Expression Pedals
The Mastermind PBC has an expression pedal port that allows you to connect an external expression pedal. An
expression pedal can be used with MIDI-capable effects processors to provide real time control of different parameters:
volume level, echo rate, etc. The Mastermind PBC translates the position of the pedal to MIDI Continuous Controller
messages and sends them out the MIDI Out port. The effects processor receives these messages and alters the effects
accordingly.
Using Setup Mode, you can set each expression pedal to set the controller number, minimum and maximum values and
which device should receive the controller messages. By default, the pedal sends CC#7 to the first MIDI device.
Many expression pedals on the market will work. Pedals that have a stereo (TRS) 1/4” output jack and have the
potentiometer wiper connected to the ring conductor of the output jack will definitely work. The Rocktron Hex and
Korg XVP-10 are examples of pedals that work well, and the Boss FV-500 and Roland EV-5 are examples of pedals that
don’t work well.
Note! Even if an expression pedal does not have the correct polarity, you can still fix it with a specially made cable.
Connecting it to the Mastermind PBC with a ¼-inch TRS cable that swaps the tip and ring conductors will allow you to
use any Roland/Boss type pedal.
You can also use a standard volume pedal as an expression pedal. For this you need a 1/4” Y-cable, also known as an
insert cable. The stereo end of the Y cable plugs into the Mastermind PBC and the two mono ends plug into the input
and output of the volume pedal:
The Mission Engineering SP1-RJM
Mission Engineering makes a model of its SP1 expression pedal that’s designed specifically to work with the
Mastermind PBC. This pedal has a built in toe switch and LED which works as an external switch. The toe switch can
perform any function that one of the Mastermind PBC’s built-in buttons can, and is edited using the Edit Buttons menu.
To connect the SP1-RJM to the Mastermind PBC, you will need two ¼-inch TRS cables. The first one connects from the
pedal’s Output 1 jack to one of the Expression Pedal inputs on the Mastermind PBC. The second cable connects from
the pedal’s Output 2 jack to one of the External Switch inputs on the Mastermind PBC.
Expression Pedal Setup
You can set up your expression pedal by selecting the Exp Pedal option from the main Setup Menu.
The first time you connect a particular expression pedal to the Mastermind PBC, you will first want to calibrate it.
Expression pedals vary from model to model, and calibrating the pedal insures that the Mastermind PBC will always be
able to send the correct values for the pedal’s position. Simply press the Calibrate button, then move the pedal all the
way up and all the way down. Press the Done button once this is complete.
Basic setup of the expression pedal works like this:
1). Use the Device button to select the device you wish to control with the expression pedal.
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