Software Leslie Controller

[Grez A-100]

This topic could also go in the MIDI forum, but since it involves a console Hammond and not a MIDI controller keyboard, I'm putting it here. I'm trying to find a creative solution to controlling a software Leslie (currently demo'ing Melda's MVintage Rotary) during live playing that doesn't involve an awkward mouse click. In this video, the organist is using a remote trackpad, but even that is awkward as you can easily enough slide the cursor off the target area in the plugin UI. There are two solutions in my mind: 1.) A creative left-mouse-click switch that is mounted solid and can be accessed quickly without having to look away from keyboard, or 2.) A simple MIDI switch that controls the fast/slow (and maybe bypass).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mOaGJmhn2o

You can spend over $100 on a MIDI footswitch or control surface, but surely there is a simple solution? I don't mind soldering and kludging something if push comes to shove.

Thanks!

[tiredoldgeezer]

Remember, I'm not trying to be such a butt, especially to such a nice guy, but from my POV, using a software Leslie already IS kludging something. :P

Now that that's outta the way, you can use anything.
If it's software, and if the software is any good, you can assign anything to anything somewhere in the chain. Use an unreserved letter on your QWERTY keyboard. Use a secondary damper pedal.

I mean, if you're into software, you surely have something to input midi/controller data with -- and if you don't you probably oughta have right soon-like. Dedicated hardware switch? Yeah... I'd get my soldering iron out.

There is a real attitude among music companies, it seems. If this guy is too dumb to solder something together to do something this simple, then we can charge him 10 times what it's worth. That goes for all kinds of devices, adapters, switches, etc. So even if they made something like this, you'll get a wedgie trying to dig out enough money for it. That's kinda why I go to the solder bench first thing.

[Grez A-100]

I don't have experience with MIDI plugins and mapping/assigning keystrokes, so hopefully I'll be able to figure it out. Yes, software Leslie, or anything except the real thing, is a kind of kludge I suppose. But I don't have the budget for a Leslie so I'll have to "settle".

[Grez A-100]

So, based on the user manual screenshot here, it seems rather straightforward to assign a MIDI sustain pedal for fast/slow Leslie. The trick will be trying to figure out where to mount a foot pedal for left-hand use, since I have the Hammond bass pedals in the way.

[Grez A-100]

The problem is, most sustain pedals have 1/4 inch jacks, not USB jacks, so how do I plug them into my computer and have the software plugin recognize it so I can map it? I'm not a MIDI expert.

[Grez A-100]

Okay, here's my answer to "Help Further Kludge my Kludge": an Apple "Puck" mouse from 15 year ago. I have one in a junk drawer. Single button mouse. Remove trackball so you can't accidentally move the cursor off the target zone in the plugin UI. Velcro to the front rail of Hammond. Since it is just a simple micro-switch inside, you can get even more ambitious and use a toggle switch or even a broken half moon to really fake it. I'm sure this is getting some readers all itchy and peevish, but hey, what can I say. I'm doing it.

[tiredoldgeezer]

The Wisdom of Solomon lives today!