Nord User Forum

How about throwing an FC7 into the mix?

moog ep3 and roland ev5 are similar and also good! the fc7 is the daddy but it is bigger and heavier I believe.

We now interrupt this FC7 lovefest for an alternative perspective...

There's five families of pedals that your S2EX supports, and the FC7 is just one of them. Myself, I cut my synth teeth on a Kurzweil, which meant learning on a Fatar (OEM) expression pedal, which is still sold. But it's not the most durable, and a little too lightweight to consistently stay put.

I've been through a bunch of other pedals over the years, searching for the right "balance" between sensitivity, adjustability, throw, and bulk/weight. And durability.

I had an occasion to use an FC7 live once, with a Yamaha (Motif family). I hated it at the time: too bulky, and the throw was uncomfortably extreme. But that was just me. If you learned swell/expression on a Hammond B3 or a Yamaha, this is in your comfort zone.

I splurged on a Mission Engineering expression pedal a few years back - red enamel to match my Nord! Probably the most solidly built of them all, but the throw was just too short for my taste, it was hard to use subtly. It's been relegated to (a very expensive) secondary backup.

The Boss FV-500L is not quite as bulky as the Yammy, not quite as long a throw (but longer than most), made of aluminum. and is a multitasker - it has a pair of audio ins and outs, in addition to the expression function. I still like it a lot, and is my primary backup.

The one I cart around most often now is the Boss EV-30...a dual expression model. It takes up less room in my backpack than any of the others (even the Fatar), but I like its feel, and it stays put nicely.

(If I'd heard of the Moog before, I would have definitely checked it out.)

I'm using a Behringer FCV-100 that is also very good, especially considering its price (currently €18.90 in Thomann.de) and the fact that it works both as a stereo volume and expression pedal. But I'd still buy a FC7 next time, its response is more linear and it has a nice adjustable spring for a temporary volume boost.

Everyone seems to recommend the Yamaha FC7, but I'm curious about the comment in this thread about being unhappy with Nords presets minimum volumes. The Roland EV-5 let's you set a minimum value on the pedal, and I'm surprised this wouldn't be a desirable nuance for more people. This was also a Stage 2 thread mainly, but I'm not sure if I recall seeing any screen for setting these values in the stage 3 manual either ... or can you set values for that now with the stage 3 (I don't think you can.)

So, what say people about the Roland EV-5 expression pedal? Seems to me like some control over values could occasionally come in handy. But not too many mentions of the Roland product here. Any opinions before I decide on an expression pedal? Can you set a minimum value on the Yamaha too (didn't seem like you could when I looked at it?) That's the one everybody seems to recommend here.

I could see a minimum value setting coming in really handy for different applications. Does anybody have anything bad to say about the Roland pedal? That would be important to hear, if someone had an argument specifically against the Roland choice, because that's actually the way I'm leaning due to the ability to customize a minimum value. At least one person on this thread wasn't happy with a fixed minimum value.

Any opinions would add information to my decision making process over here. Thanks.

Ok, now I'm realizing the benefit of plugging in your own cables, over a perma-cable where you replace the whole unit over a cable breakdown. And of course, all those kinds of pedals, the Korg XVP20 ... the Boss FV-500L ... also come with the variable minimum value option (so, answered a question of mine there, sort of.)

They are also twice as expensive, even more for the Korg. Wow, was that korg quote really correct? !! (Ha, we're Nord users, better products ... cost more, sometimes.)

So, you peeps can all have a chuckle now at the funny newbie fellow get completely lost as to what expression pedal is the right one ... for him. I never like choosing, then realizing ... nope, should've exactly got the other one. I sure like that Korg. But ... hmmm, many clams. Boss, not so many clams.

So go ahead and have a chuckle at the lost guy. I have a headache from thinking about expression pedals now. There's probably not even anything anyone could say at this point either. I think I just have to pick one. Ya ya, laugh it up. I am too.

Get the Moog EP3. Built like a tank and has a replaceable cable. I have four of them and have had no issues.

-dj

DJKeys wrote:Get the Moog EP3. Built like a tank and has a replaceable cable. I have four of them and have had no issues.

-dj

Eureka ! Toss those other five choices out ... this ... the sixth choice ... everything I discussed, there, and ... super inexpensive?

This, this sixth one, is the one. I'm maybe sure of it. Maybe. Probably.

I hope you guys don't mind a bit of humor now and then. I have tried to summarize some of the things I've found out along the expression pedal path as a resource, trying to add a useful reference here. But I joke around too. Red card?

It really is impossible to be grumpy about anything when you've just received your first Nord you know. Ya, you guys know.

I think this Moog EP3 might be the one ! Thanks DJKeys !

Hi Dobby and others,

saying what is the BEST pedal is subjective, based on individual priorities. I‘d like to let you participate in mine: I started many years ago with a bespeco stereo pedal which at the end was too light - it kind of walked on stage - and the quality of the poti was ´mid‘. Then I bought the BOSS 300L which was the predecessor of the actual 500. Heavy construction and long lasting quality, adjustable minimum-volume and no fixed cables. I liked it very much and still use it sometimes - even if it‘s older than 15 years - as a control pedal. Only the line-ways are a bit scratchy.

As a replacement I bought the KORG xvp20, guess it was last year. It seems as good as the BOSS, also heavy i. e. not walking under my foot plus a little bit more ´elegant‘ than the BOSS. I would certainly buy it again! Hope it brings some light to your confusion.

Sunny regards from Germany. Stay healthy everybody

and here‘s what I mean when saying heavy: see the weight in the fotos.

Having just had a deeper look at both pedals I saw (what I‘ve almost forgotten) that I can even adjust the stiffness of the pedal i. e. if I want it move more smooth or more stiff. I love them.