It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:30 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: USB footswitch
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:36 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:22 am
Posts: 52
Hi Loren,

I have a request that I believe Fender should consider to enhance the performance of the larger Mustangs for pro players who want to use these amps live.

One of the most common things we need, is the ability to be able to group predefined patches. As is the case in a lot of songs, you need a clean sound, a slightly driven sound and a boost sound for solos.

While the 4 button footswitch and the firmware allow you to set 3 Quick Access buttons, you can only have one set of Q.A.'s programmed and this is limiting, as you need the ability to have many groups of patches programmed for different songs. Using the Up/Down function just doesn't work for this.

If the firmware was upgraded to allow you to save say 6 groups of Q.A.'s and a more functional multi-pedal footswitch that was maybe a USB based device, similar to the functionality of a Midi floor board, then Fender would have truly pro piece of equipment, that would give gigging musicians all they need.

This is a wish list request I know, but I believe most players on this forum would agree, that this would be a major enhancement and would be more than willing to spend the extra dollars to have this.

Coming from an I.T. background myself, I know that this would not be to difficult for Fender to achieve and would make these amps a really usable pro tool.

I have only just taken delivery of my Mustang IV and I am quite impressed. This amp has got all of the sounds and power I need to play live and cut through the mix. Unfortunately the limitations of the footswicth in this area, make it hard to use without a bank of additional pedals and one of the reasons I moved to a digital modelling amp, was to get away from having to use so many pedals to achieve the flexability needed for live performance.

All I am asking, is that you highlight this request with your management and design teams, to have a look at the possibility.

I'm sure we would all appreciate Fender having a serious look at this enhancement.

Thanks
8beggars


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:15 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:22 pm
Posts: 797
Thanks for posting this idea, 8beggars. I've posted the same idea some months ago and agree that it would indeed make the Mustangs a much more flexible amplifier that would give all other modeling devices something to worry about.

O.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:38 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:22 am
Posts: 52
No problems Orcatraz, good to get some support for the idea. Thanks.

To all you Mustang users out there, join this thread and show your support, if you think this would be valuable. If we can get enough people to show an interest, then I'm sure Fender will consider this upgrade.

Dear Fender, I'm sure Orcatraz won't be pressing for a cut of profits for coming up with the idea in the first place. We'd just be satisfied to see this become a reality.

8beggars


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 1:44 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:11 am
Posts: 387
In another post I commented on the difficulty of easily managing 100 presets on the bigger Mustangs, and that the ability to organise them into smaller, separate 'banks' would be a big step forward.

Being able to access those 'banks' in live playing, whether via USB or a more conventional footswitch, would significantly enhance the usability of the amps in a 'pro' setting.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 2:36 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:42 am
Posts: 32
Location: Australia
Hey 8beggars,
How you liking the IV? any sign of the fizz?
Also I dont think Fender need to go to usb for the switching you are talking about, it could be done with the 2 and 4 button switch's with just a software update. I would much prefer the footswitches plugged into the 1/4 sockets on the back than into the flimsy usb jack on the top...especially in a live situation.

LaCab


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:32 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:27 am
Posts: 396
LaCab wrote:
Also I dont think Fender need to go to usb for the switching you are talking about, it could be done with the 2 and 4 button switch's with just a software update. I would much prefer the footswitches plugged into the 1/4 sockets on the back than into the flimsy usb jack on the top...especially in a live situation.

