MIDI Foot Controller

[joemaldo]

Yamaha MFC10 MIDI Foot Controller

Does anyone have experience with this monster?
Any horror stories or successful experiences?

Looking forward to your insight . . .

THNX !!
JoeMaldo

[Bill Grosse]

Joe,

Seeing that you posted this question in the Tyros 5 column, you can easily use this foot
controller with the T5 as the T5 already has a built in interface program for setting it up.

Check the T5 Reference Manual, Page 142 for step by step instructions.

Bill G

[joemaldo]

Thanks for your response . . . !
Do you currently use it?

[Bill Grosse]

Joe,

I had one from around 2000 and used it with all my Tyros keyboards, but after I sold my last Tyros, I also sold the MFC-10.

It was so easy to use with the Tyros keyboard, I highly recommend it, but it is big, heavy and expensive. 

I'm sure if I purchase another Tyros I will want to have the MFC-10 too. 

Bill G

[TyrIA]

Hey !

I ve read info that Behringer FCB 1010 suits  Tyros too , haven t checked myself yet , but I ll try , it s much cheaper and more easy to find.

Good luck.

[carl.waring]

Wasn't sure if I should start a new thread or not but as this was here I thought it best to use it.

I am considering buying an MFC-10 but what can it actually do on the Tyros. Will it trigger a Multi-pad, for example? How about starting a MIDI file playing or an audio file?

Thanks.

[tyrosaurus]

Attached is a list of the functions on a Tyros4 that can be easily assigned to the footswitch 'buttons' on the MFC-10, by using the MFC-10 MIDI template built into Tyros models.

I assume that the list is very similar on other Tyros models.


Regards

Ian


[attachment deleted by admin]

[Rick D.]

Joe,

I use one with my Tyros 5. It's very easy to set up and works great. It keeps your hands free!
Here is a link that makes setting it up easy.
https://youtu.be/1XWWr6SdyjA

Rick D.

[carl.waring]

Well I finally got one and have set it up using the video posted above (Thanks for that!)

Except that it doesn't keep its settings. Why not? ie I set some functions up on the first 'page' just to give it a try. When I came back to it the next day it had gone back to the defaults. Do I need to 'save' the settings every time using the way described in the video? I can do that easily enough, of course. Just buy a couple of MIDI leads; out > in and in < out.

Also, slightly annoyed that there isn't an easier way to access the other 'pages' of functions in that I have to  tap the "x10" button some others whilst playing. Unless I'm missing something?

Comments appreciated. Thanks.

[tyrosaurus]

Hi Carl,

When you 'program' the MFC10 from the Tyros template, all that you are basically doing as far as the footswitch buttons are concerned is setting them up to transmit notes.  Once this is done the MFC10 should start up each time in this mode with the correct MIDI channel set for transmitting the notes to the Tyros.  At this point you can remove the lead from the Tyros MIDI Out to MFC10 MIDI In, and use it for sending the notes from the MFC10 to the Tyros by connecting MFC10 MIDI Out to Tyros MIDI In  (A or B depending on what you have selected in the template). You don't really need two MIDI cables.

On the MIDI template's MFC10 page, once you have assigned the functions that you want to be carried out when the Tyros receives notes from the MFC10 (or any MIDI device for that matter), you need to save them in the Tyros' USER drive as a User MIDI Template.

When you have finished setting the functions in the template, press EXIT and you should see tabs for the Preset drive and the User drive. 

You can only save to the User drive, so tab to it and you should see the 'SAVE' icon light up (lower #6 button on Tyros4).
Press it and save the MIDI Setup file just like saving any other type of file.  Change the name when saving  to avoid confusion  with the preset version of the MIDI template that you started from.

Your new template should now be highlighted in the selection list, indicating that it is the currently selected MIDI template, and this will remain the selected one, even through power off/on cycles, until you change it or carry out a system reset.

