Topic: Korg D1 and half pedaling

Does anyone know if the Korg D1 actually supports full continuous MIDI output for the pedals? I bought the DS-1H damper pedal but pianoteq is only registering the values (0, 38, 74, 127). I used the search feature and there is completely contradictory info. One user reports the same as me, but another says the piano and pedal output the full range of values. How can this be when the setup is basically the same?

Re: Korg D1 and half pedaling

aleluman wrote:

Does anyone know if the Korg D1 actually supports full continuous MIDI output for the pedals? I bought the DS-1H damper pedal but pianoteq is only registering the values (0, 38, 74, 127). I used the search feature and there is completely contradictory info. One user reports the same as me, but another says the piano and pedal output the full range of values. How can this be when the setup is basically the same?

I have a KORG LP-380 and I get the same values as you (0, 38, 74, 127) with Pianoteq.
But to be honest, it doesn't feel like 0,38, 74,127. Compared to how much I have to press my foot, it feels more like 0,20,50,127

Last edited by karoloydi (22-10-2021 11:33)

Re: Korg D1 and half pedaling

Interesting observations with the Korg DS-1H, aleluman.

I found the same discrete steps with the Korg PU-2 Pedal Unit in my Korg B2 thread https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=7796

After analysis of the PU-2 I found the pedal has four corresponding resistance steps (~0 Ohm, 5k, 10k, open). According to the common term half-pedaling I called this "third-pedaling" :-).

I predict the DS-1H pedal has the same rubber/silicone contacts as my PU-2:

https://i.postimg.cc/FsxrZZCK/Korg-PU-2-quarter-pedaling.jpg

Because the DS-1H has a tip-ring-sleeve plug, a real-continuous potentiometer pedal should work with the Korg D1 too, for example a ~15kOhm pot.

The only question remaining - is the D1 (and B2 and LP-380) using an Analog-Digital-Converter with a higher resolution >4 values (for example 128 values used in midi controllers)?

I'm very optimistic, but can't test it with my analog Roland pedal, because the B2 has a proprietary jack.

Last edited by groovy (22-10-2021 16:22)

Re: Korg D1 and half pedaling

... argh, I'm mistaken. The Korg DS-1H has a potentiometer inside (not switch based). So it is the electronic in the digital pianos, that limits to 4 discrete values!

Seen here: https://peter-repin.livejournal.com/98934.html

Re: Korg D1 and half pedaling

groovy wrote:

... argh, I'm mistaken. The Korg DS-1H has a potentiometer inside (not switch based). So it is the electronic in the digital pianos, that limits to 4 discrete values!

Seen here: https://peter-repin.livejournal.com/98934.html

Yeah, it's really annoying that they recommend upgrading to this pedal and don't even support it correctly. No one ever mentioned this in the reviews of the D1. How expensive can a proper pedal sensor be that they felt the need to cut corners here?

I'm still confused by the user that reported getting the full values here though: https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php...03#p972403

Re: Korg D1 and half pedaling

Hi,
all they promise is half-pedaling and this is what the DS-1H in combination with the Korg D1 does. They do not advertise continuous controlling or something, so no need to be really annoyed in my opinion.

A reduced resolution of 4 values has a few advantages of its own: Not more MIDI controller events on the MIDI bus, than absolutely necessary.

127 no damping
74 start of the twilight zone
38 end of the twilight zone
0 max damping

How strong the damping at this 4 values is, can be calibrated/weighted with Pianoteq's damping curve.

One disadvantage of this low internal resolution is, that the mechanical positions of those 4 values are fixed. This is obvious with the multiswitch in the PU-2, but does apply to a pot too.

But maybe the fixed mechanical positions are more of a theoretical problem.

Re: Korg D1 and half pedaling

groovy wrote:

Hi,
all they promise is half-pedaling and this is what the DS-1H in combination with the Korg D1 does. They do not advertise continuous controlling or something, so no need to be really annoyed in my opinion.

A reduced resolution of 4 values has a few advantages of its own: Not more MIDI controller events on the MIDI bus, than absolutely necessary.

127 no damping
74 start of the twilight zone
38 end of the twilight zone
0 max damping

How strong the damping at this 4 values is, can be calibrated/weighted with Pianoteq's damping curve.

One disadvantage of this low internal resolution is, that the mechanical positions of those 4 values are fixed. This is obvious with the multiswitch in the PU-2, but does apply to a pot too.

But maybe the fixed mechanical positions are more of a theoretical problem.

Interesting, this thread is the first time I've heard that the D1 is limited with its sustain pedal in this way.   I have a Roland FP-10 that is similarly limited, but even a bit worse, since any pedal through it is limited to three values, 0, 127, and some value in between that I can't remember, 60?

As you say, if you're using Pianoteq you can use Pianoteq's damping curve to change any of those values.  You obviously don't get more values that way.  But you do get different values, which changes the behavior of the pedal.

D1 users who want actual continuous sustain should be aware that you don't need to run your sustain pedal through the D1 at all. Pianoteq will play the same regardless of where its getting its sustain data from.  So you can play the D1 keyboard and use some alternate source to run your pedal through.  With my FP-10, if I get the itch for continuous pedaling, I sometimes set things up with my mini Yamaha Reface CP keyboard, next to the FP-10 and computer.  I use the Yamaha reface only as a unit to route the sustain pedal through:  sustain goes in Reface input jack, Reface output goes out the USB cable to the computer that's running Pianoteq. So Pianoteq then receives input from two devices: the Korg D1 (where I play the keys) snd the Reface (which sends the sustain data). 

The easy way to convert any keyboard to play with a continuous sustain pedal is to use a special purpose add-on made to convert pedal output to MIDI USB.  You plug the pedal into this little add-on unit, then connect its usb output to your computer.  Here's one that seems to do a good job and costs $54:  https://www.audiofront.net/MIDIExpression.php

I should say that the method I've described won't help you get continous output from a sustain pedal, unless the sustain pedal itself is a "continuous" pedal, not merely a switch.

Last edited by hesitz (23-10-2021 17:49)

Re: Korg D1 and half pedaling

Sometimes an image says more than thousand words, especially when my words ...

https://i.postimg.cc/PxLqk7HW/Sustain-resolution-Korg-B2.png