DIY ribbon controller

All topics involving amplification and other accessories you are using with your Nord, and how all those things work together.
User avatar
Mr_-G-
Moderator
Posts: 4635
Joined: 18 Aug 2012, 16:48
11
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 2
Has thanked: 1422 times
Been thanked: 1231 times

Re: DIY ribbon controller

Post by Mr_-G- »

Hi. yes, there are various lengths, search for "thinpot". RS components has some of those, you need the 10KOhm ones (which corresponds to the potentiometer of the EV5 contol pedals)
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/?searchTe ... ra=oss&r=t
The one I bought is about 20 cm in length, maybe a bit shorter is better.

When you have both connected and you assigned the morph to the whole range of a parameter, you can increase the parameter with the pedal, let's say half the way and the ribbon can control it up and down from that position. But when the pedal is all up (parameter at the initial position), you can't reach the opposite end of the parameter with the ribbon alone (as the resistances are in parallel).

What is the issue with the G1?
Mr. Marko
Posts: 178
Joined: 08 Mar 2009, 19:15
15
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Modular
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 44 times

Re: DIY ribbon controller

Post by Mr. Marko »

If the two are wired in parallel AFTER the capacitor, would the lag apply to Both the CV pedal and the ribbon?

If after the ribbon only then parallel just the ribbon?

Found the parts on www.mouser.com

No issue wi the G1 other than NO built in controller, which makes this a perfect fit for several of my Nords.

Thanks for the information..feeling a project coming on!
NS4 / NS3 / NS-EX / Modular G1 / G2 / G2X / NL3
Basically Too Many Nords to Haul to a Gig
User avatar
Mr_-G-
Moderator
Posts: 4635
Joined: 18 Aug 2012, 16:48
11
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 2
Has thanked: 1422 times
Been thanked: 1231 times

Re: DIY ribbon controller

Post by Mr_-G- »

In the end I did not leave the capacitor in, so I can't test right now, but I assume that it would affect both pedal and ribbon.
Not sure what you mean "in parallel after the capacitor".
I made sure to short the capacitor before connecting it to the synth (just touching the 2 connectors with a piece of metal) because they can keep some charge and I did not want to experiment if that could affect the "red one". (I do not think it would, surely this depends on the capacitor used, but you never can be too careful).
The capacitor acts as a LPF,, smooths the transients in the signal.
I guess that for the pedal it would not make a lot of difference because one moves the pedal (relatively) slowly, but with the ribbon you can press in the middle of it and release and that is a pulse.
I'll reiterate my previous comment: do not get a slim pot which is too long (about 10cm is ideal).
Let us know how you get on.
User avatar
mon8169
Patch Creator
Posts: 371
Joined: 06 Mar 2009, 16:59
15
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage Classic
Location: Barcelona, Catalonia
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 66 times

Re: DIY ribbon controller

Post by mon8169 »

Quite an old thread, but I had to share that I just did your project (in 10 minutes !!)!!!!
Ribbon Controller.jpg
Ribbon Controller.jpg (1.92 MiB) Viewed 3029 times
I used magnetic rubber sheet to fix the ribbon to my NS. So far it works great!!

It's a pitty it can just control the tone and the filter frequency in the Nord stage Synth.



Ramon
These users thanked the author mon8169 for the post:
pablomastodon
Cheers!
Ramon

Nord Stage Classic 76, Cantabile with Pianoteq, IK Hammond B-3X, NI B4-II and others.
User avatar
Marlowes
Patch Creator
Posts: 1342
Joined: 14 Sep 2011, 12:10
12
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Wave 2
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Lead 4
Location: Österlen, Scania
Has thanked: 1820 times
Been thanked: 594 times
Contact:

Re: DIY ribbon controller

Post by Marlowes »

Really awesome!

:thumbup:

/Michael in Scania
NE3HP, NP88, NS2, DPP1, NL2X, NL2X, NLA1, NL4, NE5D, NW2 (Collect Them All?), some classic Rolands, Arturias, a Waldorf, a Kurz, a WONOK3, a pile of guitars, a P-bass, loopers, amps and computers ...
I'm a gearslut! :oops:
User avatar
Quai34
Posts: 1874
Joined: 01 Jan 2012, 23:02
12
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 2
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Lead 1/2/2x
Location: CANADA WINNIPEG
Has thanked: 114 times
Been thanked: 305 times
Contact:

Re: DIY ribbon controller

Post by Quai34 »

Not sure I understand the use of the ribbon instead of the pedal? The pedal lets you keep your two hands playing?
Last edited by Quai34 on 27 Nov 2015, 20:24, edited 1 time in total.
Stage 2/C2/NL2X+TC Pedals, 2XMatrix, EMU P2K, TX802, DSI P8/Tetra+H9, P12+TC HoF, D50+PG1000, XV5080,AX keytar, Streichfett, Drumbrute.Ibanez SR1200 & 2605 basses, Artstar AS153,G&L L2000,Legacy HSS,Asat Blueboys,Asat Deluxe Savanna.genelec 8040A.
User avatar
mon8169
Patch Creator
Posts: 371
Joined: 06 Mar 2009, 16:59
15
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage Classic
Location: Barcelona, Catalonia
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 66 times

Re: DIY ribbon controller

Post by mon8169 »

Yes, but the control can be a part of your playing, just like the Mod Wheel or Pitch Bend.

And, oposed to a Pedal, with the ribbon you can jump between two values or even do some taping.
These users thanked the author mon8169 for the post:
Quai34
Cheers!
Ramon

Nord Stage Classic 76, Cantabile with Pianoteq, IK Hammond B-3X, NI B4-II and others.
User avatar
Johannes
Administrator
Posts: 2165
Joined: 05 Mar 2009, 01:04
15
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 2
Your Nord Gear #2: Other Brand
Location: Milano
Has thanked: 730 times
Been thanked: 798 times
Contact:

Re: DIY ribbon controller

Post by Johannes »

This is cool! How do you connect it? Any chance you could share what parts you used and how to connect it?
Looks really cool and want to do it!!!

mon8169 wrote:Quite an old thread, but I had to share that I just did your project (in 10 minutes !!)!!!!
Ribbon Controller.jpg
I used magnetic rubber sheet to fix the ribbon to my NS. So far it works great!!

It's a pitty it can just control the tone and the filter frequency in the Nord stage Synth.



Ramon
User avatar
maxpiano
Patch Creator
Posts: 6283
Joined: 27 Jun 2011, 13:29
12
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
Location: Italy
Has thanked: 450 times
Been thanked: 2202 times

Re: DIY ribbon controller

Post by maxpiano »

Hey Johannes,

it is all explained by Mr_G in the first page of the thread, the ribbon is a 10K resistor that you can just connect to the CtrlPedal input. A nice idea actually, cheap and easy to do.

I am not OK though with using it in parallel with an expression pedal, as discussed earlier in the thread, because of the behaviour of 2 resistors in parallel (if they have the same value, the total resistance halves and so it may overload the NS2 input + the variation is governed by the non linear relationship 1/Rpar = 1/R1 + 1/R2)
Last edited by maxpiano on 27 Nov 2015, 21:03, edited 4 times in total.
These users thanked the author maxpiano for the post:
pablomastodon
User avatar
Johannes
Administrator
Posts: 2165
Joined: 05 Mar 2009, 01:04
15
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 2
Your Nord Gear #2: Other Brand
Location: Milano
Has thanked: 730 times
Been thanked: 798 times
Contact:

Re: DIY ribbon controller

Post by Johannes »

True thanks, it's all there. Nice diy job for the holidays! Thanks!
Post Reply