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Roland FD-9 - will it work?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:49 am
by Gnasher
As per title, will the Roland FD-9 hi-hat controller work without modification?

A previous forum post mentioned that the pedal "requires a resistor across ring/tip to get good range".

Re: Roland FD-9 - will it work?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:46 pm
by Gnasher
To add, if I:

1) set the far right switch on the MegaDrum down (high impedance selection)
2) set AltIn to "yes"

will it support the FD-9?

Re: Roland FD-9 - will it work?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:50 pm
by dmitri
I add the resistor by default to modules I build.

Re: Roland FD-9 - will it work?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:08 pm
by Gnasher
dmitri wrote:I add the resistor by default to modules I build.


Thanks Dmitri.

Mine is built by you, as you know.

So it will work then?

The pedal is quite expensive at £185, so I want to be sure.

Not sure of any other pedal that does proper CC control.
I think the FD-9 is the only one.

Re: Roland FD-9 - will it work?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:50 pm
by ignotus
Gnasher wrote:Not sure of any other pedal that does proper CC control.
I think the FD-9 is the only one.


Really?! I don't think so. I just had a look at your other thread where you tried to get a Yamaha controller working and I think I saw several things wrong with your config, so I wouldn't rush out and buy anything unless you're sure it's not compatible. Try this for the hi hat controller: set "type" to "Foot controller". For the cymbal edge: set it to switch, start with threshold at 0 and raise it 1 by one, squeezing the edge each time. At a certain value you should see aftertouch messages (and the MIDI LED lighting up each time). Play around with values in this range and the edge should work.

A very cheap, effective and easy DIY option is using a hall effect sensor and magnet - see here. The sensor I used there is out of production but there is a working alternative. Save yourself 180 quid ;)

Re: Roland FD-9 - will it work?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 3:31 pm
by Gnasher
Hello ignotus

Thanks.

I really can't find another pedal controller that offers a full range, instead of stepped.
Just the FD-9.
The Yamaha one is half the price, but looks stepped.
I'm referring to purely electronic pedals here, not hi-hat controllers on stands.

I have the Yamaha RHH135 working now. It's just that I hate it - maybe because it's a 10(ish) year old one from eBay.
It works but control is difficult.

I'm giving up on building a drum kit with a moving hi-hat for now.

I want a electronic controller pedal, and will use a fixed cymbal for the hi-hat.

Re: Roland FD-9 - will it work?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 3:35 pm
by Gnasher
To add:

You list the parts you used in the hall effect thread.

However, those links are now broken:

- Hall effect sensor: http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/index.php?main ... ts_id=2083

- Magnet: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-x-Bi ... b540824c30


Which parts did you use?

i.e. exact model numbers (if possible)?

Re: Roland FD-9 - will it work?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:30 pm
by ignotus
This sensor will work: https://www.bitsboxuk.com/index.php?mai ... ts_id=2084

As for the magnet, any neodymium magnet. Mine is 10 X 20 X 30 mm.

Re: Roland FD-9 - will it work?

PostPosted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 1:57 pm
by Gnasher
This pedal appears to work really well with MegaDrum.

Very smooth control over it.

Dmitri, do you have any advice on tuning the pedal?

i.e. chick settings, threshold, etc.

Re: Roland FD-9 - will it work?

PostPosted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 6:16 pm
by Gnasher
OK, so I made some progress from following this page:
https://www.megadrum.info/content/hihat-pedal-settings

I'm using the new algorithm.

I understand the chick max and min velocities, observing the raw info on the screen when operating the pedal.
I have set those OK.

But I really don't understand chick dead time. When looking at the raw data, which level am I observing:
1) velocity
or
2) time

which one?

I can get it to output a chick MIDI note OK, but I cannot get a splash note to output.