Published December 13, 2021 © GPL3+

MIDI Pedal Board for guitar multieffect FX-500

A pedal board to send MIDI Program Change to my old guitar multieffect that has a MIDI IN port.

BeginnerProtip1,867

MIDI Pedal Board for guitar multieffect FX-500

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino Micro

Resistor 10k ohm

Resistor 220 ohm

DIN Audio / Video Connector, 5 Contacts

Alphanumeric LCD, 20 x 4

SNAP ACTION SWITCH Z15G1307

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Soldering iron (generic)

Story

2022 Jan 9 software update (description at the end of the page)

----------

2021 Dec 28 update at the end of the page

----------

I have an old guitar multieffect Yamaha FX-500.

To change the presets (90 in total), I must press up/down buttons and confirm it with another one. It is not useful while playing guitar.

So I decided to create a pedalboard to change the presets quickly.

In the back of the multieffect there is a MIDI IN port that can receive MIDI instructions (or for connecting the original pedalboard).

So, using an Arduino Micro and the MIDI.h library I create the prototype.

I want a 5x2 memory slot. Each single pedal button can memorize two preset. There is a sixth pedal button (called Bank A/B) that is used to switch between the two presets associated to each button.

At first I create a prototype with two buttons (one pedal and the bank A/B), to test the first code version and the MIDI messages.

first prototype

The MIDI Program Change works!

The second step is to create the elettric diagram with the six buttons and how to place the components on the board. I decide to use the screw connectors for pedals, LCD and MIDI port, so I can leave an open door when I'll decide how create the case.

Placement of components

After this I start soldering all the components and the wires.

Back

Front

Pay attention to the welds so as not to create false contacts (I had some).

I have connected all the buttons, LCD, midi port wires and I have used an old box to test it.

It works fine, but it needs a beteer case for a real use! (done! go ahead)

Button 1 to 5 from the left, button bank A/B on the right

I think that the Arduino code could be optimized, contributes are welcome!

------------

2021 Dec 28 update

Ok. I have built the pedal board.

And this is the result:

pedal board with FX-500

Rear

----------

2022 Jan 9 software update.

I've modified the software because I want to use the pedal board with three different guitars.

Now I have ten (2x5) banks of memory for each guitar.

Pressing for a while button one and six simultaneously, it is possible to change the guitar.

With button six (on the right) you can switch between bank A and B.

If you press button six, the pedal board doesn't switch to a new memory immediatly, but it waits that you press a button. In this state the display shows the new bank and the message "ARMED". When a button is pressed the memory change and the message changes in "in use".

I think that the project is completed.

Code

/*
5v-tx-gnd-

pin 7-8-9-10-11-12
pos 1-2-3- 4 -5-AB
*/

#include <MIDI.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27,20,4);  // set the LCD address to 0x27 for a 20 chars and 4 line display

MIDI_CREATE_DEFAULT_INSTANCE();
String bank ="A";
int effA1=10;
int effA2=20;
int effA3=30;
int effA4=40;
int effA5=50;
int effB1=12;
int effB2=22;
int effB3=32;
int effB4=42;
int effB5=52;
int PedBankAB = 0;
int Ped1 = 0;int Ped2 = 0;int Ped3 = 0;int Ped4 = 0;int Ped5 = 0;
int PrCh =0;
int activePedal=1;
long lastDebounceTime=0; //the last time the output pin was toggled
long debounceDelay=800;//the debounce time; increase if the output flickers

