Advice for Expression and Switch Pedal for Kronos

Pedja · Post by **Pedja** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 10:46 am

I will be very appreciate if you will advice me what expression and switch pedal is best for Kronos? Thanks for advance.

amit · Post by **amit** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 11:11 am

Expression pedal : Korg EXP-2. There maybe many around from different
vendors, but why not buy one that is known to work best without any issues.

Foot Switch: Any You can Find Cheapest (usually Guitar amp Switches are quite cheaper)

I Hacked Myself a double foot switch (Parallel Switches)
Where one is On/Off Toggle, and Other is Like a Sustain Pedal (release to switch off) Great for Soft/Sostuneto or Holding for karma on/off.

Schmooster · Post by **Schmooster** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 11:48 am

Well done Amit - I hadn't thought of that - I'm confused as to how it works though: an on/off toggle first, followed by a push to break 'switch or pedal'?

Can you elaborate a bit in a pm maybe where I can give you my email for a schematic if I need it (providing it's not too much trouble and I don't understand your explanation lol) - I am an electronics engineer but I can't picture the setup - not your fault; I default to 'complicated' and work backwards sometimes, but in my head I'm just seeing two switches with the toggle over-riding the other - but then that's still on or off unless it works like a damper pedal? That would make sense - in fact that's genius, a toggle and a pedal in parallel (because for the benefit of those who may not know the pedal is a variable resistor giving a range between 0 and 128? between fully ON and fully OFF) but sustain as you describe it works like s switch - hence my confusion - well that and the drugs

Is sustain a switch or is it variable? I've always used a switch - but I'm not a pianist. Technically I'm not a keyboardist either, I'm just an idiot with long fingers.

amit · Post by **amit** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 12:06 pm

Schmoster, it's simply parallel Switches. One Switch has lock removed so it only woks as momentory.

you wire the second switch to the same wiring points. one node to tip and other to sleeve.

Whichever switch is closed acts as the trigger. if the locking switch is closed (ON) , the other switch has no effect as the circuit is already complete.

There is no variable resistor involved in switching operation.
It just a shunt.
The Half Damper is a different Beast.

A Sustain Pedal may or may not have a variable resistor depending on for what device/purpose it's designed for. again they may differ in implementation, like variable resistance vs voltage dividers where opposite differential might as well be of value like on kronos.

Pedja · Post by **Pedja** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 12:52 pm

amit wrote:Expression pedal : Korg EXP-2. There maybe many around from different
vendors, but why not buy one that is known to work best without any issues.

Foot Switch: Any You can Find Cheapest (usually Guitar amp Switches are quite cheaper)

I Hacked Myself a double foot switch (Parallel Switches)
Where one is On/Off Toggle, and Other is Like a Sustain Pedal (release to switch off) Great for Soft/Sostuneto or Holding for karma on/off.

Thanks amit for your suggestions. Does anybody have experience with Electro Harmonics Expression Pedal and Kronos?

4GodnWV · Post by **4GodnWV** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 2:08 pm

Perhaps wrote:
I will be very appreciate if you will advice me what expression and switch pedal is best for Kronos? Thanks for advance.

Korg - PS3 / DS1H / EXP2
All work really well.
4God

bmtg · Post by **bmtg** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 2:32 pm

I like the Yamaha FC7 Expression pedal. Has two physical setups, so you can choose the angle of your foot that you prefer (standing vs sitting). Very smooth, worked right out of the box, and sturdy so it stays put on the floor. (It does NOT have Audio connectors, so it will only do midi control.)

I used to have the EXP2 long ago, always thought it was a bit too light and plasticky so it moved around the floor too much. Maybe the new version is sturdier?

I had a cheap footswitch for sustain when I got the Kronos, but it was inconsistent with pressing towards the corner or edge. This was annoying because I had to feel around to make sure I was centered on the pedal before pressing. So I got a Korg DS1H and it works much better. Also solid, stays in place, and works consistently.

Cheers

Schmooster · Post by **Schmooster** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 4:17 pm

Thank you Amit, momentary action, gotcha! That's a great idea btw!

Sorry Pedja I didn't intend to hijack the post.

Pedja wrote: 'I would much appreciate anyone who can advise me on what expression and switch pedals are best for the Kronos? Thanks in advance for any advice'.

Paraphrased as I couldn't copy it.

Pedja Your computer art is amazing! Incredibly detailed. I too paint and draw - we're a creative bunch aren't we lol? Many musicians also paint or write - I think it's just part of being 'creative'. My wife has no 'hobbies' as such but she regularly uses an App to redesign our home - pity we can't live in the iPad - mind you, is never get any peace at all if I did.... Anyway I'm digressing again - check out his art guys from the links in his sig.

voip · Post by **voip** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:23 pm

The XVP20 expression/volume pedal is built like the proverbial brick sh**house.

