DEAR GAWD!!! PLEASE SAVE ME CONTROL SWITCHER!!!

[planethood]

For months, I have been trying to find an easy way to sync a Lightfoot Labs Goatkeeper up with my my midi rig (Voodoo Lab GCX, Switcher, etc). Everything I have in my rig is now synced to my midi footcontroller via tap tempo. Additionally, I can output midi time clock from my DAW into my effects chain to sync it up for recording. What I can't do is get my FLIPPIN Goatkeeper tremelo synced up to this chain. It has a tap tempo button on the pedal AND a sync in port that accepts a click or pulse http://lightfootlabs.com/gk3_doc.pdf

I've emailed the vendor about it numerous times and he politely responds, but it is like talking to a German engineer about it. He gives very little details and just keeps trying to steer me towards a "Hook it to a DAW with a click" or "get a metronome and set it the same as your bpm on your delays". I don't want this! I just want to be able to tap my tempo on it like I can do by pressing the FLIPPIN button on the top of it! Surely, there is something that will work!!!

Finally, I read a posting on here about using the Voodoo Control Switcher to control the tempo of a Boss DD-7 via the tempo jack. So, I thought...."DEAR GAWD....PLEASE LET THIS BE MY ANSWER!! I'M TIRED OF SLEEPLESS NIGHTS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AN EASY SOLUTION".

So, will it work? Can I use the Control Switcher to send a pulse to the Goatkeeper's sync in port? Or, could I add a jack to the Goatkeeper like a DD-7 has and use the Control Switcher for it? PUH-LEEEEZZZZ HELP!

[JohnClark]

It looks like the Sync jack is expecting an audio source. Can't help there.

You may be able to have a local tech replace the Tap Tempo switch with a jack, depending on the switch's complexity in the circuit, then connect that jack to a Control Switcher port.

I hope that helps!

[JohnClark]

Ah Ha...

I see you posted on HRI with this quote from the pedal maker...

"You can use a short pulse to trigger the sync... the type of trigger that analog synths typically use that are several milliseconds in length. If the pulse is too long, it won't work correctly. You'll need to wire the relay so that it is normally low and then momentarily outputs 5V (or whatever voltage). Again, you'll need some additional circuitry to limit the pulse to a short duration.
"I would not recommend replacing the tap tempo switch with a jack. If you do this, it's possible electrostatic could destroy that input on the microcontroller."

You could likely have a custom cable made that connects between the Control Switcher and the Sync jack on the pedal... the custom part is introducing 5V.

[planethood]

This is yet another reason why I continue to stick with Voodoo. Something that takes me weeks and months of scouring the internet, calling people, and posting on forums can get answered in a matter of minutes here....

THANK YOU, JOHN!

Now...custom cable...hmmmm....I make cables myself all the time, but have no idea exactly what you are talking about. Any idea on where I could get one made? Or, how to make one myself? I'm willing to try ANYTHING AT THIS POINT!!!

THANKS AGAIN!!!!

[JohnClark]

Actually it would probably be best to make a small box for this. It would only require two 1/4" jacks, a power jack and three wires.

If you have a Pedal Power 2+ and aren't already using one of the Sag Outputs, set the DIP switch away from Normal and dial the Sag knob all the way down.

Here is a text based "schematic"

-Connect the Tip of 1/4" Jack 1 to the Sleeve of 1/4" Jack 2.
-Connect the Sleeve of Jack 1 to the Negative terminal of the Power Jack.
-Connect the Positive terminal of the Power Jack to the Tip of 1/4" Jack #2
(be sure to use plastic jacks or a plastic box... you do not want the Sleeves of any of the jacks to be connected together through the chassis.)

1/4" Jack 1 will connect the Control Switcher.
1/4" Jack 2 will connect to the Sync jack on the Goatkeeper.

The Control Switcher switch used should be set to Momentary, Pulse On Only, and the button on your controller should be set to momentary (so it sends a Data value of 127 when pressed down)...

That should do the trick!

[planethood]

Actually it would probably be best to make a small box for this. It would only require two 1/4" jacks, a power jack and three wires.

If you have a Pedal Power 2+ and aren't already using one of the Sag Outputs, set the DIP switch away from Normal and dial the Sag knob all the way down.

Here is a text based "schematic"

-Connect the Tip of 1/4" Jack 1 to the Sleeve of 1/4" Jack 2.
-Connect the Sleeve of Jack 1 to the Negative terminal of the Power Jack.
-Connect the Positive terminal of the Power Jack to the Tip of 1/4" Jack #2
(be sure to use plastic jacks or a plastic box... you do not want the Sleeves of any of the jacks to be connected together through the chassis.)

1/4" Jack 1 will connect the Control Switcher.
1/4" Jack 2 will connect to the Sync jack on the Goatkeeper.

The Control Switcher switch used should be set to Momentary, Pulse On Only, and the button on your controller should be set to momentary (so it sends a Data value of 127 when pressed down)...

That should do the trick!

Hi John. I've made my custom box but don't know how to test the 1/4" outputs on the goatkeeper side to verify that it is indeed sending the voltage. Do you know what I set my multimeter to? What does the red prong connect to? The black prong?

Thanks!

[JohnClark]

Well its the custom box that is "sending" the 5 volts...

Set your meter to DC Volts and measure across the Tip (Red Probe) and the Sleeve (Black Probe) of Jacks #2, you should see something more than 0V briefly whenever you press the appropriate button on the Control Switcher.

[kaiviti]

So, bit late to respond here but you might like to know I've built a MIDI clock -> Goatkeeper sync box, it's pretty small and simple, has MIDI in, 9vDC in and a 1/4" jack for the sync output. Works great!

If you are still interested, please get in touch.

https://plus.google.com/103766976589794 ... nGJ1Xhr6XA is a very short demo, you might need to reload it to get it to work...

[bozojazz]

So, bit late to respond here but you might like to know I've built a MIDI clock -> Goatkeeper sync box, it's pretty small and simple, has MIDI in, 9vDC in and a 1/4" jack for the sync output. Works great!

If you are still interested, please get in touch.

https://plus.google.com/103766976589794 ... nGJ1Xhr6XA is a very short demo, you might need to reload it to get it to work...

I'm definitely interested in this! Really want to sync up my Goatkeeper to a MIDI clock.