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Just thought I'd see if anyone has a latest foot controller they've tried (and could recommend) that handles a computer keyboard (particularly BIAB) really well. I plan to get one soon.
Thanks....
Cecil
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Apprentice
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Cecil, is there anything like that even available?
2008 Gibson ES-339 Custom & 2010 Les Paul Traditional. Fender SCXD Amp
BIAB/RB 2015 UltraPAK + Ketron SD2
Windows 7/64 Intel i5 3550 PC, Tascam USB144MKII
Behringer X1204 Mixer
Bose Companion 3 and/or L1 II w/T1 + SM58 MIC
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PG Music Staff
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Hi Cecil, If you want to start and stop Band-in-a-Box with a footswitch, these guys look promising: http://www.delcomproducts.com/products_USBFSW.aspYou'd basically set up one of these switches to send a Space Bar command. Thanks Kent PG Music
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Don't forget about the Frontier Design Tranzport, with native support in BIAB. They are discontinued, so you'll have to hunt, and they are more money, but they are very handy with BIAB.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Thanks for the update info, Kent and Matt. As you see (along with me), Dick, there's quite a few foot controllers that emulate a number of the mouse and computer keyboard operations. I pulled up the Web address sent by Kent and noticed the 903604-5M Delcom foot switch.....it appears to do quite a bit (a little pricey, but it does quite a bit). What Matt mentioned has also been one of the classic controllers that's been around for quite some time. I was thinking there just might be another NEW thingy floating around by now that someone has tried out and can report on.
Again, thanks for the info,
Cecil
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Maybe what we want is not just a foot switch but a foot operated mouse. This way you can use all the functions of BIAB on your laptop using your feet. With this said I have come up with the following feet operated mouse/mice via a Google search. Foot Control Foot Mouse Video Variolus Foot PedalsHope this helps.
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Danny,
You've wow'ed me.....I just got ta figure out which to get now!! I'm sure glad I started this thread and I'm sure glad you found it. This is exactly the kind of stuff I was hoping to hear about. If anyone has tried out any of these (or similar ones), let me know. I'll definitely be bringing my feet "into the picture" now, especially since I got a new hip over the Christmas holidays.
Thanks,
Cecil
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Shucks,
After pulling up the Delcom foot controllers and checking them out more closely (they seemed as if they were the appropriate foot controller for my situation), I noticed that they all require a 32 bit environment, but I have Win 7 Premium on my machine which, of course, is a 64 bit system. Seems as if I had another device a while back that I had a similar problem with (might have been my M-Audio Ultra sound card) but, if I recall correctly, I downloaded a driver which fixed the situation (i.e., it permitted the 32 bit specific device to work just fine in a 64 bit environment). However, I'm thinking this is probably an incorrect recall because we all know the Coyote DXi has to be used in place of the VSC DXi because the latter is a 32 bit thingy.
I'm saying all this in hopes someone might have a definitive "voice of experience" to straighten me out so I can decide if I need to start looking elsewhere for a foot controller,
Cecil
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I don't think I'd much like a foot-controlled mouse when using BiaB to play a live gig.
Too much goin' on there.
If you require more controls than the simple footswitch combos offer, you might consider a Scripting Program running on top of BiaB and programming it to mimic mouse moves in response to a single foot tap on a switch.
--Mac
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There is also a program called "Bome's Midi Translator" that will control functions and hot keys , in a computer, via any midi footpedal.
Maybe this is an alternative?
Mick
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First what do you want to control with your feet?
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Quote:
I don't think I'd much like a foot-controlled mouse when using BiaB to play a live gig.
Too much goin' on there.
--Mac
I wouldn't either Mac . . . but those slippers are wayyyy tooo cooool man!
Later
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To answer Silvertones, I'd like to use a foot controller to:
1. tweek volumes, tones, etc.