LaCab


I agree with LaCab. No need for complicating things if a simple software update does the trick. With that be said - I'd love if the time you have to hold the 'change mode' button on your footswitch to enter the tuner mode would be increased by at least a second, because 0,5s is, if you're trying to quickly change modes from 1 to 3, really not enough.
Anyway if I had to buy the new footswitch with more Quick Access groups - I wouldn't do it. If it came with the just software update - super, great.
But I'm not prepared to buy it when I can, just as easily with just a bit of memory training and logistical placing of presets I use, but not as much to have them on Q.A. buttons (the ones I use for a specific song for instance), achieve the same trick with using the Up/Down mode on footswitch - it's all really about optimizing your footswitch. While it'd definitely be easier to have another few groups of Q.A.s - you can just as easily achieve that without new groups of Q.A.s and you learn something and memorize it in the process which is also good.
The footswitch gives you A LOT of flexibility if you're just imaginative enough and can remember a few numbers - what are they for ;)

EDIT: What'd be really useful on the footswitch as well, is that if the first few letters of preset's name would be visible - they don't need to be super big or anything, number of the preset and first 2 letters of preset's name which'd be smaller - it helps big time in case you can't remember which number goes with which preset.

_________________
Image
Gear: Gibson Les Paul Studio Limited WBCR (2 Burstbucker Pro PUPs)
Fender Stratocaster Highway One
'93 Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:37 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:22 pm
Posts: 797
As much as I like this idea, that super flimsy mini USB connector is a major concern. For the most part I actually try to avoid devices with such a connector but the Mustang sounds so good!

While I understand the need to keep costs down, I will never be able to fathom how companies can continue to use these connectors. I'm sure they're well aware of just how bad they are!

O.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:22 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2011 12:53 am
Posts: 15
The simpler way would be to make FUZE midi compatible or at lease keyboard shortcut controllable. The you could use a floor pedal to trigger any series of changes with keyboard strokes. No firmware or hardware update needed and its immediately available to all fuze compliant amps fender makes.

_________________
"Ha, and those fools at Radio Shack thought I was mad, mad I tell you!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:06 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:22 am
Posts: 52
Guys,

With respect, if you read my original post, I am talking about the flexibility that is required for live use. Sure you can use the Up/Down buttons to cycle through and find the presets if your playing in your bedroom. But if your on stage and in the middle of playing a song, you need to be able to change from one preset to another lightning quick, especially when you have a clean sound for the intro of a song, then an overdrive preset for verse/chorus and then a ball-teara soloing patch and you need to change back and forth quickly. This is especially important if you are playing as the only guitarist in a band as many of us do and also if you need to knock out 3 or 4 songs back to back quickly to hold a crowd, you don't get time to fool around with Up/Down searching.

As Lacab pointed out, he would prefer a pedal that operates through the jack on the rear as opposed to the USB and I would be happy with that also.

As far as using the existing 4 button switch with a software upgrade, maybe that's an option, but it would certainly be better if you had a controller board with 8 or 10 footswitches that you could assign presets to, then you would have the flexibility to use many different combinations of your favourite 10 or so presets very quickly. Now that's what I'd call a professional quick access tool.

Sorry guys, but I'm not a bedroom player so the current 4 button configuration is far too limiting and sees me needing to use additional pedals to achieve a quick change, which is a shame as the lesser the devices plugged into the signal chain, the better.

Hey LaCab, I've had my Mustang IV for just over a week. Spent a lot of time over the weekend reorganizing presets and downloading some and tweaking others. Took it to rehearsal on Tuesday night and ran the Master at 5 all night. Performed beautifully, with absolutely no fizz and I've got to say even most of the overdriven/effects based presets had no or very little noise as a lot of multi-effects units do. Might have to use the Noise Gate on a couple, but other than that, as a valve retard most of my 40 years of playing, this thing is F$#%in awesome. (excuse the French).

Having said that, I will wait 3 to 6 months until I have had the chance to really road test the unit, before I pass final judgement, but early signs are good. I had to wait 4 weeks for a new shipment to arrive, so it may be that any anomally that existed, has now been rectified in the new amps being shipped.

