babamama Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 Can anyone please explain to me WHY this expression pedal thing is SUCH A PROBLEM? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Martin Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 The PX-5S does not accept an expression pedal input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choppin Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 babamama, If you mean, "why do so many people consider it a problem?" I think it has to do with what people are used to. Organists especially use an expression pedal as a volume control. A lot of older keyboard players use it to control the volume of their synths. If people are used to doing something a particular way or using a particular tool, it can be difficult for them to be without that tool. With todays midi equipment, computers, and so on, I really don't see the need for a dedicated input - especially on a keyboard like the px that responds to one's playing style so well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leoaprilia2001 Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 I guess that expression pedal is a MUST for organ sounds! It's part of the player technique the usage of the expression pedal to obtain certain effects that are tipical of the tonewheels (Hammond) organ. I don't consider the PX-5S a viable option for "heavy" organ usage. Considering that the PX-5S is mainly a stage piano the expression pedal need was not considered by the engineers who designed the product. I believe that expression pedal is useful even for pads sounds (like strings) to obtain a better effect. From my last experience watching Steve Weingart at the Protocol II concert (my seat was less the 2 mt. on his back), I saw him using key velocity (touch) to obtain the same effect.It's more difficult but, I can tell you, the result was great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Saucier Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 Expression pedal? Never used one myself. Ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normski Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 If you are a gigging musician that really must have an Expression pedal. Your in trouble.There are work arounds, I've tried most. But I found the only practicle thing to use for master volume is a stereo analogue volume pedal. Such as a Behringer FVC100.I found the lack of an expression socket a simple but mayor flaw.I spent lots of time and money trying workarounds that were not seriously gig able. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Display Name Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 The Behringer FCB1010 is probably the best solution for gigging. Dual expression pedals so you can control 2 zones, up and down switches to change patches plus 10 filly programmable switches that can do anything from pull up favorite stage settings to play notes or even chords. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babamama Posted May 10, 2015 Author Share Posted May 10, 2015 The PX-5S does not accept an expression pedal input.Well I hope there mite be an up-graed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normski Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 The Behringer FCB1010 is probably the best solution for gigging. Dual expression pedals so you can control 2 zones, up and down switches to change patches plus 10 filly programmable switches that can do anything from pull up favorite stage settings to play notes or even cThe Behringer FCB1010 cant be used to adjust Master volume on a PX5s.Its also a monster size. Far too big for what it does. Its about half the size and weight of a PX5.What ever way it's put, Lack of an expression pedal socket is unforgivable to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piattica Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 The Behringer FCB1010 is probably the best solution for gigging. Dual expression pedals so you can control 2 zones, up and down switches to change patches plus 10 filly programmable switches that can do anything from pull up favorite stage settings to play notes or even chords.It should be interesting for all FCB1010 to share the configuration file to control PX5S volume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherscott Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 On May 11, 2015 at 5:25 PM, Normski said: The Behringer FCB1010 cant be used to adjust Master volume on a PX5s. There is a ROM upgrade for the FCB1010 called UnO which adds a bunch of functionality, including, I believe, the ability to program it to send sysex commands, which I think would allow you to adjust master volume. But for master volume, it is simpler just to put a plain analog volume pedal on the Line Out. The advantage of the normal operation of the FCB1010 (or other channel-specific expression pedal solution)--which also gets back to the general question of the thread about the benefits of these pedals in general--is to allow you to control individual parts that have been assigned to different channels. A common example is being able to fade strings in and out under piano. But any time you are splitting or layering two sounds, it can be useful to have a pedal that affects the volume of one but not the other, that's where you'd want to use an expression pedal rather than an analog volume pedal. For another example, let's say you've split the keyboard for playing left hand bass. What if you want to make your right hand sound louder or quieter without affecting the volume of the bass? A pedal is a great way to do that. Sure, you could also use one of the sliders, but that requires that you stop playing with one of your hands in order to make the adjustment. Typically, when playing LH bass, you can't stop that part. So if you want to adjust your right hand sound (piano, for example), you'll have to stop playing your right hand part, adjust the slider then go back to playing... an approach that is further complicated by the fact that there will be some guesswork involved in setting the level, as you can't play the part and adjust the level of the part at the same time. A solution for that problem that does not require an expression pedal would be to pan your bass sound left and your piano sound right, and then if you had an analog pedal on the right line out, you'd be able to use that to control your RH sound without affecting your LH sound. Of course, that limits you to playing mono sounds. Another use for an expression pedal is to introduce any other sound alteration, like modulation or filter, without having to use a hand. Again, if your LH is busy playing bass or some other part, it can be nice to be able to introduce effects like vibrato or filter sweeps on your lead part without having to use a hand. (Aftertouch is another way to do this on some boards, but not the PX5S.