Clavia didn`t post which foot-controller pedals are suitable for the nord modular keyboard. I'd like to get a nice one which is not to expensive. Recently I bought a pedal manufactured by DOD but it didn?t came any further than 67 on the meter.

Any cheap volume pedal will do. E.g. a Korg KVP-001. Use a standard "insert cable". Plug the stereoplug in the back of the modular. Then when looking at the front of the pedal, plug the [r]ed plug in the [r]ight side and the black in the left side of the pedal. So red at the input and black at the output. There might be a volume knob on the pedal. This knob normally sets the value for when the pedal is depressed, imagine using the pedal on an organ, then you would always want max volume if the pedal is totally pressed but maybe a little volume if it is depressed. That amount of a little bit of volume is set with that knob. Setting that knob to zero would now give the full range on the modular, but opening it would make the pedel go from e.g. a value of 24 to 64 instead of 0 to 64. Reversing the plugs on the pedal also would make the pedal not go through the whole range, much like the case you describe. So set that knob on the pedal (uh, if the dod pedal has one) to zero and check if you didn't by accident reverse the red and black plug. If you find the pedal have a zippery effect, assign the pedal to a constant module, route the output of the constant through a smooth module (both are in the control modules tab) and set the smooth value to 5 to 10 msec. Use the output of the smooth module to control any parameter you like. The gain controller module is perfect to accompany that constant and smooth module to control levels of modulating signals.

Here's an example patch demonstrating methods of using the pedal from a constant module.

I don't know how many of you use the expression pedal (or control pedal) feature of the NM, but I might have a little tip. I tried to find a compatible pedal for this input, but they're hard to find and quite expensive. The modular needs a pedal with a stereo-jack plug, that smoothly fades between the first and second contact (0-4.5 volts appearantly)

After visiting several music stores I bought a cheap and simple volume-controller pedal (for guitar) for about 20 euro/dollar, and it was really easy to fix it for usage with the NM. If you know how to handle a soldering iron and want to fix your own, I'll explain the details.

The Control Pedal on the NM uses a stereo 6.3mm jack, and has 3 contacts. I don't know the official numbers, but lets call the outer-ring (Ground) contact 1, the middle ring #2, and the tip #3.

By using a potentiometer as a voltage-dividor between pin 3 and 2, with the output on pin 1 the controller can be regulated There are a few types of controller/volume pedals in the stores. The better ones (and more expensive) use a optocoupler system with a led and a photodiode. It might be possible to use these for the nord, but I'm not sure. The cheaper ones (the one I used) have some kind of gear-mechanic connected to one ore more potentiometers (mono/stereo), which can be rewired for use with the nord.

Screw/break/saw/burn open the pedal, and take a look at what's inside. Find out which way the potentiometer rotates when te pedal is fully off(up). This depends on the mechanic in the pedal. Lets call the pin on this side of the potentiometer pin 1.

Now by connection the potentiometer to the stereo-jack plug, it can be used as a voltage-divider between the 0 and 5 volts.

Try it on your NM. If it works the wrong way around, switch pin 1 and 3 on the potentiometer.

I'm using a cheap Korg KVP-001 volume pedal connected to the NM by a standard insert cable from the shop, one stereo jack at one side, two mono jacks at the other. Another thing that works nicely is to connect e.g. a light sensitive resistor or a pressure sensitive resistor to the tip and ring of a stereo jack. The two dollar pressure sensitive resistor you can easily stick on the NM with two-sided Scotch tape. Play it by rolling your thumb over it. Assigning the pedal to a Constant module which output is routed through a 6dB LP at 12 to 39 Hz to take away any zippery sound.

The trouble with most volume pedals is that they use logarithmic pots so the control is all up one end when used with the nord. You could modify the law with the shaper module. ( I haven't tried it). A linear law pot would probably be a better option, but hey some interaction is better than non.

Expression pedals are mostly linear - that is, all Yamaha, Roland and Boss pedals I tried so far were. I use a Yamaha FC9 (stereo volume plus expression), but the cheap Yamaha and Boss expression pedals do as well, if you don't need it quite that heavy.