Need recommendation for Midi Foot Controller

[germanicus2112]

Howdy all.

 

Im looking for recommendations on a Midi Foot Controller. It would be used to control the following live:

 

-Godin xtSA driving a Gr30 outputting to a laptop driven gigastudio rig and a few outboard synths (alesis nanosynth, etc.).

 

-Godin acoustic signal sent to yamaha effects unit for acoustic (piezo pickup output) tone processing.

 

-Godin magnetic pickup output sent to v-amp pro for distortion tones.

 

I need to be able to switch different patches on the fly on the various units (gr30, v-amp pro, laptop midi, outboard synth units).

 

I know diddly about what units can do what and what are considered quality units.

A volume/expression pedal would be nice but isnt required.

 

Thanks for the help!

[Yek]

This requires more information from you. Is this one and the same guitar. If yes, are the different signals already split?

If all you use are presets on the different effects devices, then a simple MIDI controller will do that transmits Program Changes.
For example, you press 3 and all devices will switch to preset 3.
For this task check out MIDI controllers from Nobels, Rolls RFX, Tech 21 Midi Mouse, Digitech, Behringer FCB.

You may wanna go beyond this, and have (for example) preset 3 on your MIDI controller switch device one to preset 11, leave device 2 as it is etc. For this you need a MIDI controller that can transmit multiple Program Changes on multiple MIDI channels.
For this task check out MIDI controllers like Rocktron's Midimate, Axess MFC-5, Behringer FCB, ART.

If you also at times don't want to switch presets but just want to (de)activate an individual effect within a preset, then you need a MIDI controller that also can transmit MIDI Control Changes (on/off) over multiple MIDI channels.
For this task check out MIDI controllers like Rocktron's Midimate or All Access, DMC Ground Control Pro, Skrydstrup, Axess MFC-5 or FX1, Yamaha.

[germanicus2112]

The signals all come from the same guitar, and the signals will be split from the guitar (it has 3 outputs).

From hearing your response, I take it that it will also be necessary for each effects unit to have an assignable midi change channel so it only listens on the channel I want it to.

[Yek]

That depends. As long as you're just one of the outputs, it wouldn't matter if switching to another preset on one device would also switch other devices (on the other output lines) since those other lines wouldn't get any signal.

But indeed, to keep it clean you would have treat each output as a separate chain. Using separate MIDI channels is the right way to do that.
Next you have to decide whether you also need accees to MIDI CC's.

All in all, you're talking about a quite elaborate system here with those different devices. Lots of things to carry, possible ground loops etc.

Another approach would be to have less effects device, to insert the 3 different output signals into a switching device and use MIDI to switch between the signals as well as the effects presets. That would cut down on the amout of gear (I think).

[scottkahn]

Read this:
http://www.musicplayers.com/tutorials/guitars/2006/0306_MIDIFootControllers.php

After learning about the capabilities and use of MIDI foot controllers, there's a PDF with info about numerous controllers currently on the market, and the web site also has in-depth reviews of a few of the popular ones, too.