Does such a thing exist?

[Random Guitarist]

I'm playing in a new covers band. 4 people; drums, bass, vox, and guitar.
It's going well but sometimes we really need to fill out the sound a little. We don't want to add a keyboard player at this point.

We also don't want to use click or full backing tracks. I think what we need is something I can stomp on to have it play short synth phrases on demand.

What I think i would like to have is a small floor controlled unit that can send midi. The unit has a button into which I can stomp the tempo/timing and a few buttons that I can stomp to start a phrase. The midi for the phrase goes to a small cheap synth module and just adds some texture at key points. The stomp tempo allows me to get the timing close enough on the fly to whatever the drummer has chosen at that point and should be close enough for a maybe 4 bar phrase. Obviously will need an emergency shutup button as well.

Does such a thing exist? Is it a really bad idea?

[Drew Stephenson]

Have you considered an Electroharmonix Synth-9?
I use a B-9 for that similar 'filling out' and 'change of feel' stuff.

[Random Guitarist]

I have, but really what I want is to play a phrase that different to what the guitar is doing.

Take for example The Cars song good times roll. I want to be able to keep on playing the rhythm guitar part and have a couple of little synth arpeggios and phrases dropped on top in places.

That video has reminded me how much I fancy a couple of those EH pedals though . . .

Thx, Grant.

[Drew Stephenson]

Ah right. You might be looking at a laptop with a midi pedal and cantabile or something like that.

[The Elf]

Ah right. You might be looking at a laptop with a midi pedal and cantabile or something like that.

Yup, I kick off FX and phrases from a Helix Floor and it typically triggers Cantabile media players.