Possible SK-5 mod idea?

[Impugn]

I've had an idea for an SK-5 mod for a while, and have been looking for similar projects online for some time to help me out (I'm completely ignorant with electronics), but since I can't find any, I'm turning to you smart folks

What I really want out of it is a 4-footswitch pedal that can start/stop 4 sampled loops (chords, nothing rhythmic). When I switch-on 1, it would keep looping until I stepped on 2,3 or 4, in which case 1 would stop and the new loop (chord) would begin, until I switch it off, or switch-on another loop. I was imagining replacing the sample triggers on the SK-5 with mini jacks, to run to a floor pedal. But seeing as how there's a 99% chance that I'll break my SK-5, i'm not going to attempt anything without someone knowledgeable trying it first.

Im surprised that I couldn't find anything like this online. If anyone has, PLEASE let me know! I've found loopers, but nothing with the control that I need. It might be easier just making it from scratch, since I only really need the sampler part of the SK-5 (I would sample from another keyboard). But again, I know NOTHING about electronics. Sloppy guitar repairs are all I've ever done, and I'm sure I haven't even done those "right" I've looked up DIY samplers, but there's a gap when they loop. I like how the SK-5 barely has a gap, and I don't really need more than a half-second per sample, since they'll just be chords to accompany my guitar playing and singing.

Thanks for any help!

[forshee]

Sounds like a really useful mod. I thought I'd chime in since you haven't gotten anyone else to but I'll start by saying I have no SK experience, never even picked one up. If you have a bend for looping you could just run the bend out to a footswitch. If it's a one shot you could retrigger with a 555 (might need a transistor to act as a switch). Then use the footswitch to connect or disconnect the 555. The circuit bending is really a random thing what you talking about is really a mod that will take some extra hardware. I'm all for it but I don't think you'r going to get any warranties on circuit bending advice.

[umschmitt]

Hello and welcome, Impgn ! I don't have a SK-5 (only two SK-1s, does it make them a SK-2 ?), so I could be wrong, but wouldn't choosing a new sample mute the played loop ? You'd need then to a press a note again to start your new loop (aka chord)… Oh by the way : doesn't playing notes on the keyboard already transpose your samples ? (maybe not very practical if you already play along) Just an idea : you could sample the four most common chord types, and have access to any (common) chord possibility. The thing to consider is that if you need , say, two actions to run your new sample, making it one footswitch action would be a bit more complicated…
On a technical plan, you just need to physically connect the actual switch (well some connected jumper/diode/whatever) to the (momentary) footswitch, so it's not a big deal. Just derivate, no need to replace. Mini jacks or any two contact plug are an option.

[RotomotioN]

Starting a new sample won't mute the other ones. You may want to get hold of those switches that unlatch the others when pressed. They usually come as a strip of switches and can be found in old radio's or amps. Then somehow build a pedalboard with that.