Advice on small midi controller with latching control switches

[Richard_G]

I recently bought an Origin Effects Revivaldrive HotRod Custom and have a Tone King Imperial preamp pedal on order. My plan is to put both of these and my Chase Bliss Tonal Recall RKM on a small pedalboard, with a few other pedals as well.

I’ve been thinking about adding a small midi controller to the board. Something like the Hotone Ampero Control would be nice, but I would need something with a few latching control switches to control the Revivaldrive (I already have the Origin switcher interface for Revivaldrive).

Any suggestions and/or advice?

 

[gearJunkie]

I use the Hotone Ampero Switch (momentary) plugged directly into my RevivalDrive without any issues.

I don't know if it works with the Origin remote interface.

 

[Richard_G]

You do?!?! For controlling mid engage and blend override?!?

From what I’ve read, I didn’t think that would work. But if that works, I have no problems putting the interface in the drawer.

 

[gearJunkie]

You do?!?! For controlling mid engage and blend override?!?

Oops. I think when using momentary switches it simply duplicates the channel and bypass switches on the pedal. I'll test it with both latching and momentary switches later this evening and report back.

 

[gearJunkie]

This is an excerpt from a listing for the Revival switch interface...

PLEASE NOTE: Remote switching of the bypass state and active channel can only be achieved with the Switcher Interface. The interface converts latching control formats to a short momentary pulse.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

This is an excerpt from a listing for the Revival switch interface...

Hmm…I’m pretty sure I switched channel and on/off without it on my revival…from boss stuff (GT / ES), and also from a Luminite midicontroller that does relay switching.
is from the manufacturers website?

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

100% sure at least the channels switch, this board did not include the switcher interface:


Anyway, I’ve been down the road of controlling switchable analog units via midi / relay

My takeaways:
- perfectly possible, works, nice to have knobs, etc
- Board gets big and heavy fast
- You are adding complexity and points of failure (additional risk)
- The need for relay switching / loops, tends to narrow your search for midi controllers.
- Boss GT core has a switch, and is a nice small unit on a hybrid board
- Boss MS is a great option to combine loops/relay/efx
- Boss ES 5 is a great controller / loops/ relay switcher
- Luminite M2 has relay, CV control, and is a decent midicontroller…bit complicated in its architecture..not for the midi newbies

I abandoned the board cause it wasn’t small enough for all my usecases, and went for a modular approach:
- Small board with a digital device (do it all, switch it all)
- Small satellite boards I can add to that.

With that new “strategy”, I would have been better off investing in dedicated devices for relay and looping, instead of trying to integrate them in controllers. If I’d do it again, I’d be looking at relay switches midipirate/suhr offer, and at the monrningstar M5 for example.