Put A Video Pedal On Your Board
Our Favorite Pedals to Use With Visibox
Visibox is an audiovisual performance environment that allows you to control and synchronize videos, images, cameras, and audio files during live performances. It can be controlled using a computer keyboard, mouse, MIDI devices, an Elgato Stream Deck, or external applications. It’s designed to be easy to control on-stage as part of the performance. And MIDI functionality makes this especially flexible. Whether you want to control your visuals with drumsticks, fingers, or your feet, you can probably find a MIDI controller for you.
In this guide, we’ll focus on the feet with a list of MIDI pedals that we like for controlling Visibox. We’ll talk about their pros and cons, and point you in the right direction for integrating them into your setup.
What to Look for in a MIDI Pedal
When choosing a MIDI pedal for Visibox, consider the following factors:
Does It Send MIDI Note or CC Messages?: Visibox works best when receiving MIDI note messages. Alternatively, you can send continuous control (CC) messages to trigger Visibox’s functionality. Several MIDI pedals on the market are designed to control amp modelers and only send MIDI program change messages. Make sure the MIDI pedal you choose can send MIDI notes or CC messages.
Number of Footswitches: The number of footswitches on the pedal determines how many functions you can control. More footswitches give you more control options. Consider how you will be using Visibox. Some users can get by with a dual footswitch with one switch assigned to “Next Clip” and the other assigned to “Next Song”. Others will want more footswitches to control more functions.
Size and Weight: Consider the size and weight of the pedal. If you’re traveling frequently, you may want a lightweight and compact pedal – especially if you’re going to fit it into an existing pedalboard.
USB Connectivity: Most modern MIDI pedals offer USB connectivity, which allows these devices to send MIDI data over a USB connection, eliminating the need for MIDI cables, interfaces, etc. Just plug them in and Visibox will recognize them immediately. This will greatly simplify your setup.
Price: MIDI pedals can range from budget-friendly to high-end. You can also find a lot of these pedals on the used market. Consider your budget and choose a pedal that fits your needs.
What You Don’t Need
Expression Pedals: Expression pedals are great for controlling parameters in audio effects, but they’re not necessary for controlling Visibox. You can control Visibox with just footswitches. You can control the volume of Visibox with an expression pedal. But most users can get away without this.
Velocity Sensitivity: While some high-end MIDI pedals offer velocity-sensitive footswitches, it’s not a necessity for controlling Visibox. You can trigger clips and functions with simple on/off footswitches.
Lots Of Presets (for the pedal): You don’t need a pedal with lots of presets, pages, or programs. Once you’ve set up the pedal with Visibox, you won’t need to change it very often. If you are also controlling other software or hardware with the same pedal, you may need more presets. But for Visibox alone, you’ll probably only need one.
MIDI Pedals for Visibox
Here are some MIDI pedals that we recommend for controlling Visibox. We’ve put our favorites at the top of the list.
Pros:
Highly Customizable: The MIDI Captain is highly customizable and can be programmed to send MIDI note messages to Visibox.
Compact: There are smaller pedals on this list, but none with 10 footswitches.
Affordable: There are cheaper pedals on this list. But this may be the best overall value.
Lots of Footswitches: Did we mention the MIDI Captain has 10 footswitches? All of them can be set up as Visibox triggers, giving you plenty of control options.
USB Connectivity: The MIDI Captain has USB connectivity, so you can connect it directly to your computer without the need for a separate MIDI interface. This will also power the device, so you only need one cable connected.
Cons:
Learning Curve: The MIDI Captain is programmed by editing text files. This may be a bit intimidating for some users.
Price: USD $159.00
The Paint Audio MIDI Captain is one of our favorite pedals for Visibox. Check out our complete guide to setting it up, including a downloadable configuration file. It’s affordable, compact, and well-thought-out. This pedal can be powered by battery, USB (directly from your computer), or your guitar pedal board’s power supply. It’s well-designed and well-thought-out.
Setup Summary: Follow the instructions here.
Paint Audio makes a variety of MIDI Captain pedals. The MINI is a smaller version of the MIDI Captain with 6 footswitches. The NANO is even smaller with 4 footswitches. The DUO has just 2. And the ONE has... (you guessed it!) just 1.
