changing sustain pedal polarity

[old man]

My sustain pedal works "backwards". Is there an easy way to change polarity with a Yamaha sustain pedal on a Korg DW-8000?

[meatballfulton]

There is no polarity sensing or switching function. You need a different pedal (cheaper) or something like a MIDI Solutions Footswitch Controller (way more expensive)

[Tidda]

Two converter cables.

1. female 1/4" TRS to 2x RCA male (red and white)
2. female 1/4" TRS to 2x RCA female (red and white)

Connect the RCA ends, male red to female red and male white to female white = normal polarity.
Male red to female white and male white to female red = reversed polarity.

Tidda

p.s. One of the TRS connectors could also be male, but I find it easier to use an extra male TRS to male TRS cable so the above construction does not have to 'hang down' from the keyboard.
p.p.s. other connectors than the RCAs could also be used. The general idea is to split the Tip and Ring on both ends (on the keyboard and on the pedal) so you can connect the Tip to the Ring

[Tidda]

That could also be one, but would require a cable with a female connector on one end as the pedal already has the male connector. One Hosa YPR-257 ($5.45)* and one Hosa GPR-484 ($3.70)* would do the trick, does not require any extra work and can be used for other stuff and out of the box tricks.

*) current Sweetwater prices

But .... I made a mistake, I misread the question.

My solution applies to an expression pedal (Yamaha FC-7 in my case) which has TRS connection.
A sustain pedal normally uses a TS connection. Switching Tip and Sleeve would not do the trick in this case.

[old man]

Thank you guys for your quick answers. By the way - I love Hatfield & The North.

[Jabberwalky]

It's not elegant, but I have a yamaha sustain that I simply opened up and reversed the mechanism. It hasn't had an issue since but obviously I can't recommend that unless you are into ghetto hacks.

[Tidda]

Let me try again, now for sustain pedal i.s.o. expression pedal.

1. This probably won't work, but always worth a try: Power up the keyboard with the sustain pedal pressed down. This works on some keyboards, but the DW-8000 might be to old.

2. I used to have a couple of cheap sustain switches (Roland DP-2 style). I needed to reverse the polarity for one keyboard. It was easy to open up and switch a wire. It was quite obvious what to switch to where although I don't remember the details (It was in the late eighties). Drawback is that you can't use it for other uses anymore. I marked it with some yellow spray paint the pedal was different.

3. Buy a new pedal that has reversed polarity or is switchable. There are basically three types, a. normally open b. normally closed and c. switchable ones. The Fatar/Studiologic VFP-1 is available in all three types:
VFP1/10 Contact open at rest.
VFP1/15 Contact closed at rest.
VFP1/25 Contact selectable open or closed at rest.

I only see the VFP1/10 at Sweetwater currently at $19.95 (which is probably the same polarity as your current one) I have the VFP-1/25 which is only slightly more expensive (22 euros at Thomann.de) and can be used with any keyboard.

Tidda

[old man]

Solved it!
I simply changed the soldering in the pedal.
Thanks.

[Tidda]

Good to hear it.