useful examples and sites
Here is a list of youtube videos and posts that I have found useful:
Love this guy's pedalboard ingenuity!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKTRUtF9zyU&t=162s
Good overview of how the midi encoder works with an old pedalboard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoFcEz0MsmI
Midi interface for above pedalboard
https://www.midiboutique.com/mpc32mqr?limit=100
Inexpensive keyboard for manuals:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KeyStatn3-61--m-audio-keystation-61-mk3-keyboard-controller
wow - this is a really clever pedalboard conversion idea: