Nord Triple Pedal

[Mr_-G-]

Yes, I am afraid you are wrong
nord-stage-forum-f3/inside-triple-pedal ... t1883.html

[FZiegler]

@cphollis: Maxpiano said the same thing as Mr_-G-: there are carbon contacts, no optical sensors (which probably would need some active electronics to transmit this into the 4 steps of resistance that are known for the sustain pedal on the NTP). I won't have a look to verify, though. Cf. post138853.html?hilit=optical#p138853

@Nord33: Sounds great, but is just a mechanical thing that would transmit the pedal movement to a rotating movement of a potentiometer. No, the NTP won't work the same way as a Yamaha FC-3, as it has only 4 distinct values and no continuous change of the resistance.

Sorry, X-posting!

[Nord33]

@Nord33: Sounds great, but is just a mechanical thing that would transmit the pedal movement to a rotating movement of a potentiometer. No, the NTP won't work the same way as a Yamaha FC-3, as it has only 4 distinct values and no continuous change of the resistance.

Sorry then, didn't know that about NTP... nevertheless it's interesting solution to see that rubber "button" solution inside for half-pedaling pedal.

[FZiegler]

It seems as if the pedal noise is more easily derived from the speed between those only two or three stages of half-pedaling than from a continuous pedal. That's how I understand this "interesting" solution.

[cphollis]

I stand corrected. I remember reading about optical sensors here on this board several years ago when my first triple pedal bit the dust. I'm sure the unit(s) can get fixed (I still have them) it's just that my tech is a 90 minute drive each way

[Mr_-G-]

Hi @cphollis. For a rainy day: I would first check the cable & plug with a multimeter (opening the unit seems to be easy enough and you can see in the linked thread where the connectors end). If the cable is fine, then the next thing would be to clean the contacts.
In the worst case scenario the contacts could be worn out, but there might be some conductive paint one could use to reconstitute them, short of a silicone bubble replacement.

[...] (which probably would need some active electronics to transmit this into the 4 steps of resistance that are known for the sustain pedal on the NTP).

Not sure that is relevant for the NTP. In the current design, a voltage must come via the cable itself, or how would the resistance value from the pedal status be read otherwise?
Using optical sensors might be more expensive and complicated than the current design but at the same time it could be more resistant to dust.

[FZiegler]

Thanks to put this back into the right angle! Absolutely right... Big mistake from my side.

[maxpiano]

I stand corrected. I remember reading about optical sensors here on this board several years ago when my first triple pedal bit the dust. I'm sure the unit(s) can get fixed (I still have them) it's just that my tech is a 90 minute drive each way

The "switches" are exactly of the same type used for the keys (rubber contacts), so if you know how to fix dead keys (or look at any video explaining how to) you can also fix the NTP contacts

With regards to optical sensors, they may also be prone to "dust" though in a different way and reading reliability could also be an issue (compared to simple on/off switches), in the past optical solutions (lamp + photoresistor) were used for expression pedals in some models of transistor organs, but if you think about it no keyboard brand is doing that any more (and probably for a good reason... no, not just for selling more pedals as they can be bought also from other brands )

[FZiegler]

... no keyboard brand is doing that any more (and probably for a good reason... no, not just for selling more pedals as they can be bought also from other brands )

... in most cases, but there are generic solutions as everybody here knows (of course, I'm talking about H*** and C*** swell pedals with side buttons ).
Thanks that you spare me disassembling the unit just for curiosity!

[Mr_-G-]

With regards to optical sensors, they may also be prone to "dust" though in a different way and reading reliability could also be an issue (compared to simple on/off switches), in the past optical solutions (lamp + photoresistor) were used for expression pedals in some models of transistor organs, but if you think about it no keyboard brand is doing that any more (and probably for a good reason... no, not just for selling more pedals as they can be bought also from other brands )

True, but you can seal a LED with a photocell so no dust goes in
Most computer mice use those (although to generate pulses rather than a continuous signal) and rarely see dust problems. One would need some variable filter to sense varying light intensity, but in the end it is even cheaper to design the thing with a pot (which is what some pedals have implemented). Obviously people have thought about this before!