NS3C rotor pedal intermittent fault

[Mr_-G-]

The pedal is just a switch, so if it works for the sustain all the time, it should be fine. Can you make a short video to show what happens?

[westharp]

Similar problem here (NS3 Compact Rev.A): I have 3-4 Boss FS5U pedals that I use for rotor control (one in every rehearsal room...). Some of them worked, others caused "double-triggering" so that the rotor speed would change back and forth when the pedal was pressed. I also tried using different cables. I tried a few sustain pedals as a rotor pedal (plugged into the rotor pedal jack) with the same behavior. Some worked, some not. ALL of the tested pedals work perfectly as a sustain pedal. And all of them worked as rotor pedals with my Nord Electro 5 (which got replaced by the NS3).

My solution: I bought a brand new Boss FS5U pedal and have no problems since. Also the Yamaha FC5 and the M-Audio SP1 work perfectly.

I don't know if this is a hardware or software problem. The fact that a new mainboard solved the problem with Stugo2445's NS3 seems to hint to a hardware problem...but maybe the software part is more "finicky", too.

[Mr_-G-]

The NS2 has 3 modes for the sustain pedal: Sustain only, Sustain and Rotor Hold (fast rotor speed only when the pedal is down) and Sustain and Rotor Toggle (toggles between fast and slow each time the pedal is used).

I wonder if the contact when pressing down is not "clean" so it goes through a number of On and Off states and back to On etc., so using Rotor Toggle might not be really toggling.
Can you please try with the other mode (Rotor Hold) and see if that works fine in that mode?

Some pedals have a microswitch governed by a spring action (you hear a 'click' when the contat is made) but others, like the Yamaha FC5 are simpler/more primitive (a two-contact switch in the open). I imagine that it could accumulate oxide or dust and lead to an intermittent contact.

[Valpurgis]

I wonder if the contact when pressing down is not "clean" so it goes through a number of On and Off states and back to On etc., so using Rotor Toggle might not be really toggling.

This is a physical contact bouncing problem often seen and normally handled by software. Typically by starting a timer to avoid to pick up very quick state changes. So it may be related to a combination of firmware and specific switches and may be resolved by a fix from Nord.

[westharp]

Can you please try with the other mode (Rotor Hold) and see if that works fine in that mode?.

I tried it with two of my most finicky pedals: both work without problems in "Rotor Hold" mode. The fact that they also work flawlessly as sustain pedals seems to indicate that there's nothing wrong with the hardware.

Valpurgis' idea seems solid: maybe this "timer" to ignore "switch rebounds" is missing in the firmware and can be added by Nord. Fingers crossed...

[baekgaard]

Can you please try with the other mode (Rotor Hold) and see if that works fine in that mode?.

I tried it with two of my most finicky pedals: both work without problems in "Rotor Hold" mode. The fact that they also work flawlessly as sustain pedals seems to indicate that there's nothing wrong with the hardware.

Valpurgis' idea seems solid: maybe this "timer" to ignore "switch rebounds" is missing in the firmware and can be added by Nord. Fingers crossed...

Well, I would say the hardware kind of works, but is not up to spec... My guess is that Nord has some kind of debouncing built on already, but some of your pedals bounce for a longer period than expected, and thus cannot be used in toggle mode.

I have the same problem with some of my Roland pedals, but most others work well.

Sent from my phone in brevity

[Mr_-G-]

I have a similar problem with a expression pedal: in the Nord it works perfect, smooth changes as you sweep the range of the pedal, in the MODX is all over the place jumping from one positions to another.

[maxpiano]

I have a similar problem with a expression pedal: in the Nord it works perfect, smooth changes as you sweep the range of the pedal, in the MODX is all over the place jumping from one positions to another.

Which brand/model is it? Nord is more tolerant/adaptable, Yamaha is not; I am sure a Yamaha FC7 would work fine with both, others likely won't (on the MoDX)

[hilbilly parade]

midiplus SP-2 .. Its a 10 dollar pedal that works great. Buy 3 or 4 for what you would pay for the others. When it goes bad toss it and use the new one. I play about 200x per year and go through about 2 for sustain and 2 for rotary.