Foot Pedal for Laptop??

[Steptoe]

I'm using Van Bascoe on my Laptop (thanks Gibbo) for playback of Midi Files live. Stopping and starting of the player is by hitting the spacebar.

Is there a footswitch that can be plugged into the laptop to do the same job as hitting the spacebar??


Thanks
John

[gibbo]

Hi John,
You can probably get someone to rig one for you easily enough. It'd just need to be a "momentary make" micro-switch in a footpedal put in parallel with the space-bar connection but there ain't much room in a laptop for adding sockets etc. Maybe you could rig something that the laptop recognised as an external usb keyboard or something... I know... I can see it now... you'll be stomping on the spacebar of an old pc keyboard!
Seriously, the only thing I've ever seen that resembles what you want is a midi parameter-send footswitch where you'd have to configure the player to stop/start by midi command.
That's all I can think of, maybe someone else has a better idea.
Cheers, Dave.

[JohnG]

Hi John,

Gibbo is essentially quite right but I wouldn't like to be the one trying to solder a special lead into a laptop keyboard. Even though I'm not inexperienced at soldering. The obvious place is to try to rig something up that connects via the older style PS2 or newer USB socket. As Gibbo says buy a spare keyboard, put it on the floor, and stomp on the spacebar to start/stop. If one could cut down a keyboard and make a ruggedised switch!!! But a keyboard has AFAIK a little chip in it that scans the rows and columns to see what key has been pressed and then transmits the code to the PC. So not quite as easy as it may seem at first site. I'll have a further think. I have a feeling that there are control surfaces out there that do this but also think they may have lots of other functions too. =$$$$
I'll think on,
Best regards,
JohnG.

[Steptoe]

Thanks guys,
Actually the idea of an old keyboard on the floor isn't such a silly idea, I might just try that!

Thanks again

John

[JohnG]

Ha, yes, sometimes the obvious ones can work out to be the best. I guess 2nd hand keyboards from old PCs are two a penny. So when it gets too stomped just bung it and get another. You can probably find an adapter somewhere that converts the plug/socket to the ones needed from a laptop shop.
JohnG.

[Steptoe]

Well i tried an old keyboard I had which fortunately had a USB plug so no adapter was needed.
Lo and Behold it actually worked!!! ;D

Can a keyboard be cut in half and still work? ie the bits either side of the Space Bar..

Cheers
John

[JohnG]

If you're careful you'll find that you can unclip the keyboard at the back with care. Usually it comes into two halves top and bottom. (Cherry keyboards are generally like this.) Watch out for all the keys falling out. But I expect you'll find it's all mounted on one printed circuit board with circuits running right through it and some electronics, powered via the connection, that does the key scanning. i.e. unless you're an electronics wizz probably not possible to cut it in half. But there must be a way of incorporating just the bits one needs into a small box somehow.
Just some random thoughts really.
JohnG.

[thingyy]

Maybe making a false cover and araldite an extension on the space bar thru the new cover, after spraying it mat black.

[JohnG]

That's a good idea. Trouble is you still end up with a HUGE switch. But if it works ... ;D

[Steptoe]

I opened the back of the keyboard and removed all the little buttons except the ones connected to the space bar just in case I step on another key, so far so good ;D

[ziggy]

Is it possible to change the program so that it works by a click of a mouse? I'm just thinking that adapting a mouse would make a much smaller footswitch.

[JohnG]

That's a clever thought John, have you stuck something over the huge hole(s) left behind?
I can just see someone emptying a pint of beer into it! lol, I don't think.

As for the mouse idea, the trouble is the mouse pointer usually has to be over the start or pause button on the screen, so practically not easy to implement. Unless, that is, someone knows different.

JohnG.

[Steptoe]

johng11 said:

That's a clever thought John, have you stuck something over the huge hole(s) left behind?
I can just see someone emptying a pint of beer into it! lol, I don't think.
JohnG.

No the actual keys are still on the keyboard, the little rubber bits that contact with the circuit board on the inside have been removed.
(Though I am going to cover the top with black Gaffa tape so it doesn't look so obvious) ;D

[JohnG]

Just a thought, if you removed the keys too then you could cover it with a sheet of plastic and glue it in place. Or even ali or steel but you'd have to insulate the underside of it. A few self tapping screws (carefully positioned so as not to short out anything) then you'd have a very professional looking switch.

Who says Gaffa tape doesn't look professional?
JohnG.

[thingyy]

I would have a look in thingy Smiths for a suitable job box to sit it in,and fit a spring loaded foot switch.

[charlie]

For those of you interested, Showplay (a GM software sequencer) has an interface that offers a footswitch insert to do just what you're asking. Simply plug the footswitch into the midi interface and stop and start the midi at will. If you want to check it out: www.pridecorp.com

Charlie

[charlie]

That's http://www.pride-corp.com....sorry

Charlie

[Steptoe]

charlie said:

For those of you interested, Showplay (a GM software sequencer) has an interface that offers a footswitch insert to do just what you're asking. Simply plug the footswitch into the midi interface and stop and start the midi at will. If you want to check it out: www.pridecorp.com

Charlie

Thanks Charlie, but a little out of my price range ;D

[JohnG]

Nah! I think a keyboard on the floor with just the space bar active all wound around with Gaffa tape is much more "cool"!

You may want to make sure that the USB plug doesn't accidentally fall out by winding half a roll of Gaffa tape round the computer and plug too but it may give rise to cooling problems! LOL.

JohnG.

[moonie]

Hi Steptoe, sorry haven't logged on for a while...there is a neat little program available called Bome's midi translator...it reads sysx messages and converts them to keystrokes...result midi pedal [coming into the laptop via midi in or usb] can be read and assigned to spacebar... viola!

I can also switch windows, fade in or out mp3's or get my email [lol] via midi pedal!

Just search "bome's" and you should find it and all instructions there

best of luck
"moonie"