Hello all,
After watching LofiLeif’s videos on YouTube, I have taken the plunge into MG3. I plan on buying a TEC breath controller. But I wonder what other tools you like to use to control the Midi expression and if you might have dedicated board?
I’m not a great keys player, so I’m glad to have found this software solution. I know it has been around a while, but it is new to me.
I am not a gigging player anymore so, it would mostly be for home studio organization.
This is what I am using, the Morningstar MC6 Pro to control MG3 when I travel. I have the 3 chains set up to do different bend and out settings. Chain 1 is for MPE no bends. Chain 2 is for legacy single channel MIDI and ±2 bends. Chain 3 is for full MPE ±48 bends. I also have transpose down and up octaves on separate pedals as well as the ability to turn legato on and off. This makes MG3 super expressive without having to remove your hands from your guitar. The 3 DP10s are configured to do continuous control and do CC1, CC74, and CC64 sustain. I have the CC64 sustain pedal set up continuous as well so I can use it for other things if needed.
They are dual locked to the MC6 Pro and they make a great riser for the pedal. Super compact. I use the MC8 Pro in the studio with the same DP10 configuration and that gives me 2 more switched for other processes in the chains.
if you’re a diy-type look at the opendeck software, it’s very effective and comprehensive and it is free for personal use.
the cost to put together the above was below $200.
an important initial step is to determine how many expression pedals you need. usually it’s one more than you have.
if it’s more than two, almost all ‘off the shelf’ midi pedalboards are no-gos.
some versions of the tec will give you three exp’s (tilt, nod, bite) but i find those to be kind of unnatural.
things you might want to control: blend, wah, rotary speed, tremolo depth, synth filter/modulation, and delay feedback.
sometimes mentioned here but currently unavailable is the audiofront quattro.
The TEC Breath Controller is a must and a very natural way to control things with MG3.
I also have a Behringer FCB-1010 which is quite flexible and programmable to add 2 more pedal controllers and a bunch or switches.
I also have a few keyboard where I can patch more foot controllers and some midi controllers with sliders/rotaries if needed.
BUT TEC and FCB are more than enough for most of my purposes.