Cheers
8beggars


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:17 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:42 am
Posts: 32
Location: Australia
8beggers,
That sounds like good news, might have to order a IV and see what I get....I've looked at some valve amps and I just really dont want to go back there, I'm love everything about the M3 except the fizz..plugged into a couple of Mesa's and the constant shhhhhhhhh that they had :shock: think I prefer the fizz, maybe fender put the fizz intentionally to emulate how noisy vavle amps are :lol:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:14 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:22 pm
Posts: 797
LaCab wrote:
think I prefer the fizz, maybe fender put the fizz intentionally to emulate how noisy vavle amps are :lol:


Hah! Now there's a concept. I like it! :lol:

O.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:46 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:27 am
Posts: 396
8beggars wrote:
Guys,

With respect, if you read my original post, I am talking about the flexibility that is required for live use. Sure you can use the Up/Down buttons to cycle through and find the presets if your playing in your bedroom. But if your on stage and in the middle of playing a song, you need to be able to change from one preset to another lightning quick, especially when you have a clean sound for the intro of a song, then an overdrive preset for verse/chorus and then a ball-teara soloing patch and you need to change back and forth quickly. This is especially important if you are playing as the only guitarist in a band as many of us do and also if you need to knock out 3 or 4 songs back to back quickly to hold a crowd, you don't get time to fool around with Up/Down searching.

Cheers
8beggars


With respect, as I think it was aimed towards me, I don't think you fully grasp the idea I was trying to present to you.
Using Up/down switches can just as easily work as quick access buttons - you just have to be imaginative enough and optimize your footswitch and preset list. Let me give you an example, how I have mine footswitch set up as I, too, need a variety of sounds as I cover songs mostly.
My quick access presets are as following: Q1 - 41 (clean preset with amp volume on 8 which is very nice for playing acoustic rhythm - it's almost the same as if you decrease the volume of your guitar magnets, the change in sound)
Q2 - 20 - driven sound with a compressor already turned on pre-amp and also a delay unit turned off in fx loop (perfect for playing some solos or driven rhythm in chorus or whatever and can easily add delay for solos with 3 quick taps on buttons)
Q3 - 14 - another clean, this time the amp volume is set on 10 with compressor unit pre-amp already active and delay unit in fx loop which is disabled but can easily be enabled by pressing the right button - sound perfect for playing clean solos or stuff like RHCP's Californication lead guitar, etc.
Now these are Quick Access presets, but I put around them the other sounds I need for other songs - like let's take a look at Q3 which is clean sound and can basically be used for any song that the guitar, when clean, has to pick strings (again a good example are songs like Californication, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Smells Like Teen Spirit clean guitar, etc - you get my drift). My driven sound doesn't quite go well with Smells Like Teen Spirit driven guitar sound so I put on preset 13 a driven preset that goes well with Smells Like Teen Spirit driven guitar. My driven preset that I have on Q.A. button also doesn't go well with It's Not My Time driven guitar which, the one that I play at least, requires some Wah-Wah effect. So I made preset for It's Not My Time driven guitar and put it on preset 15. So as soon as we play that song I go on preset 14 (clean, lead, sound) which I have on Q.A. button and then change the mode from selecting Q.A. presets to Up/Down mode so when I need the driven sound I just press the Up button to go on preset 15 and bam - I have the Wah-Wah with enough distortion, etc, all that I need for It's Not My Time and when it's time that I play clean guitar in the same song I just press the Down button on footswitch and go on preset 14, which is also a Q.A. preset, and play the clean part.
There's no searching through presets for 10 minutes using Up/Down mode on footswitch, it's just as quick as Q.A. button.
Same could be done with a clean amp, using Mode 3 on footswitch, that has a turned-off overdrive unit pre-amp that you just activate when you need overdrive or fuzz or something, using Mode 3, for solos or anything.

