KVR Audio

Synchanter · Post by **Synchanter** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 2:41 pm

I got to ask, do you guys use sustain pedals or are they just irrelevant, or not used much in electronic music?

Coming from an acoustic piano background, I can't imagine a keyboard without a sustain pedal.
But when I went hunting for a MIDI keyboard controller, I found that many, even 49 and 61 key controllers didn't even have the option to use one.
And when I bought the Roland A-49 with a sustain pedal and tried it out with a few soft synths, I realized that most or many presets were not set up to be used with a sustain pedal and sounded messy when using one.
Do you guys just not use sustain pedals? Are they rare for electronica?

RunBeerRun · Post by **RunBeerRun** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 2:45 pm

Yes-usually, but not for sustain, for control change momentary/toggle/envelope.

arkmabat · Post by **arkmabat** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 2:49 pm

Which synths support it?

arkmabat · Post by **arkmabat** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 2:52 pm

I've got a usb gamepad pedal which may work. What CC channel is sustain?

paterpeter · Post by **paterpeter** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 2:55 pm

arkmabat wrote:I've got a usb gamepad pedal which may work. What CC channel is sustain?

#64

Chris-S · Post by **Chris-S** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 1:15 pm

When I test a VST-synth which does not support CC64 I usually delete it.

RunBeerRun · Post by **RunBeerRun** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 2:28 pm

Keyboard standards are boring. There's way more available to do, to modulate. If you want to get into it, then do so.

Loki Fuego · Post by **Loki Fuego** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 2:35 pm

I don't have sustain pedal.

BERFAB · Post by **BERFAB** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 3:10 pm

I'm also used to using a pedal for the piano. My controller for recording is a weighted action 76 key with aftertouch. The sustain pedal looks and acts like one from a real piano. I, of course, use it for standard piano and electric piano patches, but will also use it for a variety of soft-synth patches.

But as the OP discovered, many patches have different controller functions for the pedal. Just like with any standard instrument, soft synth patches must often be studied to discover the most effective ways to control the sound. Often the pedal is superfluous. But other times, it can be used to great effect.

Cheers
-B

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 3:12 pm

I can't imagine a keyboard without a sustain pedal either - it's insane that some don't. Both my controllers (synths) have inputs for 3-4 pedals and I use them all.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 3:14 pm

arkmabat wrote:Which synths support it?

There are some that don't?

I do recall years ago having problems with a FL Studio demo that didn't have the sustain routed by default - has that changed?

sjm · Post by **sjm** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 3:50 pm

FL's MIDI routing is non-existent. If you want to use a default MIDI CC (e.g. modulation wheel, pedal etc.) you need to manually map the CC to itself (i.e. you map CC1 to CC1 to use your modulation wheel). It's as well-designed as it sounds.

But you can use your sustain pedal once you've set it up.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 3:55 pm

aMUSEd wrote:
arkmabat wrote:Which synths support it?
There are some that don't?

Yeah, i guess pretty much all of them support sustain pedal control.

robogone · Post by **robogone** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 4:31 pm

Yes, but only if I'm playing something like a piano.

KVR Audio

POLL: Do you use a Sustain Pedal with your soft-synths?

Do you use a Sustain Pedal with your soft-synths?