Roland VH-11 - Bad High and Low Levels

[marcddsa]

Hi all

I've finally got to a place where my kit is highly playable... And I'm loving it. My only (current) issue is the range of the VH-11 pedal.

I've gone through all the posts I can find on the forum, set it up as per the docs (on my 32-input Dmitri built unit), tried various settings but am still stuck with bad dynamics on the pedal....

The long and short of it is:
- 10k resistor - YES
- Low/Hi Switch UP / AltIn NO - LOW = 280 / HIGH = 419 (This is the one that works the best to give full range on the pedal and alright dynamics - but not great)
- Low/Hi Switch UP / AltIn YES - I just get readings that make no sense and get no range on the pedal
- Low/Hi Switch DOWN / AltIn NO - LOW - 550 / HIGH = 1023 (Nor great and very jumpy on graphs)
- Low/Hi Switch DOWN / AltIn YES - I just get readings that make no sense and get no range on the pedal

Screen shots are attached, but the main question is will changing the resistor to 15k give me better range and therefore better dynamics or am I doing something wrong?

Cheers

[ignotus]

When you say dynamics do you mean the triggering dynamics of the hi hat cymbal? If so, it has nothing to do with the pedal settings but rather with the hi hat cymbal input settings. Again, if this is the case, leave the pedal settings with whatever gives you the best open/closed range and focus on the cymbal settings.

[jc001]

Hello marcddsa

As an owner if a VH-11 I would really like to know what settings you use for the pad itselt. Is it possible for you to post your settings?

/Jakob

[dmitri]

I've gone through all the posts I can find on the forum, set it up as per the docs (on my 32-input Dmitri built unit), tried various settings but am still stuck with bad dynamics on the pedal....

Please expand on what you mean by "bad dynamics on the pedal".

[marcddsa]

Thanks Ignotus - Makes sense coz it actually works...

Jakob - I'll post my settings tomorrow when I'm in front of the kit. but for info I started off with Angr77 pack 5_5 and other posts on the forum.. (topic viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1986 and others)

Hi Dmitri - the pedal doesn't seem to be consistent in its travel - almost a bit logarithmic where the pedal seems to move less that the bottom half... I might be splitting hairs because actually it sounds good when opening and closing and chicks work well (on AD2)... The HiHat itself is not fully set up yet and could do with a bit more work but I thought the idea was to get a good split between high and the low and I only get around 139 between high and low...

It works well - don't get me wrong - but maybe the confusion comes in when I compare to other drummers setups on the VH-11 get more of a split between high and low....

[dmitri]

I guess you went through http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtop ... 679#p22679

1. How did you come up with LowLevel 280 and HighLevel 419?
2. When you slowly open and close the pedal is the HiHat VU-meter (or the bar in MDM) goes up and down slowly as well? In what steps?
3. Did you try different Curves for the Pedal?

Also, if near open/close positions you don't get any raw value changes when you move the pedal then it means there is no signal change on the pedal input and so MegaDrum sees the pedal as stationary. In this case you need to adjust the pedal mechanically. I guess there is an instruction for this in the VH-11 manual.

[marcddsa]

I guess you went through viewtopic.php?p=22679#p22679

1. How did you come up with LowLevel 280 and HighLevel 419?
2. When you slowly open and close the pedal is the HiHat VU-meter (or the bar in MDM) goes up and down slowly as well? In what steps?
3. Did you try different Curves for the Pedal?

Also, if near open/close positions you don't get any raw value changes when you move the pedal then it means there is no signal change on the pedal input and so MegaDrum sees the pedal as stationary. In this case you need to adjust the pedal mechanically. I guess there is an instruction for this in the VH-11 manual.

Thanks for the reply Dmitri...
1. I went through the mentioned post to get my values and then confirmed on the midi log to ensure that open was open and closed was closed
2. Short answer - yes. The steps seem to be a bit non- linear... Halfway on the pedal is not halfway on the pedal. The midi log goes down slowly at first and then faster until closed.
3. Didn't think of the curve.... Will try that a bit later today..

Thanks again...

PS - Changed curve to Exp1 - after the initial reply and it feels smoother...

[marcddsa]

Jacob - herewith my current Hihat pad settings - not perfect yet but playable with good zone separation. The switch portion of the hat was a bit weir in that sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. I took it apart, cleaned away all the old bits of dust and rubber, cleaned the contacts and that was solved..

[dmitri]

PS - Changed curve to Exp1 - after the initial reply and it feels smoother...

You can dedicate one of the Curves for the pedal and edit it to your liking.

[jc001]

Jacob - herewith my current Hihat pad settings - not perfect yet but playable with good zone separation. The switch portion of the hat was a bit weir in that sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. I took it apart, cleaned away all the old bits of dust and rubber, cleaned the contacts and that was solved..

Thank you... will test these settings shortly

/Jakob