Roland FD-9 - will it work?

[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".

[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?

[dmitri]

I add the resistor by default to modules I build.

[Gnasher]

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.

[ignotus]

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

[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.

[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)?

[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.

[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.

[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.