.

fcoulter · Post by **fcoulter** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:36 pm

bmtg wrote:I like the Yamaha FC7 Expression pedal. Has two physical setups, so you can choose the angle of your foot that you prefer (standing vs sitting). Very smooth, worked right out of the box, and sturdy so it stays put on the floor. (It does NOT have Audio connectors, so it will only do midi control.)

One other advantage of the FC7 pedals is that you can connect them to each other. If you've got multiple keyboards (or one keyboard with multiple expression pedal inputs) having them stay together is a godsend.

(Use masking tape to label which pedal goes with which keyboard.)

Pedja · Post by **Pedja** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 6:20 am

Schmooster wrote:Thank you Amit, momentary action, gotcha! That's a great idea btw!

Sorry Pedja I didn't intend to hijack the post.

Pedja wrote: 'I would much appreciate anyone who can advise me on what expression and switch pedals are best for the Kronos? Thanks in advance for any advice'.

Paraphrased as I couldn't copy it.

Pedja Your computer art is amazing! Incredibly detailed. I too paint and draw - we're a creative bunch aren't we lol? Many musicians also paint or write - I think it's just part of being 'creative'. My wife has no 'hobbies' as such but she regularly uses an App to redesign our home - pity we can't live in the iPad - mind you, is never get any peace at all if I did.... Anyway I'm digressing again - check out his art guys from the links in his sig.

Schmooster, thank you very much, for your very polite words about my artworks. Nobody in this forum did this, it's logical in some way, because this is not a forum for cg. I am in this passion from long time, and I am very proud that after years of working cg art, I take a chance to be in Don Archers blog (director of MOCA, artist and establisher of MOCA). I have some artworks in soundcloud too, which are accompanying part for my music. I made a great pause in playing music, and after 20. years I came back, and I am very happy because of that, this change my life again.
Thank you to all your suggestions guys I really appreciate this. I wish you all best in life and in the music.

4GodnWV · Post by **4GodnWV** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 7:29 am

bmtg wrote:
(I used to have the EXP2 long ago, always thought it was a bit too light and plasticky so it moved around the floor too much.)

The EXP2 does feel like junk. Works well with the Kronos though when calibrated properly. I play in my church on a carpeted stage. I added a strip of 'Velcro' to the bottom of each of my pedals. No more chasing.

Pedja · Post by **Pedja** » Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:34 am

4GodnWV wrote:bmtg wrote:
(I used to have the EXP2 long ago, always thought it was a bit too light and plasticky so it moved around the floor too much.)

The EXP2 does feel like junk. Works well with the Kronos though when calibrated properly. I play in my church on a carpeted stage. I added a strip of 'Velcro' to the bottom of each of my pedals. No more chasing.

How you calibrate expression pedal, 4GodnWV? Please explain to me, what I have to do? Because I didn't find, in global part of OS segment, expression pedal calibrating. I bought switch PS-3 and expression EXP-2 pedal from Korg. With switch pedal I get what I expected, but I have to say that I am disappoint with EXP-2. I expected much more from this pedal, I connected pedal ok (with original orange cable), but this pedal works very similar to volume pedal. I tried to assign to some other function (to 1 of 8 KARMA knob and this is usable) and this is decent. But, from my point of view sound modulation with EXP-2 are very minimal. Maybe I have to use only special sounds or combies for this pedal, I don't know? Maybe I have to know something which I don't. Thanks for all your attention.

4GodnWV · Post by **4GodnWV** » Mon Jul 03, 2017 12:22 pm

Pedja,

So sorry, I misspoke. I use a DS1H 1/2 damper pedal - that pedal can be calibrated if you go to global settings.

On the EXP2 - make sure you are using output #2 on the left side of the pedal, and that the slider on the right side of the pedal is set all the way forward to "10".

The unit should have come with an orange TRS cable. If not, make sure you are using a TRS and not a TS 1/4" cable.

I use my EXP2 as a volume control for individual timbres. For example add strings to a piano sound or add a string section to an orchestral horn sound.
Works well, smooth travel.

Hope this helps. 4God

Pedja · Post by **Pedja** » Mon Jul 03, 2017 12:41 pm

Thank you very much 4GodnWV for your very fast reply and instruction. You don't need to sorry, this is very polite from you. I guess that it was a mistake. Yes I am using #2 output, but I didn't put slider right to "10" position. I don't know how much this change things, but I will do it. I use original orange cable which I got with pedal.
You said that you use your pedal like volume pedal for individual timbres. Do you use your pedal in this situation like volume or expression pedal? Thank you for all your help, I wish you all best.