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...I can't find any product like the MIDI foot controller (FCB 1010). I used to have a Lake Butler MIDIgater, which is kind of the same thing. You know, you can program a bunch of program changes (or other MIDI commands) to a bunch of different MIDI channels, assign that bunch so that you can stomp one button and all five of your MIDI devices on different channels get unique program changes sent to them.

Anyway, I'm not totally above buying the thing, although I am not crazy about Behringer in general and my soundman will laugh at my hypocracy after I scolded him for buying Mackie knockoff Behringer boards.

Any other units out there y'all know of?

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Rod Gervais Thu, 06/26/2003 - 09:32

Ya know - if i were a professional studio person - i would never touch Behringer gear - but for my home studio - i really gotta say - it's has given me a lot - without a lot of the costs.

I have personally not had anything i own of their gear give me a problem.

So till i finally decide to go pro - i'll keep using and buying their equipment.

But then again - i own mackie gear too - so maybe i'm just crazy........

Happy Hunting

Rod

anonymous Thu, 06/26/2003 - 19:06

It's amazing how many folk's dis Behringer products. I have several of their products and have not had any problems with them. I feel you get what you pay for, but with the Behringer Line, you get a little more for less in most cases.

In a home/project studio you must cut some corners. So in my case I have a decent tube pre and ad/da interface and the room is tight.

As time goes on I pick up better equipment.

Only my2 cents

Mike :w:

Todzilla Fri, 06/27/2003 - 04:39

Mike,

I halfway agree with you. Bottom line is I think Behringer does rip off Mackie, if not in actual design at least in market niche, and I've had exemplary customer service from Mackie.

I am much less hesitant to get Behringer stuff that doesn't intrude on the actual signal path, such as this foot controller.

It looks like it'll do what the other units mentioned will do for pennies on the dollar. And if it ain't pollutin' my signal path, it could just be the trick!

Rod Gervais Fri, 06/27/2003 - 05:33

Originally posted by Todzilla:
Mike,

I halfway agree with you. Bottom line is I think Behringer does rip off Mackie, if not in actual design at least in market niche, and I've had exemplary customer service from Mackie.

I am much less hesitant to get Behringer stuff that doesn't intrude on the actual signal path, such as this foot controller.

It looks like it'll do what the other units mentioned will do for pennies on the dollar. And if it ain't pollutin' my signal path, it could just be the trick!

I have heard that Behringer makes a habit of reverse engineering other companies products - and then uses that data to design their own gear -
now - although i might personally not take that sort of route - it appears that they do it rather successfully - if they really do it at all - and then make certain they do not infringe on copyrights.

If they in fact do this - that would certainly explain why their costs can be so low - they don't have to pay the big bucks for R&D that other companies are stuck with.

Once again - if i were a pro - in a studio - their gear would not be what i was looking for - but for home production i have no problems.

Just one man's opinion - but if i didn't have an opinion i wouldn't be worth anything - never mind much..........

Happy Hunting

Rod

anonymous Fri, 06/27/2003 - 07:08

I have heard many of the stories about Behringer vs. Mackie. It is true to some extent that Behringer knocks off many of the Mackie products.
The courts have said it so we should trust that this is true.

If I remember correctly, Behringer worked for Mackie and had a sizable contribution into R&D functions of Mackies success before thier break up.(please correct me if and where I am wrong)

I don't think reverse engineering is the right thing to do in all cases. Though on the other hand I believe it to be a very good educational tool for folks trying to learn the design concepts of newer technologies.

Like Rod said, If I were to go pro then I would get the big ticket state of the art stuff but for now, Bang for the Buck is what is needed.

Mike :p:

Nate Tschetter Fri, 06/27/2003 - 12:09

Howdy

Regarding the original topic, the Yamaha I mentioned is really a kickass unit. It can even send out chord and all sorts of stuff.

Regarding the Berr stuff. Well, they did have to settle several lawsuits, that's a fact. So, if that doesn't bother you, give some of their stuff a try. I found the V-Amp sounds shittier than the Pod. The small mixers are good for "utility" purpose. I've never used their effects or other stuff but they always seemed to be blowing it out at GC so I suspect its not so good.

anonymous Sun, 06/29/2003 - 14:37

I have heard that Behringer makes a habit of reverse engineering other companies products - and then uses that data to design their own gear -
now - although i might personally not take that sort of route - it appears that they do it rather successfully - if they really do it at all - and then make certain they do not infringe on copyrights.

Reverse engineering is:
#1. not really OK, neat or polite
#2. done by about ALL companies

Did you knew there even exist companies that can do it for you ? You can for instance send an integrated circuit of a competitor to such a company. Then they lift the lid (actually etch it open) and then start drawing schematics for you.

