Program change solution: Soleman vs FCB1010

The Lounge Other Gear
1

Hi. I’ve been looking for a foot controller to handle pattern changes with my Elektron gear. The Source Audio Soleman in particular looked good with display screen/small size + the ability to chain sets and have a favorite pgm (thinking I could set this to a blank pattern for “stop”/play). However, when trying to pair this with a KeyStep for note messages it appears I’d need a merge box to combine the MIDI outs instead of chaining them together. This brought me to the Behringer FCB1010 which can pass its input and a potential MIDI chain of the following:

Arturia KeyStep OUT (ch/note messages) > FCB1010 (merge + pgm change/exp cc) > M:C (clock/MIDI thru + pgm change) > M:S (clock) > KeyStep IN

So the Elektron boxes would be chained together on different AUTO channels (with M:C as master) receiving note/cc/pgm info then passing the master midi clock back into the KeyStep for arp/seq control. Not 100% if this is possible but is that the more elegant solution or are the features of the Soleman worth the additional external box (MIDI Solutions Merger?). Thanks!

2

i have a modded FCB1010 and they are great and affordable. Highly recommended

3

There’s a few ways to make the FCB work for you, including editing right on its own hardware. Not the easiest, certainly not fun, but it can be done.

There are a couple third party software editors that will make the task infinitely easier. I use iFCB which, sadly is discontinued and unsupported, but I believe I also have a more recent alternative.

The FCB will send pretty much any kind of midi you want!