Single Tap Tempo Controller (non-MIDI)

[benny_profane]

I have a few different tap tempo pedals on my board. I'd like a way to use a single tap tempo module to send signals to each. My first thought is to use an arduino unit since that would make NC/NO behavior easily selectable (to accommodate Boss pedals), but I feel like that might be overkill. Is there an easier solution with an ATTINY (or similar) mcu and transistor switches?

 

[Robert]

Momentary 3PDT footswitch?

You could tap three devices simultaneously and have NC/NO operation, completely passive, isolated (with insulated jacks), and about as simple as can be.

 

[benny_profane]

Momentary 3PDT footswitch?

You could tap three devices simultaneously and have NC/NO operation, completely passive.

Wow. I completely blanked on that. Good call.

If one were to want a digital solution, say to also include an LED tempo indicator, would an mcu with an array of transistor switches be a way to do it?

 

[Robert]

Sure, you could do that.

 

[Bricksnbeatles]

Don’t most tap tempo devices also accept clock signals?

 

[benny_profane]

Don’t most tap tempo devices also accept clock signals?

That would depend on what the signal logic is. But yes, it should. That might be the reason to integrate an mcu with an rtc, that way you could either send an absolute bpm or a tap tempo.

 

[Feral Feline]

There are also 4PDT momentary switches, I have a couple. Don't remember where I got 'em from, but
they're out there. Might've been BLMS.

 

[Feral Feline]

Wow. I completely blanked on that. Good call.

If one were to want a digital solution, say to also include an LED tempo indicator, would an mcu with an array of transistor switches be a way to do it?

Wouldn't the individual pedals that you're hooking up have their own tempo-LEDs?

I can see if you're building them that you might not want lights flashing all over your board, just one master — you could even put an on-off switch to the LED so you don't have the LED flashing when you're not using the tempo-related pedals, but can quickly check the tempo before launching into the song that has TRPs.

 

[benny_profane]

@Feral Feline — an mcu would also open up the possibility of using a rotary encoder and display for setting bpm and time divisions as well. But that was the thought with integrating an led.

 

[Bricksnbeatles]

Wouldn't the individual pedals that you're hooking up have their own tempo-LEDs?

If the various devices were set to different subdivisions, the master-device’s LFO would be an easy way of seeing the true input tempo

 

[benny_profane]

micro.clock — Disaster Area Designs

PLEASE ALLOW 4-5 BUSINESS DAYS FOR CUSTOM COLOURS TO SHIP Micro-Sized MIDI Tap Tempo and Clock Source The micro.clock allows you to synchronize your tempo-enabled MIDI and non-MIDI devices, without taking up too much precious board space. Bundle with one of our TRS-MIDI cables to allow for MIDI

www.disasterareadesigns.com

I think that’s essentially what I’m trying to describe.

 

[Feral Feline]

I've wanted to figure out something DIY like this myself and then the thing I wanted to figure out came out commercially — I never told anybody about it, so to steal my idea they must've sucked out my brainwaves while I wasn't wearing my tinfoil hat.

Here 'tis:

 

[benny_profane]

That looks like it could be done with the TAPLFO chip from electricdruid. The MBP tappy could be modded to add the expression jack.

 

[Feral Feline]

That's what I was thinking, it seems very much just a standalone TAPLFO.