2. control the conductor
3. do a selection of the next tune to play (e.g., from My Favorites list)
4. to try other styles "on the fly" while a tune is playing
4. and numerous other things to
free my hands for other purposes. I agree with Mac, unless I got really good at using my feet, I suspect I'd use this thing during practice sessions, with friends during informal/relaxing sessions, and for possibly only very specialized things during a gig. Since I play a guitar, my hands are already quite occupied during sessions.
Catch ya later,
Cecil
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Cecil, I have found that the more proficient I get with some of the BIAB features that enhance live playing I find myself less in the need for any foot gear, and I too play guitar on the gigs. I have found that with my playlist loaded in the order I want them in my "Fav" folder in-between songs I can pretty quickly select what I want next. And because of the faster generation time of the realtracs I do get more tunes in per gig than I did before. The only thing I find that I may have to tweak from time to time while the song is playing is the volume of one instrument track or another. When this is required I just reach up to the laptop and adjust the volume for said track. And as most of my solos are somewhere in the middle of the tune I am just comping or playing chords at the time so me missing a strum or two while I make the adjustment is not even noticed by the audience. For the next tune I just reach up and click that little "F" to the left of the song title to get back to my playlist and click another and as they say in Nawlins . . . I am ret-to-go. Another reason why the foot controllers won't work for me on live gigs is that I play 99% of the time standing. Heck I wouldn’t be able to find my foot controller most of the time! Besides I play a lot of retirement gigs and with those slippers (that come with one of those controllers) and my thinning gray hair I may be mistaken for one of the clients.  But I do love those slippers man. Of course I am talking about live gigs here but for recording and arranging I can see where tweaking as you stated in your last post would be beneficial, especially trying styles on the fly. Take care of that new hip, just curious did they give you a 30 day no questions asked money back warranty i.e. BIAB? Happy New Year,
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Cecil, Quote:
1. tweek volumes, tones, etc.
2. control the conductor
3. do a selection of the next tune to play (e.g., from My Favorites list)
4. to try other styles "on the fly" while a tune is playing
5. and numerous other things too
That sounds way more complicated than having a laptop on a stand next to you using a mouse or mousepad.
Once you tried to coordinate all this with your feet and glancing up at the screen to see what's happening, you might get dizzy and fall off the stage! 
It just sounds like way more trouble than it's worth, and I don't know if all of what you're looking for would be possible. If all you wanted to do was start and stop, I'd say go for it. It would be handy in that case to use a footswitch.
Just my 2 cents. Good luck and take care of yourself.
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Danny, Bob, Mac, and John,
Thanks for your insights about this.....coming from the four of you, I've definitely changed my mind (each foot controller I was considering was somewhat pricey as well) and will not get one. You did exactly as I had hoped....you were blunt and "to the point". I respect your comments tremendously and am appreciative of your time in getting me "set straight".
I'll just keep using my foot as a metronome......
Cecil
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Cecil, Quote:
I'll just keep using my foot as a metronome......
On one of my son’s piano recitals on “parents night”, my son and I were performing a jazz/blues piano/guitar combo and I was tapping my foot.
My son's piano teacher looked confused and “ribbed” me about tapping my foot while playing guitar.
I looked at her and was confused about why she thought “tapping my foot” was strange!
LOL! Oh well. 
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Bob,
Yeah, I can relate to that.....I didn't do something about my passion for music until somewhat late in life (actually beginning at age 57), but I'm convinced I probably came out of the womb "tapping my foot"....there's probably a gene or two that some of us have geared to doing that. I can't seem to "chew gum" without "tapping my foot"....if I had proceeded ahead and got the foot controller and put my feet to "messin' with that", it would have probably screwed up my whole music approach: I hadn't thought about it until now, but I'm thinking my foot has "GOT" to be tapping....just saying...
Have a great New Year,
Cecil
P.S. Thanks again for your thoughts on the foot controller.
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A music teacher actually said that?
Man, that is a sad state of affairs...
--Mac
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