Yamaha DG Amp and Midi controller Questions

I have tried a Yamaha DG80 amp which I really like the sound of however I am concerned about the reliability of the motorised controls. Has anyone any working experience of these amps?

I would also need to buy a Midi foot controller to switch patches, could anyone suggest the cheapest option that will enable me to do his. I am just interested in changing patches, control of volume and effects would not strictly be necessary.

Thanks

Marc Jennings

Hi Marc,

I've nver used or owned a Yamaha amp, but being as it's Yamaha, I'd expect it to work. Period.

Although it may not be the cheapest midi foot controller, the Behringer FCB1010 is an excellent piece of kit. As it's fully programable you can ste it up to switch pretty well anything. There's a fair few of us who read this NG frequently and use the FCB1010 with a whole variety of midi gear. I think they're well worth a look. Check ebay for a 2nd hand one perhaps ?

hope this helps

I think that Vinny was using some kind of Yammy DG amp head setup at the first national, with a midi controller. Suffice to say, the next national this had been eschewed for a 18u rack system. But Vinny being Vinny this probably wasn't down to failings in the Yamaha, but just wanting a big shiny rack.

Hi Greg. Not been posting for a while. Yes, I have both a Yamaha DG130 head Crikey. Hasn't posted for ages, I type is name, and as if by magic, he appears.

Hope to see you soon Vinny

Andrew Lefty had his Yamaha DG amp with him at the second one.

hey vinny, love the show.

good to see you around again.

Hm, that should be: http://www.carrew.com/ukmg/ukmg.htm

..shouldn't it?

just a catchphrase - presenters (particularly american ones), when they're interviewing each other, always seem to start with 'so hi dave, love the show.'

I believe that we have both rooms this year?

Oh, and nice to have you back Vinny. How's the record doing?

IIRC the motorised controls don't 'control' the presets. When you switch presets the motors turn the knobs later to where the preset expects them to be, but the 'brain' has already selected the settings, otherwise you'd have a wierd interim tone as the knobs turn. I expect the knobs would work like those on the DG-Stomp (or the small unmotorised DG amp) if any of the motors failed, so you wouldn't have a non-responding control, just the visualisation would be lost.

Surely you're just doing it for the kids, though ? <grin>

Cheers