Mod Encoder on Drum Machine for Footswitch?

[Guest midifan]

Hi. I'm new to the group and just got my core module through the mail.  However, another possible project

popped into my mind.  Maybe someone in the group

would know if it was even feasible.  

I have a Zoom Rt-323 drum machine that has a great feature of being able to que up the next song to be played by advancing the encoder to it. As soon as the current song finishes, the next song plays instantly.  

This would be great for live performance, to repeat a jamming section, then advance to the next section.   Thinking a midi foot controller would work, I tried sending the unit a midi song select message, but it won't work unless the machine is stopped, then restarted :-[  

So, I'm wondering if it is feasible to attach some wires

to some of the terminals of the encoder, bring them

out to something that would interface with a footswitch,

so that a press on the footswitch would increment the

value (and maybe, another footswitch to decrement

the value while I'm at it).

I must admit  I haven't seen a simple explanation of

how encoders function (at least simple enough for me), so what I'm thinking of may be impossible without some major surgery.  But if a relatively simple fix does seems possible to someone, I'd like to persue it.

Thanks

[Steven_C]

I don't know, but I've read that it isn't possible to substitute an encoder for increment/decrement buttons, unfortunately.