Just finished recording a walk-through tutorial for the FCB1010. By far the most flexible midi foot controller in this price range. At least I've never owned a better foot pedal in any price range. Generally i'm not a Behringer fan but they did do a good job with this one! I'm about to order the UNO chip which will make it even more flexible. I'm surprised they didn't add a USB port to this! Anyways if you're new to this pedal, hopefully this video will help you get started.

 

This is great! My guitarist has been trying to understand this thing for ages and eventually dismissed it as being too complicated to set up. Now this will sure help him to come to terms with the "monster" as he used to call it. THANK YOU

 

This is for sure one of the best pedal controller. It's true too that it's not very easy to find your way around it. I wanted to buy one to control a GT Pro and and Eleven rack, but when I saw the explanations about how to program it, I dismissed the idea. At 148€ It's expansive too.
I eventually bought a GT100 second hand for 160€ and I'm using it as an effect and a controller.
I'm sure that your video will help a lot of people.

 

I totally agree with you. The manual is strange for sure. I've been using midi forever and for the first few days I was totally confused. It seems to me a computer programmer wrote the manual. Once you understand how the FCB works then all of a sudden the manual makes sense! So yeah you kind of need a manual for the official manual.

My personal feedback is %100 positive. I don't think you can get a better pedal for the price. Then you have all those third party mod chips that make it even a better pedal. I wish we had an option to NOT make the midi channels global but it's no big deal considering how flexible it is.

I'm in the process of recording a video for programming the FCB using the software editor. It's way faster and a lot more convenient.

 

Hello InTheMix!
I totally agree with how great the FCB is! It’s a great controller. I’ve had a few different pedal controllers and the FCB takes the cake. I’ve no problems programming it, and kinda prefer to do it manually. I was just wondering if you got the Uno chip yet and what are your thoughts about it? How does the Uno make an already great product better? And also, are you thinking about using the Uno software programmer I saw on the web for $20? What are your thoughts on the Uno software programmer?

 

On a side note, who thinks this would be nice for mixing?

I currently have two foot switches, one play and stop, the other folds the mix into mono while its being held. It helps free up my hands a bit and one of the principles in ergonomics is to move some tasks from your hands to your feet since they're often not used.

Off the top of my head, I'd probably map play/pause, mono, bar back, bar forward, record, bypass plugin to this.

 

Sure, why not! If it improves your workflow then go for it. This is gonna be even more useful if you're recording your own performance....or for whatever reason you're not that close to the recording set up or whatever. This thing is really good! I'm surprised Behringer never tried to improve this popular pedal with a USB port and what not.

 

I used to program the FCB manually before UNO. Once upgraded though with the added capabilities, programming manually is near impossible.
The software I use:
http://host.mtnsys.com:81/faq-fcb/PCEditorBeta.htm

UNO gives you the ability to have either the top 5 or bottom 5 buttons to use as stompboxes. THe LED will turn on when the corresponding effect is on.
On my stompbox row, I programmed one as a momentary switch. Stomp twice for tempo change in Ableton for dotted 8th delay etc.

UNO is only $20 which makes a good product .....great.


Also if you are switching channels on a tube amp for instance, use one TRS cable for the relays. Both 1 and 2 are carried on both outputs. No need to use both relay outs with an adapter.

 

For Non-UnO chip there is also this freeware:
https://mountainutilities.eu/fcb1010

 

Mountain Utilities doesn't support UNO? I kinda browse their site, does their eprom have stompbox type upgrade?
The one I posted:
http://host.mtnsys.com:81/faq-fcb/PCEditorBeta.htm
works on both non UNO and UNO. Learn on one ....upgrade....don't have to relearn another editor.

 

You know what? Just few minutes ago I realized the Mountain Utilities editor is different from Ed Dixon's editor. So many people had posted the wrong links with wrong titles that even confused me. Looks like I made a boo boo in the video manual towards the very end. I introduced it as "mountain utilities editor" but it's really Ed Dixon's Editor!!! I gotta make a correction in the description area. We will also make a note of this for the next video which will cover the editors.