I think Behringer did their copying (or whatever we should call it) a bit clumsy, and there are companies that could be called 'more ethical' I guess, but let's forget Behringer is the exception. _About_ EVERY manufacturer does this, in a certain way and/or to a certain extend. Sad but...

Bye,

Peter

anonymous Sun, 06/29/2003 - 14:45

Hi,

About MIDI floorboards - does anyone perhaps know how I could momentarily switch from and away again from say a certain program ?

Say I have a certain program setting at my footcontroller (FWIW, I'm using an ADA MC-1 right now). Then I'd like to stomp a switch to switch to another program as long as I hold the switch. When released, the 'original' program is selected again.

Anyone knows of a device that can do this ?

Thanks,

Peter

anonymous Mon, 06/30/2003 - 10:53

W.r.t. 'About MIDI floorboards - does anyone perhaps know how I could momentarily switch from and away again from say a certain program ?'

RE from Nate Tschetter:

Hmm...you'd need a pedal's whose "latch" status you can assign. I could do it with a Logic envrionment object or this new Novation Remote 25 keyboar controller. I don't know of a standalone pedal that will do it.

Yep, it needs to be 'real time' & 'stage-worthy'. Hmm too bad, but thanks anyway.
I'll throw the question at a few other related forums and if something materializes I'll let you know here.

Thanks,

Peter

V-AMP@yahoogroups.com

anonymous Sat, 07/05/2003 - 17:27

I did not read all the posts super clear but my understanding is that people are looking for a MIDI floorboard switcher.

I have a MIDI floorboard switcher that I use to run my Triaxis and T.C. Electronic G-Force. It's a DMC Ground Control made by those fellah's at Voodoo Labs. It works great!! I did not read the specs and the new one looks a little different from mine but I am conifident that you can hook up CC Pedals in the back. I have 2 Ernie Ball volume pedals that have a 1/4" from the outs to the CC Pedal inputs of my board. This is a wonderful machine with a BIG display that I can preprogram patch names into. Mine is cool cuz if I'm looking for a patch while playing, I just hit one of the buttons and it goes to the next bank and rifles through the names of the patches. I am able to look for the next patch I want to go to while staying on a patch in another bank.

Here's the web address for it:
Yamaha Motif Prices

Hope this helps!
conga

Todzilla Thu, 07/24/2003 - 10:12

UPDATE: I found a cost-effective alternative to Behringer - a used Rocktron MIDIMate. It should be arriving soon.

I had a Lake Butler MIDIgator device. It was pretty cool, albeit circa 1985. But somebody wanted to pay me too much for it, so I had to set it free.

Both the MIDIgator and the MIDIMate let you define songs (with abbreviated titles in LED) each of which has parts, each part of which can have a cluster of MIDI program changes associated with independent MIDI channels.

Thus, if the Verse of "My Pet Tapeworm" has my Roland D-50 on patch #00 via Channel 16
Yammy piano module on patch #04 via Channel 8
Korg Prophecy on patch #29 via Channel 2
Peavey Organ on patch #64 via Channel 1

I can define that as "part 1" Scroll to "My Pet Tapeworm" and hit a single button and voila, all instruments go to patches listed above. Hit the button associated with part 2 (MPTW Chorus) and a whole new collection of patch changes are sent out to the respective MIDI channels.

The biggest problem is that these switchers are all laid out for guitar players, so as a keyboardist, I'll have to learn "foot braille"

anonymous Sun, 02/06/2005 - 12:54

First of all, I don't understand most people's hate. I' have (had) many behringer products and I have nothing to complain about. I prefer the v-amp II to the (double priced?) Pod2, just for an example.

About the Fcb1010, I haven't seen anyone talking about the most cool thing about it (for me). Aside from the ridiculous price, the 10programs and 2 expression pedals, the fcb1010 has 2 relays! I'll explain:

I currently own a jcm900 dual reverb head along with a 1960A cabinet. For those who are not into guitar stuff, the jcm900 has two channels, switchable by a analog (jack) footswitch. What the fcb1010 has is two outs (relays) that control the jcm900 channels. There are no pedalboards (in a near price range) that have this feature...

So.. I'm buying one.. I'm just waiting for the namm stuff to apear so they'll drop the price (probably).

anonymous Sun, 03/06/2005 - 03:15

I have had a behringer board for a while, and have had zero problems, in fact the only reason I can see not to buy one, is if you have the money to buy something better.

My board is quite and works great in my little studio, I have recorded many many songs through that board

We are going to upgrade to a bigger board, and it will be another Behringer

There is no reason to hate on Behringer

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