MIDI Foot Controllers

There's no doubt that MIDI was one of the biggest advancements to come to the music industry in the 20th century. Giving every performer the opportunity to control countless electronic instruments all at once, the MIDI standard gave us more versatility than any technology before it. A modern studio or electronic instrument setup wouldn't be complete without MIDI, which often means using foot controllers to create incredibly realistic digital keyboards and organs or just to add extra input options to an all-purpose system.

In fact, MIDI controllers in and of themselves are a pretty good indicator of just how far MIDI has come over the years, and that's a great analogy for how far you can take your music when you use them. A foot controller is perfect for cueing up drum samples while playing an instrument, effectively becoming a band of one. In this section, you'll find controllers from some of the biggest names in the industry, including Hammond, AirTurn and Keith McMillen Instruments.

A good starting point in the lineup is the Studiologic MP-113. This straightforward controller is loaded with thirteen velocity-sensitive pedals, which makes it great as an instrument controller as well as for triggering stage lighting and other atmospheric effects. The wooden pedal tips on the MP-113 give it a real high-end appearance, too - a great match for your favorite digital piano. If you use a Hammond XK-2 drawbar keyboard, you also can't miss the XPK100 MIDI Pedal Board. They're designed to work together, and the results you can achieve by using them in concert are truly impressive.

One of the best things about MIDI is that it never stops improving, and you can always take advantage of the versatility the standard has to offer. Adding a MIDI foot controller to your studio or stage configuration goes a long way to unlocking even more of your creativity. With so many opportunities for expression, these controllers give your muse another yet another avenue to work through.