What is the best MIDI foot controller for guitar?

Discussion in 'Guitars' started by triggerflipper, May 16, 2022.

  1. triggerflipper

    triggerflipper Audiosexual

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    I'm looking for a foot controller for guitar. Well, I think you already got the idea from the title.

    Something I can assign specific MIDI effects on my DAW and switch between them.

    Price is not important, but the cheaper the better.

    Thanks.
     
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  3. chumbo

    chumbo Ultrasonic

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    I'd say the Keith McMillen Softstep is pretty awesome (the one I have)! It certainly must be one of the more versatile controller out there due to it's complexity.
    If what you need is fairly simple, you might be satisfied with something like the Meloaudio MIDI Commander or if you live in Europe, it's cheaper generic version from Thomann, the Harley Benton MP-100.
     
  4. BEAT16

    BEAT16 Audiosexual

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  5. Ad Heesive

    Ad Heesive Audiosexual

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  6. DoubleTake

    DoubleTake Audiosexual

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    I like Audiofront's pedal interfaces - good for either a basic setup or additional.
    I have an older 3-input version, (the newer "Quattro" has 4)so I can connect any combination of 3 switches or pedals.
    I mostly used one Roland expression pedal and a couple of different brand single switch pedals.
    I had 3 other stand-alone midi interfaces (+ MIDI on my audio interface and a midi breakout box for my Keith McMillan) so i did not need to have the full size midi IN-OUT, but if you need that, the MIDI Expression iO is the one.

    The GUI is very clear, with visual feedback, adjustable curves, etc, etc.
    I like it because it is about as universal as you can get and independent of everything else.
    https://www.audiofront.net/MIDIExpression.php

    For a full unit, this looks nice, but then you are stuck with the size layout and pedal type...
    https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FCB1010--behringer-midi-foot-controller-fcb1010

    I used to have a ART X15 ultrafoot and I liked that, but the size was an issue at some point, and some other things. Much happier with a felixible & modular setup :)
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2022
  7. Arabian_jesus

    Arabian_jesus Audiosexual

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    I have a Behringer FCB1010 and I'm satisfied with it. I mostly bought it for the expression pedals, but I also use it to switch effects on and off sometimes. The thing with the FCB1010 is that it's not very logical/straight-forward how it works. You can buy the UnO firmware/EPROM for it (I haven't) if you'd like it to be easier to work with, but it's not absolutely necessary if you only want to use it for some simple stuff. The FCB1010 is most likely your cheapest option with the most amount of switches and pedals (I bought mine used for €50) but there are certainly better ones in terms of quality and being easy to set up. The FCB1010 can also has a pretty noticeable hum when it's on. It is fixable, but you need to open it up and place something between the transformer and housing.

    The Roland FC-300 is the original that Behringer copied with the FCB1010 and I assume it's better in many ways. Line 6 FBV 3 and FBV Express are popular ones that can be used for controlling DAWs with the FBV Remote software. There is also the MIDI Commander/Harley Benton MP-100 that someone else mentioned, but it has no expression pedal. You can connect two expression pedals though.
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2022
  8. MdB

    MdB Guest

    thats what i thought when reading the topics title, theres nothing much apart from the behringer.
    If you need expression pedals of course.
    still trying to understand how the eventide h9 could help tho :unsure:
     
  9. BEAT16

    BEAT16 Audiosexual

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    The H9 ----> www.eventideaudio.com/pedals/h9-max/
    • True analog bypass
    • Real-time MIDI control
    • Power supply included
    • MIDI via DIN and USB
    • Fast and accurate tuner included
    • Expression pedal and AUX footswitch input
    • Sync to the beat with tap tempo or MIDI
    The H9 offers studio-quality sound, stereo I/O, and full MIDI compatibility.
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2022

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  10. phumb-reh

    phumb-reh Guest

    I've used a FCB1010 for years and it's great, a very solid pedal. Definitely the best value for money there is.

    The biggest downsides are the editing which is painful, but there's an editor, FCB1010 Manager by Mountain Systems. This takes away the need for the EEPROM, at least for me.

    Also it's not the smallest thing out there, so if you don't need 10 switches and 2 pedals it might be not the best option.
     
  11. luckyLuke7

    luckyLuke7 Ultrasonic

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    If you don't want to spend some money you can get a used stealth pedal from ikmultimedia they are worth nothing nowadays but you can use the midi and it's expandable so you can add a foot-switch (2 buttons) plus another expression pedal. It's enough for my use I can switch programs + 2 exp pedals ( WAH + Whammy) .

    You will probably have an expression pedal and a footswitch around if you have any guitar amp.


    The Behringer it's worthy if you need all those controls. You can find used in good state as well on ebay
    https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FCB1010--behringer-midi-foot-controller-fcb1010

    Other cool midi pedals:
    https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Pacer--nektar-pacer-midi-foot-controller

    Midi Commander is also cool but doesn't come with exp pedals you can extend so need to buy more 2 exp pdeals.

    -- Nice comparison:
    https://heavy.com/tech/best-midi-foot-controllers/



    Happy Guitar playing :metal:
     
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  12. BEAT16

    BEAT16 Audiosexual

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  13. JonnyRoxor

    JonnyRoxor Member

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    Heh. I thought that I must be the only one who had that problem with the FCB, And how clever I must be to fix it by doing exactly that,..
    conclusion? We're both genius's...genei ?geniuser...dammit! alright. I'm not a genius. (or are I ? )
     
  14. panaman

    panaman Kapellmeister

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    fcb1010 with eureka eprom, if you dont mind the footprint (size)
     
  15. chippy33

    chippy33 Kapellmeister

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    Was unaware of that app, will be very useful. Cheers.
     
  16. PifPafPif

    PifPafPif Rock Star

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    FCB1010 with specific ROM
    You are the king of the hill, and can use it for DIFFERENT things.
    Kemper, looper, synths ... with the right ROM.
     
  17. phumb-reh

    phumb-reh Guest

    I use the standard ROM and I get all of that (ok, Kemper I don't have nor use), what ROMs would be worth looking at?
     
  18. Tob

    Tob Platinum Record

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    I have 2 foot midi controllers. My old trusty FCB1010. But to be honest it is a nightmare to programm/ROM. But it can basically control everything - software/amps/synth/effects/DAW you name it. Best bang for the buck.
    And I have a harley benton MP-100 midi foot controller, which is a ripoff or clone of the Melo Audio MidiCommander which is the opposite to the FCB1010. Smaller and more portable, more striped down (1 Channel/one device unit) but simply works nearly out of the box with a lot of things from software (DAW) to amps.

    Harley benton / Midi Commander
    If you want to control only one device like a kemper or your guitar vst suites (that`s what I use it for). It is in my opinion the better choice for that application. More modern and easy to use.

    FCB 1010
    If you want the possibility to control a few different midi devices at the same time ( for example your preamp your outboard delay and a reverb via midi) go with the FCB1010.

    Both worth the money check them out on youtube.
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2022
  19. phumb-reh

    phumb-reh Guest

  20. Lou Ulfark

    Lou Ulfark Producer

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    Top 5 MIDI Foot Controllers for Guitarists in 2022

     
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