Pneumatics! Nah, dont think so, this would require some sort of air pressure supply wouldn't it?
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Pneumatics! Nah, dont think so, this would require some sort of air pressure supply wouldn't it?
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- Jan 21, 2010
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Yep, you have a foot pedal that when you stomp on it, it squeezes a bulb. Air is forced out along a plastic line and the pressure pushes something onto the key.
1 way valves in the bulb typically allow it to refill quickly and a spring returns the "finger" to the rest position.
1 way valves in the bulb typically allow it to refill quickly and a spring returns the "finger" to the rest position.
Thanks, but think I'll stick to the relay trick, still looking for a suitable heavy duty relay but think I should look into an old heater. There may be something suitable there.
No, computer is pre-USB, contacts are 9pin mini (I think that is what they are called!)
Got other things more important being worked on at the moment but have partially built a foot operated roller volume control with room on the device for a contact button. Have taken an old printer apart and retrieved a nice little motor with a geared down wheel which does a revolution in about a second. Plan to build this into a frame which will sit over the computer's space bar, then when the motor is triggered to do one revolution a cam will touch the spacebar and return to a neutral postion. This will trigger the program to start.
Hope to get around to finishing the job before Xmas but at the moment am cutting some rust out of the Mazda camperbus to make it respectable before the holidays.
Regards
Deigh
kelvinmead
- Nov 22, 2011
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- Nov 22, 2011
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http://www.alesis.com/controlpad and get the kick input if you want the easy purchase option.
the pads can be set to different parts of tracks, or mute tracks etc, or just use the plain kick on its own
the pads can be set to different parts of tracks, or mute tracks etc, or just use the plain kick on its own
Moderhater
- Nov 20, 2011
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I have a question, are you playing live for friends (say around a campfire) where you
want the backing to play with you. Or all you playing you're part and the backing while recording?
The reason Ii ask is because while recording over the last few years using multiple
DAWs I always found it easier to fix this problem on the software side by
making my backing music, then playing that in headphones while recording riffs
and then combining them in the daw.If its the other way around, then what we did was by a wireless
num key pad and assigning all the pattern switches and fx to those
keys.
Hope that might help.
want the backing to play with you. Or all you playing you're part and the backing while recording?
The reason Ii ask is because while recording over the last few years using multiple
DAWs I always found it easier to fix this problem on the software side by
making my backing music, then playing that in headphones while recording riffs
and then combining them in the daw.If its the other way around, then what we did was by a wireless
num key pad and assigning all the pattern switches and fx to those
keys.
Hope that might help.
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Thanks for reply..No, I do a certain amount of busking and also play for campervan rallies (my wife and I are campervan addicts!) So I have the rhythms for the numbers I wish to play on computer and I add the lead live! Most tunes I also have a solo unbacked arrangement and I like to play this first and then bring the recorded rhythm in for the last couple of choruses. So you see why I want to trigger the computer without taking hand or eye off the guitar!
Regards
Deigh
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kelvinmead
- Nov 22, 2011
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Great product and thanks but my computer has no USB!
http://www.google.co.uk/search?gcx=w&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=rs232+to+usb
davelectronic
- Dec 13, 2010
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- Dec 13, 2010
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I was just thinking that, conversion from usb to another interface, ive done usb to ps2 briefly, no pc control until i switch usb support on in bios, it might reduce the data speed a little, but there might be an alternative interface out there like one of the adapters in kelvinmead link.
I was just thinking that, conversion from usb to another interface, ive done usb to ps2 briefly, no pc control until i switch usb support on in bios, it might reduce the data speed a little, but there might be an alternative interface out there like one of the adapters in kelvinmead link.
Yes, but that isn't the total problem, there is only one input on my computer so I'd have to disconnect the keyboard or mouse and that is just too much trouble!
davelectronic
- Dec 13, 2010
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Hi again Deigh.
I am not totally sure what type of pc only supports one form of control for key board mouse, and other attachments if you want them, could you not incorporate a hub, what ever your connection is to usb, then on to a multiple point usb hub, surely it would support your data transfer.
I am not totally sure what type of pc only supports one form of control for key board mouse, and other attachments if you want them, could you not incorporate a hub, what ever your connection is to usb, then on to a multiple point usb hub, surely it would support your data transfer.
Hi again Deigh.
I am not totally sure what type of pc only supports one form of control for key board mouse, and other attachments if you want them, could you not incorporate a hub, what ever your connection is to usb, then on to a multiple point usb hub, surely it would support your data transfer.
