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Expression pedal to change tempo

Posted: 05 Mar 2022, 16:35
by Simon
This would make one more usage of the "INPUT" of the Midronome, where you would be able to connect an expression pedal, like the ones you use with electric pianos or wah guitar effects.

In the setup of the Midronome, you would select input, then expression, then you would be able to calibrate from which tempo (pedal all the way down) to which tempo (pedal all the way up) it should move. Then, after leaving the setup (and restarting since all settings are saved automatically), the pedal would be by default deactivated, so that accidental press of the pedal does not change the tempo.

To activate or deactivate it you will need to double-tap a button. Once activated:
* not moving the pedal would let you control the tempo from the knob/drum pad/etc as usual
* as soon as the pedal is moved it would "jump" to its tempo value.

Example:
* You configure the pedal position "all the way down" to 100 and "all the way up" to 120
* Pedal is all the way down
* You activate the pedal
* You turn the knob to set the tempo to 140
* As soon as the pedal is moved the tempo will jump to 100 and then slowly go up (to max 120)
* Say you stop at 110 and let the pedal be there
* Then you can turn the knob to change the tempo
* As soon as the pedal is moved again the tempo will jump back to 110 and move from there with the pedal

Hope this is clear enough :D

Again let me know if you would like to see this feature implemented, and if you have any comments on the implementation!

Re: Expression pedal to make change tempo

Posted: 08 Mar 2022, 21:42
by Vladderman
YES! That would be really interesting indeed. It would make it much easier to use in a live setting (could be integrated in a pedal board for instance). Would only really work well if you could save the BPM range, maybe even create a preset for it on the device? But I'm definitely interested in this function. Would it need a seperate input on the midronome, or could you use the trigger inputs for instance?

Re: Expression pedal to make change tempo

Posted: 09 Mar 2022, 12:47
by Simon
No this is software-only change, the input will be the pedal input. Which means you will not be able to use this AND a drum pad, or this AND the DAW sync, as they all use the same physical input.

And btw software-only changes definitely have a bigger chance to be implemented. Hardware changes require a lot more time, testing, and money to make. Software change I can make them relatively quickly :D

Re: Expression pedal to make change tempo

Posted: 20 Mar 2022, 23:15
by Mindwarp
I was on my way to suggest this idea. You explained it far better that I would have done it with my bad English speaking 😂.

To expand this idea the tempo could also be programmed to start evolving at the push of a button/switch going from Tempo1 to Tempo2 to Tempo3 … in xxx (programmable) seconds !

It might need an expansion module with more pedal input !

Re: Expression pedal to make change tempo

Posted: 01 May 2023, 19:35
by Jevins
I know it's been a while since this thread began, but I wanted to bump it and ask: has this change been implemented yet? I just received my Midronome TODAY and the possibility of smoothly controlling tempo through an expression pedal was the largest contributing factors to my purchase.

Re: Expression pedal to make change tempo

Posted: 01 May 2023, 19:51
by Simon
None of these future features in this forum have been implemented, except the ones marked "IMPLEMENTED" :)

What's going to happen is:
1. I will select a bunch of them
2. They will each get a topic in viewforum.php?f=20
3. You will be able to vote and discuss them for a week or two
4. Then based on the votes and other factors I will decide which ones will be implemented first :)

Re: Expression pedal to make change tempo

Posted: 02 May 2023, 17:36
by Jevins
Okay! Great to know. Sounds like a fair process. I'll keep an eye out and vote for this feature for sure!

Re: Expression pedal to make change tempo

Posted: 10 Jul 2023, 17:15
by ladelfa
Jevins wrote: ↑01 May 2023, 19:35 the possibility of smoothly controlling tempo through an expression pedal was the largest contributing factors to my purchase.
I upvote this feature; it would be great to have tempo-via-pedal right on the Midronome.

In the meantime, I am using the MIDI Expression IO box from Audiofront to do this exact thing, sending CCs to channel 12 of the Midronome. It's a solid and very versatile little unit, although presently the manufacturer seems to be experiencing production delays.

https://www.audiofront.net/MIDIExpression.php

Re: Expression pedal to make change tempo

Posted: 11 Jul 2023, 04:57
by Jevins
ladelfa wrote: ↑10 Jul 2023, 17:15
Jevins wrote: ↑01 May 2023, 19:35 the possibility of smoothly controlling tempo through an expression pedal was the largest contributing factors to my purchase.
to do this exact thing, sending CCs to channel 12 of the Midronome.
https://www.audiofront.net/MIDIExpression.php
I'll have to check this out. I currently have a Morningstar MC3 which can connect to an expression pedal, and send CC messages. So maybe all I need to do is hook that up to the Midronome and I'll be good to go.

Re: Expression pedal to change tempo

Posted: 11 Jul 2023, 16:59
by ladelfa
The MIDI Expression box can send either a CC with a value between 0 and 127, or an NRPN with a value between 0 and 16,383. With its configuration software you can define upper and lower boundaries for the value, as well as draw a curve mapping pedal position to output value.

So if the Midronome supported both "tenths of a BPM tempo designation" and "set tempo via NRPN" (as discussed in other forum thread - here: viewtopic.php?p=1191#p1191 ), one could set up the MIDI Expression to send only values from 300 to 4000 on a logarithmic curve, and be able to sweep across the Midronome's entire tempo range with an expression pedal in very smooth granularity with what would feel like a natural ("linear") correlation between pedal angle and tempo.

That is the dream, anyway.