Yes, apparently Ed Dixon's editor supports the UNO firmware. The mountain utility version does NOT. So one could use the mountain utility with the stock FCB1010 so it seems. (I don't think mountain utility offers an Eprom at all. I could be wrong).

 

Yes that momentary/latching feature is awesome. I'm ok with the way it is right now, but I can see how UNO can improve my workflow. I'll definitely get this one as well.

 

@InTheMix If you use, 'notes' and diable all the 'CC' i believe you do have momentary already. The only thing is the LED indicator stays on instead of ON when pressed OFF when you let go, with the Stompbox row of switches.
I use notes on a regular FCB switch to control the one 'big button', which needs a momentary, on Ableton's looper.

That video is unfortunately too long and still confusing. I can't believe I used to remember all that.
Definitely do one with an editor. It will be much shorter I bet.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Dec 30, 2017

I totally disagree with you. I have over 20 years experience with all kinds of midi devices and midi set ups and still it took me couple of hours to figure it out. Just read up a few forums and YouTube comments and you'll quickly realize the amount of user complaint and how their FCB is been sitting in the closet because they were never able to program it ....etc. This was meant to be a full video manual and I'm sure a lot of people with minimum effort will be able to use it as a reference. Other than that I don't see how one could just watch any video without trying to actually repeat the steps and remember everything just like that. Actually the editor doesn't help at all for a new user. You still have to understand the features and concepts. The main advantage of the editor is that it makes the programming part way faster. You would still have to know what it is you're doing.

Besides many people use this as a standalone pedal, so they could care less about the soft editor. I'd be using both methods depending on the situation. If it's one or two parameters, i'll just do it real quick directly on the pedal, but if i'm setting up bunch of stuff for a gig, then I'll just use the editor.

 

I've been making MIDI music since the Roland MC-500 days too. Worked for the Beach Boys as their keyboard roadie in the 90's.
Usually one never programs anything at a gig. If you have to, then you are not prepared for the gig. I can't remember one time I had to bend down and program that thing........ ever at gigs.
I've been using it since it came out. Non Uno for a few years then I switched to UNO. Haven't looked back. Non Uno is so inferior.
I take two to all gigs, both with UNO. I would have re trace my steps to program the backup when the editor is sitting right there. Hit one button and SYSEX sent.
I applaud your effort but it is 40 minutes too long. Simply saying the steps is not enough either. YOu should have text so people can pause and read while programmihg.

Good luck with the shorter video with the editor.

 

What other comparable midi foot pedals have you used? I mean one with similar layout and not individual expression pedals...etc.

 

No, once I realized the fcb1010 was best bang for the buck. Got my spare for $75.

Don't know much about other more expensive options.
http://www.hugeracksinc.com/forum/
No activity now but everything MIDI efx related guitar gear was discussed. Just do a search.
A great wealth of info.

 

Most people use this with a comp? I use to control my amp and rack efx with it.
What 'most people' would rather program this POS manually when all you have to do is run one extra MIDI cable and edit with an editor?

Wasted brain space. 'Manually' has no advantage at all. Sorry to be blunt.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Dec 31, 2017

This is a midi foot controller. You can use it with anything that accepts midi (besides the analog contacts). It doesn't have to be a guitar amp, a compressor or any type of effect unit at all.

That's just your opinion. Believe it or not there are a lot of people who do NOT like to use a computer in their set up. Even though they can just use a DAW, they keep asking for a better sequencer on their keyboards. Same thing goes with midi patch bays. Many choose other options over the MIO10 for this very reason. For some it's part of their performance/music experience to press physical buttons as oppose to playing around with a mouse. Again, for me personally I like both. The computer set up doesn't always win. It just depends on what it needs to be edited. I don't like the hard headed approach to anything....makes no sense to me. If I enjoy doing something in a certain way, so be it! If you like to use the editor, then use the editor!!!

 

I've probably forgotten more about the FCB1010 than you will ever know.
Always wanted to use that Bobby Knight line.

Good luck.