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
  pinMode(7, INPUT);pinMode(8, INPUT);pinMode(9, INPUT);pinMode(10, INPUT);pinMode(11, INPUT);
  pinMode(12, INPUT);
  MIDI.begin(14);
  MIDI.sendProgramChange(effA1, 1);
  lcd.init();                      // initialize the lcd 
  lcd.backlight();
  lcd.clear(); //pulisci lo schermo
  lcd.setCursor(0, 0); lcd.print("   YAMAHA FX-500");
  lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print("Bank: ");lcd.print(bank);
  lcd.setCursor(0, 2); lcd.print("Mem: ");lcd.print(effA1);
  lcd.setCursor(0, 3); lcd.print("Ped: ");lcd.print(activePedal);
}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
  Ped1 = digitalRead(7);  Ped2 = digitalRead(8);  Ped3 = digitalRead(9);  Ped4 = digitalRead(10);  Ped5 = digitalRead(11);
  PedBankAB = digitalRead(12);    
  if((millis()-lastDebounceTime)>debounceDelay) {
    // pressing bank (A or B)  
    if (PedBankAB == HIGH) {
      if (bank=="A") {bank="B";
        if (activePedal==1) {PrCh=effB1;}
        if (activePedal==2) {PrCh=effB2;}
        if (activePedal==3) {PrCh=effB3;}
        if (activePedal==4) {PrCh=effB4;}
        if (activePedal==5) {PrCh=effB5;}
        MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);
        lastDebounceTime=millis(); //set the current time
        } 
    else {bank="A";
        if (activePedal==1) {PrCh=effA1;}
        if (activePedal==2) {PrCh=effA2;}
        if (activePedal==3) {PrCh=effA3;}
        if (activePedal==4) {PrCh=effA4;}
        if (activePedal==5) {PrCh=effA5;}
        MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);
        lastDebounceTime=millis(); //set the current time
        }
    }
    // pressing pedal 1 to 5 
    if (Ped1 == HIGH) {
      activePedal= 1;
      if (bank == "A") {PrCh= effA1;}
      if (bank == "B") {PrCh= effB1;}
      MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);
      lastDebounceTime=millis(); //set the current time
    }
    if (Ped2 == HIGH) {
      activePedal= 2;
      if (bank == "A") {PrCh= effA2;}
      if (bank == "B") {PrCh= effB2;}
      MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);
      lastDebounceTime=millis(); //set the current time
    }
    if (Ped3 == HIGH) {
      activePedal= 3;
      if (bank == "A") {PrCh= effA3;}
      if (bank == "B") {PrCh= effB3;}
      MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);
      lastDebounceTime=millis(); //set the current time
    }
    if (Ped4 == HIGH) {
      activePedal= 4;
      if (bank == "A") {PrCh= effA4;}
      if (bank == "B") {PrCh= effB4;}
      MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);
      lastDebounceTime=millis(); //set the current time
    }
    if (Ped5 == HIGH) {
      activePedal= 5;
      if (bank == "A") {PrCh= effA5;}
      if (bank == "B") {PrCh= effB5;}
      MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);
      lastDebounceTime=millis(); //set the current time
    }
    lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print("Bank: ");lcd.print(bank);
    lcd.setCursor(0, 2); lcd.print("Mem: ");lcd.print(PrCh);
    lcd.setCursor(0, 3); lcd.print("Ped: ");lcd.print(activePedal);
      
  }
}

/*
5v-tx-gnd-
pin 7-8-9-10-11-12
pos 1-2-3- 4 -5-AB
*/

#include <MIDI.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27,20,4);  // set the LCD address to 0x27 for a 20 chars and 4 line display

MIDI_CREATE_DEFAULT_INSTANCE();
String Guitar[3] = {"Guitar 1   ","Guitar 2   ","Guitar 3   "};//write here your guitar models max eleven chr
char bank[2] ={'A','B'};
int effG1A[5]={61,2,3,4,5};//write here memory for Guitar 1 bank A
int effG1B[5]={6,7,8,9,10};//write here memory for Guitar 1 bank B
int effG2A[5]={11,12,13,14,15};//write here memory for Guitar 2 bank A
int effG2B[5]={16,17,18,19,20};//write here memory for Guitar 2 bank B
int effG3A[5]={21,22,23,24,25};//write here memory for Guitar 3 bank A
int effG3B[5]={26,27,28,29,30};//write here memory for Guitar 3 bank B
int g=0; //array index for Guitar[3]
int b=0; //array index for bank[2]
int PedBankAB = 0;
int Ped1 = 0;int Ped2 = 0;int Ped3 = 0;int Ped4 = 0;int Ped5 = 0;
int PrCh =0;
int activePedal=1;
long lastDebounceTime=0; //the last time the output pin was toggled
long debounceDelay=800;//the debounce time; increase if the output flickers

