Will a fv500 work as an expression pedal with my mf101

VLtone · January 31, 2010, 2:26am

I purchased an fv500H to use as an expression to control cutoff (primarily because im sick of my ep2’s breaking) and its definitely not working. I’m not sure if perhaps I was supposed to buy the low impedance version? (fv500L) Has anyone used an fv500 with their moogerfooger and had it worked? Did I buy the wrong one or does this pedal simply not work with a moogerfooger?

latigid_on · January 31, 2010, 8:08am

Once I tried a Boss Exp. pedal, can’t quite remember the model. As far as I remember, it didn’t work properly, either due to wiring differences or a log taper pot instead of a linear one.

You’re using a TRS/stereo cable, right?

Nowhere can I find the actual impedance for the pedal. The expression out probably has a parallel resistor to decrease the resistor value.

But being a volume pedal the response will be log; this is not usually suitable for CV applications.

latigid_on · January 31, 2010, 8:13am

Somebody else has the answer: http://line6.com/community/thread/23643

Some Guy:

The Pilot’s manual says: Compatible with standard expression pedals, including the Line6 EX-1. Control FX parameters in real time by assigning them to either of these expression pedal inputs. The Line6 expression pedal is a passive 10K ohm mono linear taper pot, using a standard 1/4 inch mono instrument cable.
So the 500L is the one to use, which offeres a single 10K linear pot via a stereo socket connection as well as dual 20K log audio pots via 2 mono input and 2 mono output sockets. A couple of things to watch with the 500L:
(1) You’ll need either an adapter cable or to modify the internal connections to the stereo connection for the 10K pot (and off the top of my head, I’m pretty sure a stereo to mono cable WON’T work - I think you’ll need ring from the 500L to tip on the M9, with tip on the 500L not connected).
(2) This pedal has a large dead zone under the heel and small dead zone at the toe end with the 10K pot (not sure if it’s the same with the 20K audio pots). I’m thinking about putting some wooden chocks under mine so I can feel where there true range is better.
(3) I shorted out the minimum level for the 10K pot so it doesn’t matter when this accidentally gets knocked.

So it looks like the pedal will work, my guess is the tip and ring terminals are reversed for Boss applications.

So you don’t like EP2s? Care to share?

Portamental · January 31, 2010, 12:33pm

Roland’s literature is terse on specifications numbers. According to some data I found, neither will work very well on Foogers. The impedance of the fv500H is 250k, a standard guitar volume pot. That’s way too high. The impedance of the fv500l is 25K (according to some sources). If the polarity can be straightened out, this will give you half the range of a standard expression pedal (50k). Log pots? Don’t know but not a good sign if there are logs in there.

mayidunk · January 31, 2010, 12:59pm

Does the pedal have a polarity switch by any chance?

VLtone · January 31, 2010, 2:45pm

“This pedal has a large dead zone under the heel and small dead zone at the toe end with the 10K pot (not sure if it’s the same with the 20K audio pots). I’m thinking about putting some wooden chocks under mine so I can feel where there true range is better.”

Yea…that appears to be what is happening. It really only affects the cutoff at around the dead center position between heel and toe. The range is extremely small and thus makes the pedal useless.

The pedal does not have a polarity switch.[/quote]

mayidunk · January 31, 2010, 3:06pm

What part of the EP2s keep breaking on you?

VLtone · January 31, 2010, 3:49pm

The longest an ep2 lasted was for maybe 6 months, and it started having noise issues whenever I would sweep. That was my 2nd ep2, the first one just stopped working. And I also had an ep1 initially which was god awful.

But anyway, I’ve moved on and now I’m trying to integrate this fv500 as an expression and it appears that I’m screwed with it now.

latigid_on · January 31, 2010, 7:16pm

Probably due to the 10k pot inside for the expression section. The EP2 uses 100k, in my opinion 250k would also work.

If you could somehow swap out the pot for a larger one, like the one from your broken EP2, this might be the best way to use the Boss housing.

_DemonDan · February 1, 2010, 2:57am

Hi VLtone,

While technically, volume pedals can work as controller pedals, I think your situation
would be much easier using dedicated continuous controller pedals.

I’ve had success with these:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EV5/
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EXP2Pedal/
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/EXP.html

One interesting difference between the Moog EP2
and the other pedals is that the EP2 has a knob that lets you set the maximum
amount while the above pedals let you set the minimum amount.

Both of those knob functions are useful when taming 'foogers so it’s good to have both kinds.

[FEATURE REQUEST]
A CC pedal that had both a minimum and a maximum knob would be staggeringly useful!

oilcanracer · February 4, 2010, 6:56pm

maybe if everybody posted with the pedal that did work for them we can get a list of pedals making it easier for people searching for this.

Alien8 · February 5, 2010, 5:43pm

I’m using the FV500H, and it works great… I’m 250lbs and stand on it regularly. No issues with travel, or dead zones… Works on all foogers.

t.shamone · February 21, 2010, 3:38pm

I use the Ernie Ball volume pedal and it works great. It even has a taper switch which I never had to touch. Plus it’s built like a tank. I didn’t buy it for the Fooger, but now it’s like a triple duty pedal.

Tyler_Kirschner · July 14, 2011, 8:09pm

Hmmm… I recently got a MF-101 and tried controlling the cutoff with a fv500l and for one reason or another the resonance bugged out when i did this. i don’t think it was turned up all the way, but it didn’t work anyways. I was using a TRS cable with it. Is there a chance that I shorted something out by doing this?