Custom Audio Electronics NEW MIDI foot controller... COOL

Love the look and features of the Custom Audio Electronics NEW MIDI foot controller

http://www.customaudioelectronics.com/products?view=product&prod_id=prod41





This was posted at HRI:

The blurb on the CAE website gives a basic synopsis of the unit. A few more details...

The top row of switches are not assignable - they are used for system functions.
The remaining 8 plus the expanders are all programmable. With 8 expanders, the 40 switches can be assigned any one of 16 functions. These include Presets for the A and B groups, direct access controllers that are part of each patch, global switches (unaffected by a patch change), interlocked switch groups, global interlocked switch groups, momentary switches, MIDI notes, global MIDI notes. The user can partition these switches as he/she sees fit.
The LED colors are fixed per the function. The LED polarity is programmable.

The RS-T accomodates up to 4 pedals. Each can be set up as a global or programmable pedal assigned to either Preset A or Preset B, (the preset calls up the Cc and channel number).

8 MIDI devices can be controlled per patch (excluding pedals and controllers). The devices can be named up to 10 characters. Each patch can be named up to 20 characters.

Virtual controllers (8-bits of phantom controllers, not assigned to a switch) are available for both the A and B groups. The difference between the A and B groups is that the A group is banked. In essence, there is a B patch for every switch set up as Preset B. The A and B groups each have user programmable globals - turning OFF the existing A or B, recalls the Global patch if the global is enabled. The Direct mode switch switches between Presets/Controllers and All Controllers, i.e any Preset A has an underlying controller.

Bank limits are programmable between 1 and 200. Previewing is user programmable. When in preview, selecting a bank will not recall the patch until a preset is selected.

All modes of MIDI banking are supported - None, CC0, CC32, and CC0/32. Banks and Programs are programmable on all 8 devices (if they support it) per preset.

New to the RS-T is song mode. Banks can be titled (20 characters) and song lists can be programmed. There are a maximum of 10 song lists with up to 100 songs per list.

Units can be networked as per the RS10. However, the RS-T uses a multi-drop connection which communicates at a much higher data rate than MIDI. Simply enable any one of the RS-Ts as the master. RS10s can NOT be networked with RS-Ts.

Currently, Dump/Load is via MIDI. There are plans in the works for USB with a cross platform editor/librarian.

Bank/Patch editing allows the user to edit banks and presets - Copy, Delete, Swap, Move, etc.

Alpha editing utilizes accelerator switches. Pressing 1,2,3,4 will get you to
'A', 'a', '0', '!' respectively. You can then scroll forward or backward from there.

There are also plans to store multiple setups (4), which would allow you to use the RS-T for different rigs.

There are 2 9vdc (center neg.) connectors for powering buffers, tuners, wahs, et.
@150mA maximum (i.e. the sum of both outputs can not exceed 150mA).

Regarding delivery - the first unit was delivered to a customer at the end of June of last year and more units are being beta tested. No vaporware here.

Regarding custom configurations, Bob plans to stock a few different chassis for typical configurations - 1) Base unit, 2) Base unit w/2 expanders (4 switches per expander). This will be subject to change per demand. Expanders will be available as separate units as well.

Check with CAE for the delivery and pricing and custom configurations.

CAE puts out a new controller...

and RJM beats them within seconds. Bahaha.

More seriously, this thing looks great, as I told you on the phone Zach.

Love it, except I am too use to the preset #s starting on the bottom. I'm not sure I could get use to that.

Shark Diver":2kq0rnn8 said:

Love it, except I am too use to the preset #s starting on the bottom. I'm not sure I could get use to that.

Click to expand...

Pretty sure you can make any of the buttons preset buttons, and configure it to however you like, except for the top row. Those are for programming, and selecting banks up/down.

This is the info for the smaller version, but is applicable on the big version too

* ALPHA-NUMERIC DISPLAY
* A large two line by 20 character vacuum fluorescent display for easy editing and present/song titling.
* USER DEFINED SWITCHES - You decide how the switches will operate in any combination! Currently there are 16 different switch types, with more to come. Have any number of Presents and Direct Access Controllers with many controller types available such as global, momentary and interlocked. Always with 200 Banks and any Present Switch is still a Direct Controller in Direct Mode.
* SEND MULTIPLE MIDI COMMANDS PER BANK/PRESET - Up to 8 devices can be controlled with their own midi channel (and titled for easy editing) and each DAC (Direct Access Controller or Note) can be globally assigned to its own midi channel and cc/note #.
* VIRTUAL CONTROLLERS - In addition to controllers assigned to physical switches for Direct Access, 8 more controllers (with their own unique cc#s and midi channels) can be sent per Preset.
* PRESET B - A completely independent controller can be programmed with its own unique set of physical Preset switches. It utilizes its own set of 8 program change commands with virtual cc#s, and is independent of Preset A (the main set of Bank/Presets). It is useful for globally controlling a device (or group of devices).
* MULTI-COLORED SUPER BRIGHT LEDS - LEDs change color depending on their function. Blue for Presets, red for Direct Controllers etc...with 7 different colors available.
* FOUR FULLY PROGRAMMABLE EXPRESSION PEDAL PORTS - Set each pedal for global operation, or have their midi channel AND controller# change per Preset.
* INDEPENDENT MULTI RS-T NETWORKING - Have multiple RS-T's in various locations on stage all synced together, and all connected with standard mic cables.
* FIRMWARE UPDATES VIA MIDI AND WITH USB CONNECTIVITY! - No more chip changes with updating features!
* 9VDC OUTS FOR PEDALS - 2x isolated and short circuit protected 9vdc (@150 ma total) outputs to power your wah/tuner or whatever else requires 9vdc, as long as you don't exceed the current limit.
* NEW PEDALBOARD FRIENDLY FORM FACTOR - Measuring 22" x 5.5" x 3" tall, and only 4 lbs in a powder coated aluminum chassis, the RS-T is perfect for pedalboards and easy on the weight for travel.

