#472

Quick tip: Many hardshell cases advertised for Elgato Stream Decks work well with Shield and Fates. Factory norns might be a tight fit, since I think its just a bit larger than Fates? For a Shield, a standard-size Stream Deck case could also fit a power supply or compact battery bank on the side. A Stream Deck XL case would be more roomy and moddable, I’m sure. Just make sure the case isn’t intended to be perfectly flush on the top; mine has a domed area for cables so even the taller Shield’s encoders have enough room.

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3 Likes
#473

Might not be quite the type of foot control you want, and I haven’t used mine extensively, but the Line 6 FBV Express mk. II seems to work perfectly well.

#474

Thanks. I was thinking of something much simpler, like a single pedal.

#475

This is serious pcb design.

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11 Likes
#476

Found in my sister closet this old cosmetics bag which is the exact size for my fates, usb cable and powerbank:

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My current mobile setup:
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2 Likes
#477

Also on the hunt for a single pedal solution. Intention is to use it as a velocity control. Should I just find ~a~ pedal with midi over USB and assign velocity to it, or is that an over-simplification?

This is one of those things that seems, intuitively, like not a big deal, but it looks like lots of people are having trouble finding a solution, and it’s got me a bit lost as to… why? Something about HID compliance? Or is USB expression pedal just not a thing?

#478

Did you end up picking one of these up // how’d it go // did you find another solution?

#479

A DIY solution might be to take an existing pedal (like some kind of volume pedal) and rewire the potentiometer to a microcontroller. Then just code up a simple sketch mapping the potentiometer to whichever midi CC you want.

1 Like
#480

I think that might actually be a pretty common thing. Like this for instance, just get a regular expression pedal and plug it in. There are others similar adapters, like this one or these.

And there are MIDI pedals, like this one, this one or this one. Or, a lot of those 4-8 midi foot switch boards will have an expression in port for continuous controller output.

But, mapping a controller to velocity is trickier, you’d need a MIDI event processor (there are both hardware and software things for this) to map a CC value to the velocity value, which is part of the note on message.

3 Likes
#481

Very thorough response, thanks so much. This type of problem has been heavy these past few months. Lots of time to practice – no accommodating instruments.

I’m trying to play molly the polly with a grid but dodge that stiff all-one-velocity feeling. I have to play the grid very lightly due to some nerve damage (background offered because I know the actual best solution is ‘small midi keyboard w/ velocity sensitivity’ – it’s just not an option for me and never will be). It’s not clear to me that the grid itself is actually sending midi in this example, although it is acting as a controller, and so handling ‘midi as midi’ with something like an event processor may not be the best fit – it’s also not clear to me how to go grid + pedal -> event processor -> Norns, given that the grid is USB and doesn’t natively send midi messages. It’s also possible that some parameter of MtP other than velocity would give the results I’m looking for and be more directly malleable as a CC instead of as part of the event (maybe I could alter the molly code to only update that particular cc on note on, although that could introduce an odd or unintuitive response). May also do an expression -> CV mod, and control velocity via Crow in a pod, but it feels strange to have so many parts for my “minimal” practice setup (although this is kinda just the cost of limited use of my hands – miss the piano).

Seems there are lots of options as far as the hardware, but looking specifically to augment velocity is the real killer in terms of control signal routing + expense. Does it seem like I’ve understood the forces at play // is there some other solution, given these more specific points, that I may be missing?

#482

hey hey!

not at all – when playing Molly the Polly with a grid, there’s a fixed velocity value (0.8 out of 1.0, which translates to ~102 velocity).

the grid is just calling this function directly and the function’s code handles note_on and note_off. the note number (note_num) is dynamically assigned when you press a pad, but the second value (0.8) could also be dynamic – you just need to tell the script how you’d like to assign that value.

i’m really sorry to hear about the nerve damage – I think we can totally land on an accessible solution, depending on your comfort level (I’m happy to work on modifying code with you, if that’d help :slight_smile: ).

you already identified a really good way to dynamically assign velocity – you could connect a USB expression pedal and add a small function to the script that listens to the CC messages generated by the pedal, scale them down (Molly requires 0. to 1.), and assign them to a variable that replaces the fixed 0.8 argument in the grid-generated note_on function.

i think it comes down to your preference – is a footpedal your most desirable solution? i also have some ideas about how we could change the grid interface to create a smaller playable zone on one side with some meta controls for velocity + octave assignment on the other. lemme know how you’re feeling!

6 Likes
#483

No, unfortunately not yet!

#484

Thanks for this @Justmat! My OG Norns just arrived and while my DIY Norns had no issues with my WiFi (an Eero mesh network with 4 access points throughout various areas of my property, it’s blanketed!), OG Norns just couldn’t connect. I grabbed the above Panda Wireless and it worked like a charm!

2 Likes
#485

I’m interested! What kind of midi controller is?

#486

I just installed an eero in our home and yes the stock Norns WiFi does not work with it. It’s the only thing I have had an issue with it and I have some old WiFi stuff still.

Update i was able to connect to the EERO i just needed to turn off the WPA3 in the beta section

#487

i’m also having an issue with the stock norns wifi nub. connects sometimes, but drops frequently and i have to add/remove the network for it to reconnect. would something like this work as a replacement? i’d prefer the small profile over the antenna of the Panda Wireless.

#488

inconclusive. i didn’t see a listing on that page for the chipset, so the driver may or may not be in the norns linux kernel— and adding a driver is extremely complicated unless you’re deep into linux.

generally i’d suggest not leaving the wifi inserted unless you’re actively using it— which is how i convinced myself the big antenna isn’t a total joke. it works so much better.

1 Like
#489

just remembered i had a TP-Link Mini - AC600 sitting around. plugged it in and it’s not picking up any networks, so i guess i’m going with the Panda

#490

Hi
I have received my Norns and I’m very happy so far. I would like to pass audio from my Eurorack via an Expert Sleepers ES-9 but when using a 3.5 to 6.5 cable there is a lot of noise. I have tried direct in from my Digitakt and the sound is crystal clear…
Do I need to pass the out signal of the Es 9 via a VCA or a table mixer?

Thanks

#491

Ok I was using the wrong cable…such a noob…

Also find out that the usb cable charging the Norns is introducing some noise into the signal. If unplugged there is no problem :slight_smile: