What brand / model do you use for an expression pedal?

[ChrisDuncan]

By default I was going to get the Yamaha FC7 since I was happy with the quality of the Yamaha sustain pedal. However, once I looked into it the whole "fortissimo function" thing seems like something extra / unneeded that would get in the way or be something I had to screw around with. I'm not an organist, which seems to be who functionality is meant to benefit.

On Amazon, the next in line is the M-Audio, although there are complaints about plastic and build quality / reliability over time.

It's not a lot of money but I'd prefer to avoid the back and forth of returns, so I thought I'd get a sense of what's most commonly used by the people who play the same keyboard as me rather than Amazon reviews covering a wide variety of use cases.

[Davelet]

I use the FC7 but without using the "fortissimo" aspect to it. In fact, I'd forgotten it existed until you reminded me. It's just a mechanical feature and I'm pretty sure it comes out of the box without it engaged - so you can just unwrap it and go and forget that feature exists (like I have for about 7 years).

I think it's a really good pedal.

[ChrisDuncan]

Thanks, man. Just wanted to get a reality check from someone who's actually used it.

[Derek]

Personally I use a Roland FC300 as it allows me to program the pedals to do anything I want.

My trusty backup is an FC7 and FC5 (but have not been used in years)

[ChrisDuncan]

Yeah, those are awesome. Back when I was gigging as a guitarist I had something similar for the Voodu Valve pre I was using, but it wasn't as configurable. Roland has always made great stuff.

[DeltaJockey]

I have an FC7 I use for controlling the super knob, and in some setups, I use it in parallel with the mod wheel so that I can control string library expression while using both hands to play. I've never used the fortissimo setting, as my purpose of having an expression pedal is so that I can adjust a cc to where I want it to sit without it returning to rest. That why I have the damper pedal actions for that.

Interestingly I have just purchased a Nektar expression pedal to use with a portable controller, so I can control the superknob on the ESP software, as well as sometimes changing scenes. It has a sensitivity control which could be useful for adjusting the cc range. Admittedly it appears not as well built as the FC7. But it is a fraction of the price, light to carry, and worth a try. I haven't received it yet.

I was surprised to see the ESP software requires a continuous controller input to change scenes, rather than a switch sequence.
This makes it hard to accurately select an inbetween scene, as there are set cc values between 1 and 127 required for each scene selection.

[ChrisDuncan]

That's pretty weird about the scene changes. Doesn't seem like they thought that one through.

Be interested in hearing how the Nektar holds up. Just got the FC7 but always keep my eye on gear options. As Davelet mentioned, it appears the fortissimo thing is already set to 0, so I should just be able to plug it in and be good to go.

[DeltaJockey]

As Davelet mentioned, it appears the fortissimo thing is already set to 0, so I should just be able to plug it in and be good to go.

Yeah, that would be the case, as I forgot it even existed. I just plugged it in an used it as a static expression pedal.

[Derek]

Yeah, those are awesome. Back when I was gigging as a guitarist I had something similar for the Voodu Valve pre I was using, but it wasn't as configurable. Roland has always made great stuff.

What amazes me about the FC300 is that it is that I think it was released in 2007 (I purchased mine in 2008), and 17 years later you can still buy them new. How many products have that sort of longevity these days?

Whilst they are built like a tank, I am so reliant on mine that I did purchase a spare unit five years ago, but I have never needed to resort to it.

[Derek]

That's pretty weird about the scene changes. Doesn't seem like they thought that one through.

Be interested in hearing how the Nektar holds up. Just got the FC7 but always keep my eye on gear options. As Davelet mentioned, it appears the fortissimo thing is already set to 0, so I should just be able to plug it in and be good to go.

Scene control was provided in one of the Montage OS updates V1.5 IIRC, and I guess it was the simplest implementation to send a CC. It is pretty easy in Cantabile as a live host to listen to scene CC changes and map those to program changes, and also easy to do similar in reverse.

[ChrisN]

I thought I would add my opinion even though you may have made your decision by now.

I went with the FC7 because I didn’t want to mess around with finding out an other pedal was not compatible. The FC7 is plug and play with the Montage M, the fortissimo thing is a non issue, it’s well built and the price is great (at least in the USA) for a large corp. accessory product like Yamaha. I got a sustain pedal, expression pedal and quality dual stand at the same time when purchasing the M8x and being thrifty with my money without going crappy was a consideration. I have to admit I had a few beads of sweat form on my forehead when plugging in my credit card info.

Of course it’s all been worth it!!

[ChrisDuncan]

We approach things very much alike (maybe it's a Chris thing). My philosophy is that the pain in my wallet goes away quickly, but the pain of crappy products lives on, year after year. That's one of the reasons that I defaulted to the Yamaha instead of the cheaper M-Audio. And yeah, it's built like a tank.

And I know what you mean about the heat generated on the credit cards. Mine are just now regaining their structural integrity. But worth it!

[ChrisN]

We approach things very much alike (maybe it's a Chris thing). My philosophy is that the pain in my wallet goes away quickly, but the pain of crappy products lives on, year after year. That's one of the reasons that I defaulted to the Yamaha instead of the cheaper M-Audio. And yeah, it's built like a tank.

And I know what you mean about the heat generated on the credit cards. Mine are just now regaining their structural integrity. But worth it!

[Shiva]

I push a pair of FC7 since around…40 years, damned it! I didn’t realize I play keyboard since middle age I don’t think there is better mechanic on the market. I have also a pair of m audio, not bad. Recently I got a midi Boss EV1 for plug a third pedal expression in the montage( classical). Works well and mechanic looks ok. There will be certainly way to improve expression pedal with hydraulic cylinders and maybe some command for the heel. What we need in an expression pedal is the precision of the coarse but it seems like no brand are interested to develop the concept of a super pedal at the level of the SuperKnob function.
Hey, Yamaha! Make a SFc7 for chrismass!