Bear in mind that your edited MIDI template will also contain settings for the MIDI System, Transmit and Receive setup etc. as contained in the other pages of the template that you started from.  So if you have any specific needs regarding these, make sure that you start from a suitable template, or one that you have edited to incorporate your needs.  If you don't use MIDI for anything else, then the 'All Parts' template is probably the best to start from.


Regards

Ian

[carl.waring]

When you 'program' the MFC10 from the Tyros template, all that you are basically doing as far as the footswitch buttons are concerned is setting them up to transmit notes.  Once this is done the MFC10 should start up each time in this mode with the correct MIDI channel set for transmitting the notes to the Tyros.  At this point you can remove the lead from the Tyros MIDI Out to MFC10 MIDI In, and use it for sending the notes from the MFC10 to the Tyros by connecting MFC10 MIDI Out to Tyros MIDI In  (A or B depending on what you have selected in the template). You don't really need two MIDI cables.

Yep. Done all that.  I meant to pose the "two MIDI leads" thing as a question as I thought that might be how it saved the configuration but I guess not

On the MIDI template's MFC10 page, once you have assigned the functions that you want to be carried out when the Tyros receives notes from the MFC10 (or any MIDI device for that matter), you need to save them in the Tyros' USER drive as a User MIDI Template.

So I might need a new MID template for every song; if I want to use different functions for different songs? Seems rather excessive! Let's see if I can avoid that

Thanks for the other info; duly noted.

[Rick D.]

Carl,
I don't understand why that would be necessary, as you can have up to 30 different button assignments on a single setup. Check out the video I posted awhile ago, to see how to do this.

Rick D.

[carl.waring]

Hi Rick.

As I said, I used your video as a walkthrough to set it up 

I know you can but, as I mentioned, that would mean having to change "pages" on the controller whilst playing. Okay, probably more annoying than difficult and I could get used to it.

[Rick D.]

Carl,
Yes, this is true, but I thought you could have three sets of ten pedal assignments, that would only require a setup at the beginning of a song.
If you need more then ten pedal functions for a song, this wouldn't work.
I'm curious as to how you are using the pedals for so many different things.
Being an old organ player I guess I am used to my hands making all the changes on the fly, and only use the pedals for things like articulation, stopping and starting, registration changes and sometimes score page changes.
goog Luck,

Rick D.

[carl.waring]

Yes, this is true, but I thought you could have three sets of ten pedal assignments, that would only require a setup at the beginning of a song.

I only just bought it so I have no idea what you can or cannot do with it; hence the questions 

If you need more then ten pedal functions for a song, this wouldn't work.

If you say so.

I'm curious as to how you are using the pedals for so many different things.

I'm not. That's the point. I could manage with ten functions per song/medley/memory/whatever. Just not necessarily the same ten.

[Rick D.]

Carl,
Just experiment with it.

Once you get the unit initially programmed, it is very easy to make changes to pedal assignments within the Tyros.
You mentioned having different setups for each song. YOu can do this, but what I don't know is if you can call them up with registrations.
I will play around with it and get back to you.
Maybe someone else would know the answer to this.

Rick D.

[Doghouse Riley]

I've a question regarding the foot switch options, of a Tyros 5 I've just purchased. (I'm finished with recording to floppy discs) .


I can get  my twenty year-old PSR 1000 foot volume control to work fine. But when I set one of the other foot switches that would work on previous models I've a problem. If I set one to "style stop/start." it works fine. But if I turn this Tyros off, when it is switched back on the foot switch has changed back to "Articulation," which is was on before.

How can I get it to stay on "style stop/start," permanently?

The other foot switch that I used on a Yamaha piano I had before the PSR, I wanted to use for "sustain," it will stay on this but doesn't actually work, regardless of the polarity setting.
Any help would be appreciated.

Whoops! I've sussed the style stop start. You have to save it  for every panel registration. Still got a problem with the sustain.

