{"id":744,"date":"2016-12-19T07:23:00","date_gmt":"2016-12-19T12:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/syner-g.no-ip.biz\/mymusic\/?p=744"},"modified":"2023-11-07T08:48:33","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T13:48:33","slug":"pedals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/syner-g.no-ip.biz\/mymusic\/pedals\/","title":{"rendered":"Foot Pedals for the BK-7m"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

December 19, 2016<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My BK-7m backing module did not come with any kind of a foot pedal, as they normally don’t, even from the factory.  However, using the BK-7m effectively without one is near impossible.  The biggest challenge is the fact that Roland’s FC-7 foot pedal has been out of production for several years now, and they are just about impossible to find.  The ones that you do find, are always overpriced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what does one do??  Well, Roxy’s Music in New York USA was the first to come up with an affordable solution and that was to adapt a Korg EC-5 foot pedal <\/a>and rewire it so that it works on the BK-7m.  Though nice, it’s 2 fewer switches cut in to how one would use those pedals in all but the most rudimentary of manners.  Their partial solution was to add a Boss ES-5U single switch pedal controlled via the expression pedal socket of the BK-7m, giving you a total of 6 switches, which is kind of the bare minimum and is acceptable, but not quite optimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is also the cost factor\u2026 I would need to spend $80US for the EC-5, $45US for the Boss pedal and $30US for the custom EC-5 cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My DIY juices started to flow and I started looking at my options\u2026 and luckily I had two choices jump out at me almost immediately!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, let’s document the pin-out that the BK-7m demands for it’s 7 switches.  This diagram comes from the Roxy’s video via a screen capture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Please note that this is looking at the DIN-8 plug from the FRONT!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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OPTION 1 (about $6):<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I own a Ketron X4 and with it I purchased their FS-6 pedal.  It comes with a custom male DB-15 connector.  The good part is 6 switches in one.  The bad part is the DB-15 connector.  I don’t want to destroy the ability of this pedal to be used with the Ketron X4, and at that point, option #1 popped in to my head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Make an adapter that fits over the FS-6’s DB-15 connector and converts it to a DB-8 connector on the other end.  This makes the adapter removable and doesn’t damage the original pedal.  Within seconds, it can be used on either arranger!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The good part:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • it’s very easy to make<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • it’s very affordable<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • it doesn’t damage the original connector, just plug in the adapter, plug it in to the BK-7m and enjoy!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    The bad part:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • it’s only 6 switches.  Though still quite livable, for full functionality, if I want 7 switches, I would need to add something like the Boss ES-5U pedal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • But what if I wanted to use a swell pedal for expression or have all 8 features available to me? Not possible with this setup.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • What if I wanted to have the Ketron X4 available to me at the same time? Not possible with this setup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Cost:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • A DB-8 connector ($1.20)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • A DB-15 female connector ($1)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • A DB-15 connector cover ($1.60)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • A 2 foot length of wire ($2)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Grand total for this job is an incredibly cheap $5.80 and 30 minutes of my time to solder things up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The work:  Wiring is based off looking at the BACK of the plug, as shown in the picture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        The plug wiring is:  top row, left to right: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 and bottom row from left to right 9-10-11-12-13-14-15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Ketron FS-6 pedal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Pin 15 is the COMMON or GROUND.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        SW #1 uses pins: 15 + 8
        SW #2 uses pins: 15 + 10
        SW #3 uses pins: 15 + 7
        SW #4 uses pins: 15 + 4
        SW #5 uses pins: 15 + 14
        SW #6 uses pins: 15 + 13<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        OPTION 2 (about $7.50):<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        I have a very interesting 2nd option!  Back from the days of my first electronic accordions, they included 2 foot pedals that I never used or needed.  One is a 3-switch pedal, and the other is a 4-switch pedal.  Hey 3+4=7!  So I would need to wire up both pedals to one connector, and I could have all 7 functions available to me, leaving the expression pedal available for BK-7m volume control or an 8th switch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        The good part:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        • it’s also very easy to make<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • it’s also very affordable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

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          The bad part\u2026 wait, there is NO bad part!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          • It’s a full 7 switches.  I don’t need to add something like the Boss ES-5U pedal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • But what if I wanted to use a swell pedal for expression? Sure, go ahead, the expression pedal socket is not used with this setup!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • What if I wanted to have the Ketron X4 available to me at the same time? No problem, we’re not using the FS-6 pedal, so use it with the Ketron X4!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

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            Cost of #2 is slightly more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            • A DB-8 connector ($1.20)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • A 6 foot length of wire ($6)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

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              Grand total for this job is an incredibly cheap $7.20 but amount of time\/work goes up a bit more to about 45 minutes of my time to wire and solder things up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Let’s document the 4-switch foot pedal wiring.  It has a 6-wire setup using Brown, Black, Blue, Red, Green and White wires.  It turns out that the white wire is the ground or common wire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              SW #1 (minor\/bottom left) uses: White + Green
              SW #2 (seventh\/bottom right) uses: White + Brown
              SW #3 (break\/top left) uses: White + Blue
              SW #4 (start\/top right) uses: White + Red<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Note<\/strong>:  I had to rewire this pedal inside the box.  It was apparently used for a proprietary use and had integrated lights and additional resistors in the wiring which prevented proper use.  I had to disable the lighting function, removed the resistors and rewired the switches to basic use, tested them out and it works perfectly.  Added time, 15 extra minutes to remove the unwanted resistors and rewire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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              Let’s document the 3-switch foot pedal wiring.  It has a 5-wire setup using Copper shield (not used), Black, Blue, Red, Green.  On this one it turns out that the green wire is the ground or common wire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              SW #1 (Bottom) uses: Green + Black
              SW #2 (Top Left) uses: Green + Red
              SW #3 (Top Right) uses: Green + Blue<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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              Addemdum: December 22, 2016<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              So… did it work??<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              You betcha!!  Both work nicely!  The 6 switch pedal is super convenient, but I am really loving the 3+4 option, it works surprisingly well!  The only thing is that the factory default settings are off on 2 switches.  No problems, I can set things up in the BK as to what feature each switch activates easily enough, making it perfect and I can leave the X4 connected to it’s 6 switch pedal.  The video below shows the 7-switch setup works great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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