Expression pedal - How to set a minimum volume?

ronsmits · Post by **ronsmits** » Sat May 02, 2015 11:04 am

When playing boogie songs, I usually have a bass-line which is similar to what the bass player is doing. When I play a solo and I increase the volume, I want just the right hand part to be louder and the left hand to remain the same.

So I made the following program:
A split of two identical piano sounds, with no change in octaves (so every key is in the pitch it would be in without the split);
The left hand part (Timbre 1) is set to a volume of 85;
The right hand part (Timbre 2) is set to a volume of 127;
The foot pedal (an EXP-2) is only switched on for Timbre 2, so it will only affect my right hand playing.

Right now, when I play a solo I can push the pedal all the way forward so my right hand playing will be louder than my left hand (85/127). But I have to be careful in pushing it back again, as it will go all the way to 0. And I want it to only go back to 85.

How can I set the minimum volume for the pedal on a single timbre?

WindriderMetal · Post by **WindriderMetal** » Sat May 02, 2015 1:25 pm

I'm not 100% sure this would work, but you could try assigning the volume pedal to the gain of an effect (such as a limiter, or compressor) so that when you push the pedal it cranks up the volume.. but when you pull it back, it just returns the timbre to its original un-effected volume.

ronsmits · Post by **ronsmits** » Sat May 16, 2015 3:00 pm

Thanks for the suggestion! I tried this and a few other things. Every option seems to mess with the colour of the sound...

So what I did now is add an extra timbre (or set of timbres, depending on the sounds I need) that is/are the same as my basic non-solo sound. I set the basic timbre(s) to a volume of around 80 and turned the influence of the footpedal off. The extra timbre(s) are set to 127, with footswitch turned on. Also, for piano I set the key range to just cover the right hand side.
So: the basic overall volume is 80 and when I play a solo, I push the pedal to get to 127. It still fumbles around a bit with the colour of the sound, but I feel it's better than the gain option. However, I can not use the expression pedal as a total volume control in this way.

I guess I'll still be looking for the 'right' way in three years time...

rammstein · Post by **rammstein** » Mon May 18, 2015 2:57 am

i have not used that kind of setup, but i have a suggestion. and this would only work if you use both Left and Right outputs, and you will be using the EXP-2 as a volume control for the left output:

- Set Timbre 1 to the left output, Timbre 2 to the right output, both at 127.
- Connect the left out to the Line In of the EXP-2, minimum volume knob to 50% (twist all the way to the right), then out to the amp.
- Connect the right output to amp.

Now, when you play, even if the pedal is fully-retracted, Timbre 1 will still have 50% volume (approx. 64-65 if it were controlling CC). Stepping on the pedal takes it to 100% (127).

I know this isn't exactly what you were asking about, but this might do the trick.

ronsmits · Post by **ronsmits** » Thu May 28, 2015 12:39 pm

Thanks rammstein. This will do the trick. However, this will only work in this particular setting. So if I then want to switch to a combo that needs the expression pedal to do more than control overall volume, I need to switch the cables around.
I think your option will make for a nicer sound though, as my way gives me a double piano sound during the solo/higher volume bits.