[CrzyCDN]

I can vouch for the Beringer FCB1010 foot controller.
Very durable and cheap.  A used one can be had for about $100
Once it is programmed, all required functions can be changed in the Midi MFC10 menu. 
There is a software "FCB1010 Editor" available online (by Mountain Systems) for the pedal that makes it a breeze to program. A Google search will find it.
Good Luck - Regards Ted

[norrimac]

Joe,

I use one with my Tyros 5. It's very easy to set up and works great. It keeps your hands free!
Here is a link that makes setting it up easy.
https://youtu.be/1XWWr6SdyjA

Rick D.

Rick, as it's a while since you posted this, are you still using the MFC10? I'm having an issue with mine, Norm.

[Rick D.]

Yes Norm,
I still use mine, but it is now with the Genos.
What kind of problems are you having?

Rick D.

[norrimac]

Hi Rick, thanks for replying!

I connected it and sent the info to it from the Tyros as shown in the video, no problem there.

Change the cable to 'Midi out' as instructed. All good.

The buttons, however, are doing nothing at all. I have a hunch it's either something silly I've missed in the 'functions' page on the Tyros or maybe it's the 'F' button on the pedals is set incorrectly.

Any suggestions welcome!

Norm.

[Rick D.]

Norm,

So you followed the video and made certain all the settings on the pedal are as they should be?

If so the next thing is to make sure your display on the pedal board is in F mode. It should say F01 not F10 if it does click on the X10 button and press the O button then 1 thru 9.

If that isn't the problem, make sure the cable goes from midi out on the pedal board to midi in on the Tyros. Also take note of which midi you are plugged into in the keyboard A or B and make sure you have that selected as noted on page 142 of the Tyros 5 Reference Manual.

I'm not sure if you have the Reference Manual or not, but it shows you how to send info to the pedal board. If you need it let me know.

Let me know what you find.

Rick D.

[norrimac]

Morning Rick,

Yes, I connected as per the video and now I can see thr F01 as you suggest.

Now when I hit a button I get a very low octave piano increasing in semitones, not the functions.

Here are pics of what I'm seeing.

Norm.

[norrimac]

Sorry, just trying o compress the pictures Rick, back in a minute...

[norrimac]

Footboard

[attachment deleted by admin]

[norrimac]

Control panel

[attachment deleted by admin]

[norrimac]

Rick, should've mentioned that with the F button LED ON, I can hear the piano.

With it OFF, the main LEDs in the centre change to 001,002 according to which button I press.

N

[Rick D.]

Good Morning Norm,

What is the history of your MFC-10? Did you buy it new? Have you ever had it working on another keyboard?

You are sure that you are plugged into the right midi jack on the back of the Tyros? It has to match what is selected in your second picture top right corner. 
Did you select channel 16 on the MFC-10? It has to match what is selected in your second picture top right, CH Select. Point 7:30 on the video shows how to select output channel of MFC-10
If you make any changes you have to start over, change the MIDI cable back to the setup mode. Midi Out on keyboard to MIDI In on MFC-10, and then hit Send MFC-10 Setup again as in your second picture. Then switch the cable back to MIDI OUt on MFC-10 and MIDI IN on Tyros.
You do want to be in the F Mode, I am not sure why you are getting any piano sounds when you hit a button on the MFC-10.
With F mode off you will get as you say 001, 002. You want it to say F01, F02.
If this has been done properly it should work, unless there is a problem with you MFC-10, that's why I asked the history of it.
If you think this is a pain in the butt, wait till you try to do it on the Genos. They took away the setup window on the Genos, making it a lot harder to set up.

Hope this helps,

Rick D.

[norrimac]

Thanks Rick, I'm going to mess with it and try again.

I bought the pedal new from the Yam dealer and he said, "Remember to cross yourself and say 10 Hail Marys..."

Maybe that's it, I'm not a Catholic? Anyway, will get back 2 ya.

N

[norrimac]

ARRRRRGGGGGGGH!!!

In the words of John F. Kennedy, "I AM A DONUT!!!"

I had it plugged into MIDI A and not B. I need therapy, but I did warn you...

Thanks ever so much, Rick, I've had that damn pedal board for 3 years and never been able to get it going. THANK YOU!

If I change the assignments to the switches, do I have to reload the settings?

Norm.