Roland Axis (strap-on) keyboard
    with my EPS I get stuck notes on the EPS unless the EPS looses its mind
    first, which usually happens within 2 minutes.
    	The odd thing about this is that the Anatek pocket merge doesn't
    have to be in the circuit. Even with *nothing* going in to the MIDI in
    on my EPS, if the Axis is anywhere in the MIDI circuit, the EPS looses
    its mind.
    
    Hmmmm maybe I need a MIDI filter....?
    
    Mark

    Mark, does the Axis send the dread ACTIVE SENSING ?  I know my KX88 can
    cause my E-Mu EMAX (I) to play only 6 of every 8 notes or so, and
    occasionally to stick, when direct connected, unless I turn the KX88 
    on whilst holding the MODE switch down, which kills its active sensing 
    nocturnal emissions.
    
    karl

    
    Karl,
    
    	I don't know what the Axis is doing. I bought it used and have no
    manual, or other info for it. Your mention of ACTIVE SENSING is the
    first I've ever heard of it. Can you elaborate? How would I find out if
    I have a case of it?
    
    	BTW how the heck can my EPS get trounced when there is nothing
    connected to the MIDI IN?    (Do I sound frustrated???)  
    
           
    	thanks for the interest,
    	Mark

    Roland keyboards typically send ALL NOTES OFF when you release all the
    keys rather than sending individual note-offs (this is quasi-legal
    depending on how you choose to interpret the MIDI spec).  Ensoniq
    keyboards don't recognize this message (well, the new EPS-16+ and the
    latest OS Revs for the VFX-SD know about it).
    
    This would result in lotsa stuck notes.
    
    						Brian

    My Juno1 does not only send All Notes Off. It first sends all the
    appropriate Note Offs, and then follows with the All Notes Off.
    

    Hmm, that could explain something I noticed.
    
    The situation I have is an Ensoniq SQ-80 synth/sequ merged with a
    Roland RD-300 going into a Roland U-220.
    
    The U-220 gets the stuck notes on channel 4.  But for some strange
    reason, pressing any key on the RD (which sends on channels 1 and 2)
    usually gets rid of the stuck note.
    
    I know this makes no sense, but isn't that what a bug is?