Hope I made myself clear enough this time, but once again - my way works for live situations as well, you just gotta organize your presets and maximize the efficiency of logistical placement of your presets so you can use all 3 modes of your footswitch to get the sounds you want for each and every song you play. You can especially fiddle with/around the clean preset(s) already at, or right beside, one of your Q.A. presets because let's face it - a clean sound is a clean sound, in a live situation no-one will notice if one song should have 0,5 more trebble and 1 less bass (on the buttons on amp) and other should have less trebble and more bass. Not unless you're a Pink Floyd member anyway and even then for most of the songs maybe 0,1% of people attending the concert would notice :wink:
If you need any more clarification on what I mean feel free to PM me ;)

_________________
Image
Gear: Gibson Les Paul Studio Limited WBCR (2 Burstbucker Pro PUPs)
Fender Stratocaster Highway One
'93 Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:10 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:22 am
Posts: 52
Hi Neimenljivi,

No disrespect intended.

I fully understand your point of view and I do realize there are always work-arounds and failing Fender's desire to release an upgrade, I will probably purchase the additional 2 button footswitch to give me even more flexibility.

My point is simply that a multi-button floorboard with an upgrade to the software to allow storage of mutliple Q.A. sets which could be quickly accessed, would be a great solution that would give us the same sort of control that you can currently achieve with midi controllers and multi-effects floor units.

Fender have developed a fantastic amp in the Mustang, that finally sees musicians moved into the new Century after amp design has pretty much languished in the deep dark past. It would be nice to have a controller board that matches the forward thinking that was put into the amp design. I am not saying that the pedal provided is not a move in the right direction, but it could be much better without a lot of extra development.

This is simply a positive idea being put forward by someone who sees the advantage to all pro players and the simplicity that it would offer.

In saying this however, it is up to the wider audience of customers to request this sort of upgrade for Fender to perhaps take some notice. As I said, I've been playing for 40 years and it would be easy to stay rooted in the era that I grew up in and cut my teeth on, but I am not a fan of stagnating in the past. I am all for advancement in technologies that create a better place for us to interact and work and why should musicians tools of trade not keep up with technological advancement.

Thanks for the great amp Fender. Now just the pedal design, if you please.

8beggars


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 3:38 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:27 am
Posts: 396
8beggars wrote:
Hi Neimenljivi,

No disrespect intended.

I fully understand your point of view and I do realize there are always work-arounds and failing Fender's desire to release an upgrade, I will probably purchase the additional 2 button footswitch to give me even more flexibility.

My point is simply that a multi-button floorboard with an upgrade to the software to allow storage of mutliple Q.A. sets which could be quickly accessed, would be a great solution that would give us the same sort of control that you can currently achieve with midi controllers and multi-effects floor units.

Fender have developed a fantastic amp in the Mustang, that finally sees musicians moved into the new Century after amp design has pretty much languished in the deep dark past. It would be nice to have a controller board that matches the forward thinking that was put into the amp design. I am not saying that the pedal provided is not a move in the right direction, but it could be much better without a lot of extra development.

This is simply a positive idea being put forward by someone who sees the advantage to all pro players and the simplicity that it would offer.

In saying this however, it is up to the wider audience of customers to request this sort of upgrade for Fender to perhaps take some notice. As I said, I've been playing for 40 years and it would be easy to stay rooted in the era that I grew up in and cut my teeth on, but I am not a fan of stagnating in the past. I am all for advancement in technologies that create a better place for us to interact and work and why should musicians tools of trade not keep up with technological advancement.

Thanks for the great amp Fender. Now just the pedal design, if you please.

8beggars


I agree it would be a bonus mate and if it's as simple as a software update, I'm all in for making Fender do it, I just wanted to say that even with how things are, it's already one of the most flexible footswitches - as far as the rest of your posts go I completely agree. I just wanted to say that in case it doesn't get developed there are easy ways around it, such as the way I told you about for achieving basically the same thing, only with a little more work put in by you, by us, and a little memory training. That's all I meant :)

_________________
Image
Gear: Gibson Les Paul Studio Limited WBCR (2 Burstbucker Pro PUPs)
Fender Stratocaster Highway One
'93 Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: USB footswitch
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 11:31 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:15 pm
Posts: 44
So basically you want a footswitch similar to the CyberTwin SE footswitch with similar functionality? It would be nice.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: