Author Topic: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues  (Read 1655 times)

Peetem

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Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« on: February 26, 2023, 01:43:27 PM »
Hey,

First I would like to say, "Well done!".  I know that nobody is getting rich off this kit, commercially its a pedal worth double the cost! Extremely well designed - layout and enclosure are first-rate.  I've been building effects and amps for 30+ years from both kits and straight from schematics.  And while this is complex, if folks follow the instructions found on several pages, you'll have success with a top-tier product!

So, now to my problem - I've checked the ADC chip, where I've connected the Tweak knobs (0,1) as well as the configuration (outside lugs to +3v, opposite lugs to 0V, and wiper to middle lug).  I also built the midi/expression pedal add on board (expression pedal connected to pin 7) and for whatever reason I cannot get any of them to work. 

Can someone post the files that I need to edit and code for each?  I keep checking all the default files and I seem to have it all correct, but I'm missing something.  Has to be a configuration problem.

Many thanks and again, kudus on a job well-done!

EDITED: I also have another problem - when using the MOD UI I noticed that that three primary buttons on the Pi will, if assigned to a preset in one of the sample pedal boards provided, will work the effect just fine.  However, if I try and assign, via MIDI, one of the buttons to a new pedalboard, they won't work.  The halo will light when pressed, but the button doesn't get noticed by the pedal.  No name is assigned either - its like all the MIDI functions of the pedal aren't noticed by the Pi Stomp - but, as I noted, the pedal as already provided on the sample pedal board, will notice the button/switch.

I modified the "default_config.yml" as provided and even took the approach of renaming and saving one of the other config files to use the existing code.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks in advanced.
« Last Edit: February 27, 2023, 07:01:56 AM by Peetem »

Randall (Admin)

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2023, 02:14:58 PM »
Regarding the analog controllers, do you have something like this in your default_config.yml file?

analog_controllers:
- adc_input: 0
  midi_CC: 70
  type: KNOB
- adc_input: 1
  midi_CC: 71
  type: KNOB
- adc_input: 7
  midi_CC: 77
  type: EXPRESSION

It's easy to forget that "analog_controllers" line or leave it commented.  Either would render the controls useless.  Also make sure you restart the pi-Stomp service (eg. ps-restart from ssh)

If that doesn't help, try using the Hardware Debug utility:
https://www.treefallsound.com/wiki/doku.php?id=troubleshooting_guide#hardware_debug_utility

Regarding re-assignment of physical controls which are currently assigned, yeah, that's due to a quirk of MOD.  The control must be unassigned first.  I documented that here:
https://www.treefallsound.com/wiki/doku.php?id=tutorials_and_videos#controlling_pi-stomp

Peetem

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2023, 05:12:19 PM »
Thanks.

I sorta got it working.  When I run the hardware debug it registers all the controls.  I took an existing board and was able to map a couple of controls on a pedal to one of the tweak knobs and the expression pedal. 

However, the other tweak knob would never register (and I selected "Midi-Save" and then moved the control so it was detected.  Lastly, I built a pedalboard from scratch and none of the pedals would recognize any button, tweak knob, or the expression pedal.

At this point I'm stumped!

I even erased the SD card the started from scratch.  I have zero problems editing the default_config.yml file and did that to get things slightly working (albeit briefly).

Any other suggestions?

Randall (Admin)

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2023, 05:27:35 PM »
If you have one tweak knob that works and one that doesn't, I'd attach the bad pot to the good input to see if it works.  If it does, then it appears to be on the ADC side of things.  If not, it could be the pot/wiring.

But on a new pedalboard you should be able to assign any controller.  The footswitches use a different method (debounce chip to GPIO) for creating a MIDI event than the tweak/expression (ADC to GPIO via SPI).  So if NO controls can be assigned, assuming you're using the correct steps, that would imply that both hardware systems were misbehaving which doesn't seem likely, so that is seeming more like a MOD software issue.  Also, you said the Hardware Debug util was showing that controls were behaving correctly.

Maybe good to restart all the services:

sudo systemctl restart jack mod-host mod-ui mod-ala-pi-stomp

If that doesn't help.  email me (support@treefallsound.com) and maybe we can do a zoom call or something.

Peetem

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2023, 06:00:13 PM »
Will do.

I'll run through things and see how it turns out....

Peetem

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2023, 02:43:58 PM »
Well, things are hit and miss.

About every other time I power up the Pi Stomp, the screen stays white.  But, it does recognize the expression pedal and tweak knobs - somewhat.  It will seem to do fine, and then it won't recognize anything.

The pushbuttons not the unit never work.  But the utility provided detects them just fine.  So, I'm going to assume some of these quirks operator error.

I'll keep debugging.

Still, the unit sounds amazing - very low noise even with some high-gain stuff going on.

Even more to follow.....

Edited- now the screen flashes back and forth bettween "Pi Stomp" and  white....non-stop.  I'm going to reinstall the OS.
« Last Edit: March 01, 2023, 03:55:33 PM by Peetem »

Peetem

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2023, 03:18:03 PM »
So I am trying to reinstall the Pi Stomp OS and get this error...

sudo apt-get -y install git

git clone https://github.com/TreeFallSound/pi-stomp.git

cd pi-stomp

The following NEW packages will be installed:
  git git-man liberror-perl
0 upgraded, 3 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 7,260 kB/7,291 kB of archives.
After this operation, 37.7 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Ign:1 http://security.debian.org/debian-security bullseye-security/main arm64 git-man all 1:2.30.2-1+deb11u1
Err:2 http://security.debian.org/debian-security bullseye-security/main arm64 git arm64 1:2.30.2-1+deb11u1
  404  Not Found [IP: 2a04:4e42:7b::644 80]
Err:1 http://security.debian.org/debian-security bullseye-security/main arm64 git-man all 1:2.30.2-1+deb11u1
  404  Not Found [IP: 2a04:4e42:7b::644 80]
E: Failed to fetch http://security.debian.org/debian-security/pool/updates/main/g/git/git-man_2.30.2-1%2bdeb11u1_all.deb  404  Not Found [IP: 2a04:4e42:7b::644 80]
E: Failed to fetch http://security.debian.org/debian-security/pool/updates/main/g/git/git_2.30.2-1%2bdeb11u1_arm64.deb  404  Not Found [IP: 2a04:4e42:7b::644 80]
E: Unable to fetch some archives, maybe run apt-get update or try with --fix-missing?
-bash: git: command not found
-bash: cd: pi-stomp: No such file or directory


Really curious what's going on now.....

Peetem

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2023, 09:46:24 PM »
Now it gets better - the Pi Stomp isn't communicating with my network anymore.  I cannot Terminal connect and the device isn't showing on my network.

I really think I have a hardware problem. 

Any ideas?

Sorry to be a pain.  Other than some teaks with the config file, it seemed to work OK.

Randall (Admin)

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2023, 12:10:12 AM »
No, that install problem is not your hardware.  I just burnt a fresh image and I get the same error.  It's during the install of git.  That's a very basic thing to do.

I noticed that the 64-bit Lite image was just updated a few weeks ago.  Something changed.

I'll do some research and report back.

Randall (Admin)

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2023, 12:17:10 AM »
Execute this:
  sudo apt-get update

then
  sudo apt-get -y install git

and the rest of the instructions.  I'll update the Wiki to include that step.

Peetem

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2023, 04:26:23 AM »
OK - Pi Stomp connected to the network and followed your instructions. 

The unit has rebooted and seemed to be working....but

I unplugged and moved over to my pedal board, plugged back in (after using system shutdown), and now the screen cycles from all white to "Pi Stomp".....

Any suggestions?
« Last Edit: March 02, 2023, 05:15:42 AM by Peetem »

Randall (Admin)

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2023, 04:45:10 PM »
I doubt there's anything wrong with your hardware.  I'm guessing your audio card might have got mis-configured after first boot.  It doesn't seem to be a repeatable problem (at least, I haven't be able), but a couple others have.

The solution is given row 5 of the Troubleshooting guide:
https://www.treefallsound.com/wiki/doku.php?id=troubleshooting_guide

Please let us know if that seems to resolve the issue.

I'll investigate again and possibly consider adding a re-init of the audio card upon every power up.


Peetem

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Re: Expression Pedal & Tweak Knobs - Updated Additional Issues
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2023, 05:46:09 PM »
Well.....

This is super weird - the MIDI pedal controller, the Pistomp button and tweaks knobs now work perfectly - for all devices (including the sequencer).  However, the Expression pedal doesn't work at all.  The configuration file is correct.

I reloaded everything and rebooted a couple of times.  Tried the hardware test app and the pedal registers.  But it doesn't work, even on new boards that don't have anything else assigned.....tried several wah pedal types and no luck.

So more debugging!  :(

But thanks again for the help with the Arduino code!

EDITED - now nothing is working.  I described it in this thread: https://treefallsound.com/forum/index.php?topic=106.15
« Last Edit: March 06, 2023, 07:09:42 PM by Peetem »