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
  pinMode(7, INPUT);pinMode(8, INPUT);pinMode(9, INPUT);pinMode(10, INPUT);pinMode(11, INPUT);
  pinMode(12, INPUT);
  MIDI.begin(MIDI_CHANNEL_OMNI);
  MIDI.sendProgramChange(effG1A[0], 1);
  lcd.init();                      // initialize the lcd 
  lcd.backlight();
  lcd.clear(); //pulisci lo schermo
  lcd.setCursor(0, 0); lcd.print("YAMAHA FX-500 3G 2x5");
  lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print("Bank: ");lcd.print(bank[0]);
  lcd.setCursor(0, 2); lcd.print("Mem: ");lcd.print(effG1A[0]);
  lcd.setCursor(0, 3); lcd.print("Ped: ");lcd.print(activePedal);lcd.setCursor(9, 3);lcd.print(Guitar[0]);
}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
  Ped1 = digitalRead(7);  Ped2 = digitalRead(8);  Ped3 = digitalRead(9);  Ped4 = digitalRead(10);  Ped5 = digitalRead(11);
  PedBankAB = digitalRead(12);    
  if((millis()-lastDebounceTime)>debounceDelay) {
     // change guitar, pressing Ped1 and PedBankAB 
    if (PedBankAB == HIGH && Ped1==HIGH) {
      g=g+1; if (g==3){g=0;}
      switch (g){
        case 0:
          b=0;activePedal=1;
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(effG1A[0], 1);
          lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print("Bank: ");lcd.print(bank[0]);
          lcd.setCursor(0, 2); lcd.print("Mem: ");lcd.print(effG1A[0]);
          lcd.setCursor(0, 3); lcd.print("Ped: ");lcd.print(activePedal);lcd.setCursor(9, 3);lcd.print(Guitar[g]);
          break;
        case 1:
          b=0;activePedal=1;
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(effG2A[0], 1);
          lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print("Bank: ");lcd.print(bank[0]);
          lcd.setCursor(0, 2); lcd.print("Mem: ");lcd.print(effG2A[0]);
          lcd.setCursor(0, 3); lcd.print("Ped: ");lcd.print(activePedal);lcd.setCursor(9, 3);lcd.print(Guitar[g]);
          break;
        case 2:
          b=0;activePedal=1;
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(effG3A[0], 1);
          lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print("Bank: ");lcd.print(bank[0]);
          lcd.setCursor(0, 2); lcd.print("Mem: ");lcd.print(effG3A[0]);
          lcd.setCursor(0, 3); lcd.print("Ped: ");lcd.print(activePedal);lcd.setCursor(9, 3);lcd.print(Guitar[g]);      
          break;
        }
        lastDebounceTime=millis(); //set the current time
    }

    
    // change bank pressing PedBankAB (A or B)  
    if (PedBankAB == HIGH) {
      b=b+1; if (b==2){b=0;}
      lcd.setCursor(6, 1);lcd.print(bank[b]); lcd.print("  !ARMED!    ");
      lastDebounceTime=millis(); //set the current time
      }
    // pressing pedal 1 to 5 
    if (Ped1 == HIGH) {
      activePedal= 1;
      switch (g){
        case 0:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG1A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG1B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        case 1:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG2A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG2B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        case 2:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG3A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG3B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        }
        lastDebounceTime=millis(); //set the current time
    }
    if (Ped2 == HIGH) {
      activePedal= 2;
      switch (g){
        case 0:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG1A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG1B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        case 1:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG2A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG2B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        case 2:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG3A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG3B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        }
    }
    if (Ped3 == HIGH) {
      activePedal= 3;
      switch (g){
        case 0:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG1A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG1B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        case 1:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG2A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG2B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        case 2:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG3A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG3B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        }
    }
    if (Ped4 == HIGH) {
      activePedal= 4;
      switch (g){
        case 0:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG1A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG1B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        case 1:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG2A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG2B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        case 2:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG3A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG3B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        }
    }
    if (Ped5 == HIGH) {
      activePedal= 5;
      switch (g){
        case 0:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG1A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG1B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        case 1:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG2A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG2B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        case 2:
          if (b == 0) {PrCh= effG3A[activePedal-1];}
          if (b == 1) {PrCh= effG3B[activePedal-1];}
          MIDI.sendProgramChange(PrCh, 1);lcd.setCursor(9, 1); lcd.print("in  use");
          break;
        }
    }
    lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print("Bank: ");lcd.print(bank[b]);
    lcd.setCursor(0, 2); lcd.print("Mem: ");lcd.print(PrCh);lcd.print("  ");
    lcd.setCursor(0, 3); lcd.print("Ped: ");lcd.print(activePedal);    
  }
}

Credits

sierra070

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MIDI Pedal Board for guitar multieffect FX-500

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Schematics

MIDI pedal board schematic

Code

MIDI pedal board Arduino code

MIDI pedal board Arduino code

Credits

sierra070

Comments

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MIDI Pedal Board for guitar multieffect FX-500

MIDI Pedal Board for guitar multieffect FX-500

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Schematics

MIDI pedal board schematic

Code

MIDI pedal board Arduino code

MIDI pedal board Arduino code

Credits

sierra070

Comments

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