Friday Tip: Pedal Power

Here's a follow-up to last Friday's tip on creating an authentic sounding wah with the Pro EQ. That's fine, but what if you want to control it with a footpedal instead of a mouse? Keep reading.

First, you need a pedal that generates MIDI data. There are several options. Most keyboard controllers have an expression pedal input. Plug an expression pedal into this, and the controller will likely output controller 11 over MIDI. You may be able to assign this to a different controller number (see your hardware's documentation); however, this probably won't be necessary.

If you don't have a keyboard (or floor multi-effects with a pedal that produces MIDI out), then check out the Pedal Controller, a small box from MIDI Solutions. This accepts an expression pedal input and outputs your choice of MIDI controllers. (For do-it-yourselfers, the circuit board is small enough you can probably mount it in a pedal if you want a stand-alone MIDI pedal.)

Assuming you're using a keyboard with an expression pedal input, you now need to add the control surface to Studio One if you haven't already. Call up the Options menu, and add the keyboard. Here, I've added The Laboratory controller from Arturia.

Next, you need to map the pedal. Go to the right-hand side of the Control Link menu and select the device to open the Device Control map. Note that The Laboratory is selected as the device.

If you can't see the right section of the Control Link menu, then your monitor resolution is probably 1600 pixels wide or less. Another way to open the Device Control map is to open the Mix view [F3], and then click on External in the Console navigation column (to the far left of the Console). This opens the External panel; double-click on the desired device in the External panel.

Now click on the Device Control's MIDI Learn button, and then move the footpedal. As if by magic, Control 1 appears, with its controller number assignment.

Now whenever you want something in Studio One to react to the footpedal, you just select Control 1. You can also rename this-perhaps not surprisingly, I changed Control 1 to Footpedal.

Now let's suppose you want to control the Pro EQ Mid Frequency (Freq) control, which we used last week to vary the wah frequency. It's simple:

Vary the Freq control.

Move the pedal.

Right-click on the Freq knob.

Now choose the desired assignment-in my case, Assign MF-Frequency to Footpedal on the Laboratory. Move the pedal, and it will change the frequency.

However, you probably don't want the pedal to cover the full frequency range, but just a typical wah's range so you have more precise control. We have a solution for that, too. Instead of right-clicking on the knob and assigning it to the footpedal, assign it to a Channel Macro Control, like Knob 1. Open up the Channel Editor, right-click on Knob 1, move the knob, next move the pedal, and then choose Assign MF-Frequency to Footpedal on the Laboratory. (By the way, you can assign pretty much everything in Studio One to a controller using the right-click + move controller + choose assignment protocol.)

Now you can use the Transition settings graph to limit the pedal's range. Alter the curve shape to a response you like-it doesn't have to be linear-or even change the sense of the pedal travel so that pulling back on the pedal raises the wah frequency.

Once you've done this kind of assignment a few times, it will become second nature and you'll be able to take advantage of pedal power for increased expressiveness. So put your foot down, get on the good foot, or put your best foot forward-the choice of clich s is yours!

LINK:	http://blog.presonus.com/index.php/2018/05/04/friday-tip-pedal-power/...
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