Electronics

Bob Jennings · Post by **Bob Jennings** » 20 Jun 2023 12:36 am

I have a Yamaha Digital Drum machine. It does not have an input for a foot pedal to turn it on and off--only the button on the machine. I called the factory and asked them about this and they said it doesn't do the foot pedal.

Does anyone out there in Steel Guitar Land know and can tell me how I can do something to this machine so I can use a foot pedal?

I would appreciate any information.

Bob Jennings

Mike Auman · Post by **Mike Auman** » 20 Jun 2023 6:11 am

Bob, do you have the model number, or a photo of the sticker on the back with that info? Yamaha made a lot of different types.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 20 Jun 2023 8:07 am

I called the factory and asked them about this and they said it doesn't do the foot pedal.

I think it is safe to say that there is nothing you can do. Even if there was, you would probably have to do some electronic work, and then have to change it's software to recognize a foot pedal, which is probably not possible. Best bet is to buy a different drum machine. I spent the last 3 years in a band that used an Alesis drum machine. It had a double foot switch that would would change between 2 different "patterns, Worked great.

Bob Jennings · Post by **Bob Jennings** » 20 Jun 2023 1:54 pm

Mike Auman,

It is a Yamaha Digital Rhythm Programmer RX 17

Bob Jennings

Mike Auman · Post by **Mike Auman** » 20 Jun 2023 2:59 pm

Bob, you can talk to the RX17 thru the MIDI jacks on the back, so you could send it a start or stop command that way from a MIDI controller. If you do, you'll also have to send the RX17 a MIDI clock sync from your controller, you can't have one without the other. If you want to do that, look for a MIDI controller that will send at least two commands along with generating a clock, here's a sample but there are others: https://www.disasterareadesigns.com/shop/p/dmc-3xl-gen3
The setting on the RX17 to receive MIDI commands and a clock would be MIDI Function Mode 5.1 (Sync), page 25 of the manual.

Ken Jameson · Post by **Ken Jameson** » 20 Jun 2023 4:03 pm

You might try running the machine through a volume pedal,
I have done that a few times and it works for me.

Bob Jennings · Post by **Bob Jennings** » 21 Jun 2023 3:27 am

Mike Auman and Ken Jameson,

Thank you for the information and things to do---I will try them both.

Bob Jennings