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojo Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 Sorry to resurrect an old thread. Does anyone know if this would work for midi volume control on the px5s. Looking at a px5s for gigging and need organ swells etc. Rather not use an inline pedal. https://www.boss.info/us/products/ev-1-wl/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Saucier Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 I can't personally confirm it can, but from my experience, it appears it is very likely it can do it. It can connect to any standard MIDI port, which is what is necessary to send MIDI expression messages to the PX-5S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojo Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 Thanks! Hopefully! Anyone have experience with this or any other compact midi pedals on the px5s? The behringer option is overkill for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choppin Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 Take a look at: MIDI Solutions Pedal Controller It should be able to convert any analog potentiometer (pedal) to MIDI data. That means you should be able to plug an expression pedal into 1 end and then run MIDI directly into the PX-5s from the other end. You can setup which CC you want to control. In most cases it would probably be CC 11 . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Saucier Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 Since it hasn't been mentioned in this thread, I'll add this. The PX-5S can perform swells and other constantly variable pedal type functions with a standard switch type pedal. The difference is the swell is programmed ahead of time by configuring pedal settings. Many users have "expressed" that they prefer this method over a standard expression pedal since it's consistent each time. If you prefer more freedom to control the range and timing of a swell with your foot rather than programming those things ahead of time, a MIDI based pedal will be the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojo Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 Thanks Brad! I have looked into this. Sounds great for swells. I'd still like to control volume throughout a song aswell so midi might be tho go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojo Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 (edited) Does anyone know if the midi volume control is a master volume control or can it be routed to the pre-amp stage etc? I don't have a px5s yet...still working out if it'll work for me. 27 minutes ago, Brad Saucier said: Since it hasn't been mentioned in this thread, I'll add this. The PX-5S can perform swells and other constantly variable pedal type functions with a standard switch type pedal. The difference is the swell is programmed ahead of time by configuring pedal settings. Many users have "expressed" that they prefer this method over a standard expression pedal since it's consistent each time. If you prefer more freedom to control the range and timing of a swell with your foot rather than programming those things ahead of time, a MIDI based pedal will be the way to go. Edited September 12, 2023 by jojo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Saucier Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 Each Zone on the PX-5S can be controlled independently through four different MIDI channels. For example, if you want Expression to control Zone 1 Tone, configure a MIDI pedal to send Expression data through Channel 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojo Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 Great! So versatile. I play mostly blues/jazz old school si usually just swells and volume dynamics for me but will be fun to lay with. I assume the amp section is assignable? I.e. I can assign the midi expression pedal to.the drive rotary speaker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Saucier Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 Do you mean to switch between fast and slow rotary speaker speeds? That would be a DSP effect parameter. A standard switch pedal can switch a DSP parameter like fast/slow speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojo Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 I mean just the volume. I can usually make do.with a push button for rotary speed. But a volume pedal connected to pre amp for example can be great to generate gain/ distortion as volume rises with the pedal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Saucier Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 Yes, that can be done as well. It's another DSP parameter in the overdrive rotary effect. Although that's a system exclusive message, so the functionality of the MIDI pedal will need to be able to send sysex as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojo Posted September 13, 2023 Share Posted September 13, 2023 Sounds promising. Just need to find out if these midi pedals will work. Be great if someone had experience with any of them other than the behringer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Saucier Posted September 13, 2023 Share Posted September 13, 2023 If you're on Facebook, join the PX-5S group and ask there as well. https://m.facebook.com/groups/PX5SPX560/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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