PedalinoMini
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Optical type expression pedals in line 6 fbv boards
I recently picked up a Line 6 fbv longboard and a shortboard mk11 for not a lot of money on kijiji here in Canada. I am contemplating the options open to me for converting one of these to pedalinomini to control my Helix Stomp. I currently have a little black pedalinomini box with sockets for external pedals and it all works great, thinking it would be nice to have it all in one pedal box. I thought the shortboard mk11 would be able to drive my Stomp over USB midi but have discovered it needs a host in between. Also thinking the original shortboard may be a better candidate for conversion as it has better switches.
My issue, all the fbv pedalboards use Optical (shark fin) style expression pedals. Is there a way these could be used into one of the pedalinomini inputs?
Optical encoder should be configured as jog wheel. Correct schematic to be determined.
But does the Jog wheel input just detect the movement and direction of the jog wheel? For an expression pedal it would need to detect the current position. I think they work by reducing/increasing the light falling on the optical sensor but you probably already know that.
@jimhiggs Most optical encoders use a gearbox and a slot in a disc creates impulses. They can have some kind of mechanism which creates a reset signal when the min or max position is reached.
The first question would be if your slider uses a real optical distance sensor (quite rare) or just a slot creating impulses.
@renne Both the ones I have taken apart have a strip of plastic attached to the foot pedal that is shaded by the look of it, gradually darkening along its length and that is passed between what I assumed was an optical sender and receiver.
@jimhiggs Are there any part numbers on the optical sender/receiver? Is there a additional circuit?
@renne I had given up on it and have put it back together. Will have to dig it out and take a look.