How to use a sustain pedal

The sustain feature on my midi keyboard broke. Is there a way I can use sustain by plugging into my computer through Logic somehow, perhaps with a usb pedal? What do I buy and how do I set up? What setting do I turn on in Logic?

I can't think of an easy solution like a single-unit USB Sustain Pedal that you can connect directly to your Mac. Typically a Sustain pedal is connected to the Pedal input of a MIDI Controller keyboard that supports Sustain pedals.

 

There are solutions to bypass the keyboard but you're still spending money and including an extra device in your chain, for example: https://www.audiofront.net/MIDIExpression.php

The low-rent way to do it would be to use Musical Typing to record the pedaling, but the catch is that you have to record it separately (unless you can manage one hand tracking the part and the other hovering over the tab key).

Are you sure that it’s the keyboard that is broken and not the pedal you are using with it? If you have a basic circuit/battery tester you can test the pedal. It should close the contact when pressing down (some pedals are the reverse of this).

 

If you don’t have a tester you can use a nine volt battery. Put your tongue on the sleeve of the pedal’s jack and hold one side of the battery to the tip of the connector and the other side of battery to tongue. When you press the pedal you should feel a slight shock or visa versus for pedals that are reversed.

Betcha it will turn out to be the pedal . . . Those are the things that are "in harm's way."

 

Also, don't overlook taking the pedal apart and seeing if it just needs cleaning. Floors are very dusty, dirty places.