IN ADDITION TO THE NEW FEATURES MENTIONED ABOVE, THE CAE RS-T HAS FEATURES YOU HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM OTHER RS FOOT CONTROLLERS LIKE THE RS-10 AND RS-5:

* EXPANDABILITY - The RS-T can be expanded with up to 8 four switch or 4 eight switch Expander strips for a total of 40(!) switches. You connect to the Expand bus from either end of the RS-T with simple 5 pin DIN connectors. The expanders can be programmed to any combination of switch types, just like the 8 switches on the base unit. You want 200 Banks of 40 Presets? No problem!

Expanded chassis (with multiple Expanders internally wired) will be available on a special order basis.
* DIRECT ACCESS CONTROLLERS - CAE foot controllers were founded on this concept. And in keeping with this tradition, the RS-T has a Direct Mode. That is, no matter how many physical switches are set up as Preset Switches, when selecting Direct Mode with the dedicated "Direct" switch, all switches (except Preset B assigned switches) become Driect Access controller switches and their respective active LEDs turn red.
* XLR CONNECTIVITY - In addition to the industry standard midi (DIN) connectors, the RS-T has rugged professional XLR connections for interfacing with other CAE products. The XLR connection typically includes midi I/O as well as phantom power and other connections depending on specific user requirements. Consult CAE for your specific needs. XLR connections are also used for multi RS-T networking using standard microphone wiring.
* HEAVY DUTY FOOT SWITCHES WITH A TACTILE FEEL - A CAE standard...enough said.

SIMPLE POWER REQUIREMENTS
9V AC or DC @ 1000 ma.

CaseyCor":1t00gu69 said:

CAE puts out a new controller...

and RJM beats them within seconds. Bahaha.

More seriously, this thing looks great, as I told you on the phone Zach.

Click to expand...

Hope you're feeling better.

RJM make great products as do Skrydstrup R&D, Liquid Foot, Cornish, and others, but Bob invented the whole concept of switching systems for guitar rigs and is THE man, in my book.

I just meant the silk screen. Which Bob may flip anyway. As weird as it seems I like my preset #s on the rack to match the controller for 20+ years that bottom left switch has been #1.

Shark Diver":38i1revm said:

I just meant the silk screen. Which Bob may flip anyway. As weird as it seems I like my preset #s on the rack to match the controller for 20+ years that bottom left switch has been #1.

Click to expand...

Oh, ya-- I get what you're saying. Didn't even notice that until you pointed it out. hmmm ... Not sure if I like that either. I'm used to mine being that way too... damn it

That thing is massive. I'd never need all those features, but that's pretty cool nonetheless.

PeteLaramee":15oki8xf said:

That thing is massive. I'd never need all those features, but that's pretty cool nonetheless.

Click to expand...

It's actually a little smaller than my double expanded RS10 (by 2 buttons, where the readout window is) but I believe it's around the same dimensions as mine.




But the new Big controller can be expanded too. THAT would be massive. I like the song list mode and ability to title patches though, and would like to have those features, along w/ the USB port and software to program everything on my computer and upload to the pedal.

Zachman":36ss3h9k said:

PeteLaramee":36ss3h9k said:

That thing is massive. I'd never need all those features, but that's pretty cool nonetheless.

Click to expand...

It's actually a little smaller than my double expanded RS10 (by 2 buttons, where the readout window is) but I believe it's around the same dimensions as mine.

But the new Big controller can be expanded too. THAT would be massive. I like the song list mode and ability to title patches though, and would like to have those features, along w/ the USB port and software to program everything on my computer and upload to the pedal.

Click to expand...

Yea, but it's huge compared to my POS little, Midibuddy.

PeteLaramee":33mlmwkl said:

Zachman":33mlmwkl said:

PeteLaramee":33mlmwkl said:

That thing is massive. I'd never need all those features, but that's pretty cool nonetheless.

Click to expand...

It's actually a little smaller than my double expanded RS10 (by 2 buttons, where the readout window is) but I believe it's around the same dimensions as mine.

But the new Big controller can be expanded too. THAT would be massive. I like the song list mode and ability to title patches though, and would like to have those features, along w/ the USB port and software to program everything on my computer and upload to the pedal.

Click to expand...

Yea, but it's huge compared to my POS little, Midibuddy.

Click to expand...

Ya, definitely not petite

Now that looks great!