My computer is an old B/W Macintosh, It has only one PS/2 input. Just had a look through a book of computer supplies and I see to my surprise there is such a thing as a USB to PS/2 adapter! Will purchase one on my next trip to the big smoke to see what it will do for me!
Thanks.
davelectronic
- Dec 13, 2010
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PS 2 to usb interface
As i said earlier ive used a PS2 pc connection to usb convertion, it was only for a short time for key board and mouse use, as usb support had not been set up in the pc's bios settings, so i needed it for access to the systems bios. I think it should work in theory, there may be a little compromise in the data transfer rate, but negligible i think, if 1 x usb works ok, then i would use a powered hub to extend the possible connections, the only down side is all that data trafic down one transfer port.
As i said earlier ive used a PS2 pc connection to usb convertion, it was only for a short time for key board and mouse use, as usb support had not been set up in the pc's bios settings, so i needed it for access to the systems bios. I think it should work in theory, there may be a little compromise in the data transfer rate, but negligible i think, if 1 x usb works ok, then i would use a powered hub to extend the possible connections, the only down side is all that data trafic down one transfer port.
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Just to let everyone know that the problem is still being tackled. I have decided on a mechanical approach and am building a 'finger' which is operated by a nylon thread (taken from a coil of replacement stuff for my garden weedwhacker!) running through 2metres of 3mm transparent tube. The other end driven by foot pressure is yet to be designed but I have an idea on what to do with it.
There is no hurry to do this, I work on it when bad weather prevents my working on my camperbus.
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If you want to keep a regular keyboard attached as well as your foot operated on you could get one of these http://www.versalent.biz/smarty.htm
Nice thing about usb is you can plug in multiple keyboards and mice.
Also I can not find it now but I saw where a guy had taken a keyboard and took off the keys he did not need then 'glued' on large round (sorry do not remember what) buttons on top of the keys that were left, he may have glued on extensions to get them a little above the keyboard or maybe they came with it. I am thinking there are round cabinet knobs that would work. These he just tapped with his feet. Quick, cheap easy.
Nice thing about usb is you can plug in multiple keyboards and mice.
Also I can not find it now but I saw where a guy had taken a keyboard and took off the keys he did not need then 'glued' on large round (sorry do not remember what) buttons on top of the keys that were left, he may have glued on extensions to get them a little above the keyboard or maybe they came with it. I am thinking there are round cabinet knobs that would work. These he just tapped with his feet. Quick, cheap easy.
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Nice thing about usb is you can plug in multiple keyboards and mice.
Great, but my computer is about fifteen years old and is not USB!
Also I can not find it now but I saw where a guy had taken a keyboard and took off the keys he did not need then 'glued' on large round (sorry do not remember what) buttons on top of the keys that were left, he may have glued on extensions to get them a little above the keyboard or maybe they came with it. I am thinking there are round cabinet knobs that would work. These he just tapped with his feet. Quick, cheap easy.[/QUOTE]
Not a bad idea but I need the keyboard at working height because it is used to open the program and select the numbers required. Cannot possibly consider trying to get my foot up to that height, I even have to go down on the floor to cut my toenails!!!
Great, but my computer is about fifteen years old and is not USB!
Also I can not find it now but I saw where a guy had taken a keyboard and took off the keys he did not need then 'glued' on large round (sorry do not remember what) buttons on top of the keys that were left, he may have glued on extensions to get them a little above the keyboard or maybe they came with it. I am thinking there are round cabinet knobs that would work. These he just tapped with his feet. Quick, cheap easy.[/QUOTE]
Not a bad idea but I need the keyboard at working height because it is used to open the program and select the numbers required. Cannot possibly consider trying to get my foot up to that height, I even have to go down on the floor to cut my toenails!!!
jackorocko
- Apr 4, 2010
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jackorocko
- Apr 4, 2010
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and that smart-y is not usb, it is ps2 which is as old as dirt.
I understood you wanted to use your foot, also that you have PS/2 connections. This would allow 2 keyboards to be hooked up, one on the floor as a footswitch. I think with the smart switch it only takes commands from one key at a time so you can't press spacebar on the main keyboard while pressing it with your foot switch keyboard at the same time. I could be wrong do not own one just read up on them.
What I meant by the USB comment is it is real easy with USB now, not so back when PS/2 was common.
Maybe I misunderstand something.
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