MIDI Pedalboards

[Kasim]

Hello,</p>

I wonder if anyone could offer a recommendation for an inexpensive MIDI pedalboard for use at home? Ideally, it should have the full 32 notes and definately be velocity-sensitive. I've seen an interesting Hoffrichter board, but I couldn't find out if their pedals are velocity-sensitive or not.</p>

I've seen this (http://www.hammondorgan.co.uk/bass.htm) from Hammond, and I wondered if anyone knows of something similar but much cheaper available in the UK?</p>

Thanks very much,</p>

Kasim
</p>

[Clavier]

Velocity-sensitive? Thats a rare option for a pedalboard. Only the most synthesizer-like electronic organs would have something like that. The only one I can think of at the moment is the Yamaha HX-1, but that, like all Yamaha's organs only has a 25 note pedalboard. I have never seen a thirty-two note pedalboard with velocity-sensitivity. </p>

Keep in mindthat the switches have to be far more sophisticated for such a feature to work. If you think the a Hammond pedalboard is expensive, (and it is), wait until you see what it would cost for what you are talking about, if it does exist. Chances are, you are going to have to make it yourself.</p>

Out of curiosity, what kind of music are you planning to play that would require such an unusual option?</p>

[Orgrinder010]

<DIV>Chances are, you are going to have to make it yourself.

<BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></P></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I'd put money on those odds.*</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Velocity-sensitive pedals are not really something you'd find on an organ. I think you'll find most organs use simple on/off switch contacts for the pedals (Some even use optical sensors, with is kind of neat).</DIV><DIV>The only instruments I can think of that would require it is perhaps a pedal Harpsichord or pedal Piano?*</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV>

[Kasim]

Thanks alot for the info, I didn't realise it was such a rare feature. I saw products like the velocity-sensitive boards from Fatar (http://www.studiologic.net/mp-117.html) and saw that they can make a 17-note version of exactly what I want for only £260. Even double that price for a 32 note version seems reasonable, but I've not really found anything. Hopefully someone here may have come across something like that..? Unfortunately I think building a MIDI pedalboard is well beyond my abilities.
</p>

I'm currently more of a piano player than an organist to tell the truth, but I'm interested in a pedalboard I can use with my existing MIDI keyboard.I play jazz and I've tried some velocity sensitive pedals and I really enjoyed how expressive they were when playing.
</p>

[afuller5]

Hi all,</p>

</p>

As I recall from the literature the Roger's W5000 had a velocity sensitive 25-note pedal board. I have never played this organ so I don't know. Also, it is no longer in production.</p>

</p>

I have a Roland AT-90 (essentially the Roland equivalent of the W5000). It does not have a velocity sensitive pedal board (25-note), but, according to my tech, the pedal contacts are velocity sensitive. Apparently, the Roland just does not use the information.</p>

</p>

Later,</p>

Allen</p>

[BCSchmerker]

Thank you for giving me a picture of the problem. I'm currently doing research on what sensor technologies are needed in building a console for a home organ, and full velocity control in attack and release on all keys is one of the requirements that I've set (aftertouch is not a factor except on theater builds, and I tend toward classical myself). Due to the number of audio channels that I anticipate needing, I'm planning it around a blade-server array with each card running an independent Hauptwerk application--a bit like the circuit cages that Allen, Phoenix, and competitors use to meet polyphony requirements.
</p>

Hammond Suzuki, Roland and Hoffrichter Kirchorgeln have flat MIDI pedalboards with velocity tracking; but velocity-sensing electronics in a concave radiating pedalboard pose manufacturing difficulties, as the circuitry has to be either on curved boards--a bit like the Model F keyboards that International Business Machines developed for mainframe terminals in the 1970's--or point-to-point wired consistent with the internal harnesses of organ consoles. I'll probably have to fabricate the pedalboard myself, as I haven't access to technical drawings of how digital organ manufacturers might have solved the problem using magnetic sensors.
</p>

[Electron]

Don't envy you on that job my friend, but very best of luck, keep us posted with your progress.

[BCSchmerker]

Addendum: Classic Organ Works (http://www.organworks.com/) offers a 32-note concave radiating MIDI pedalboard (http://www.organworks.com/Web/products/products.asp?productid=25&amp;categoryid=17&amp;category=M IDI%20Works) in their MIDI Works product line, but it is NOT velocity-sensitive and therefore fails my requirements in terms of a pedalboard that will allow me direct control over attack and release--critical in replicating the response of a properly-regulated tracker organ. It is suitable for replicating the fixed response characteristics of pre-computer electric-action instruments.