Pros:
Inexpensive: These pedals are all VERY affordable.
Compact: The MINI, NANO, DUO, and ONE are even more compact and lightweight than the MIDI Captain.
USB Connectivity: Just connect one cable to power and communicate with these pedals.
Cons:
Limited Footswitches: The MINI, NANO, DUO, and ONE have fewer footswitches than the MIDI Captain.
Learning Curve: While the original MIDI Captain has a variety of programming options, its offspring are limited to Paint’s “Super Mode” which can be a bit confusing to set up.
Price: USD $99.00 (MINI), $89.00 (NANO), $59.00 (DUO), $55.00 (ONE)
The Paint Audio MIDI Captain Variations are all great options for controlling Visibox. They’re affordable, compact, and well-designed. The MINI, NANO, DUO, and ONE are even more compact and lightweight than the MIDI Captain. If you’re selecting Songs with the up/down keys on your laptop’s keyboard and you just want a single footswitch to launch a single video for each song, you might be able to get away with the DUO or ONE. The MINI and NANO are great for more complex setups where you need to control more functions.
Setup Summary: You’ll need to modify the download file, but the general instructions are here.
Pros:
Programming Software: Keith McMillen has free editor software for Mac and Windows.
Highly Customizable: The 12Step is highly customizable using the Mac/Windows software and can be programmed to trigger all of Visibox’s functions.
Compact and Durable: It’s compact and lightweight, making it easy to transport. They’re also super durable. Here’s a video of someone driving over one with a van.
USB Connectivity: The 12Step has USB connectivity and power. So you only need to connect one cable.
Controllable LED Lights: The 12Step has LED lights next to each button that can be controlled by Visibox. These will indicate which Clips are available and which are playing at any given time.
Cons:
Price: The 12Step is on the higher end of the price spectrum.
Learning Curve: It may take some time to get used to the 12Step unique design and programming interface.
Price: USD $319.00
We like the 12Step a little better for Visibox than its more expensive sibling, the SoftStep (below). The 12Step has more buttons and it’s easier to configure with Visibox. As of this writing, there are 2 different revisions of the 12Step and they’re both great. Don’t be confused by the musical-keyboard-style layout of this pedal. It works great even if you’re not playing musical notes. There are LED lights next to each button that can be controlled by Visibox. These will indicate which Clips are available and which are playing at any given time. It’s easy to transport and built to take a beating. It’s not as compact as some of the other options on this list. The 12Step is on the higher end of the price spectrum, but it’s a great investment if you’re looking for a versatile and reliable MIDI foot controller for Visibox.
Setup Summary: Assign all of the buttons to MIDI notes. Open Visibox’s MIDI Map window and press “learn” next to the action you want to trigger. Press the corresponding button on the 12Step. Repeat for all actions you want to control.
Pros:
Programming Software: Keith McMillen has free editor software for Mac and Windows.
Highly Customizable: The SoftStep is highly customizable using the Mac/Windows software and can be programmed to trigger all of Visibox’s functions.
Compact and Durable: It’s compact and lightweight, making it easy to transport. I’m sure you could drive a van over this one too.
USB Connectivity: The SoftStep has USB connectivity providing both data communications and power. Plug in one cable and off you go.
Controllable LED Lights: The SoftStep has LED lights next to each button that can be controlled by Visibox. These will indicate which Clips are available and which are playing at any given time.
Cons:
Price: The SoftStep is on the higher end of the price spectrum.
Learning Curve: It may take some time to get used to the SoftStep’s unique design and software interface.
Price: USD $369.00
Keith McMillen Instruments makes great gear – well-designed for professional performers. They’ve released 3 different versions of the SoftStep as of this writing and they just keep getting better and better. The latest version has 10 4-way-capable buttons plus a 4-way “Nav Pad” that can switch presets and more. The 4-way capability means you can technically set this pedal up to control more than 40 functions. However, you will need some very nimble feet! Ultimately, we like the 12Step just a little bit better for Visibox than the SoftStep because it is simpler and more straight-forward to set up. The SoftStep is on the higher end of the price spectrum, but it’s a great investment if you’re looking for a versatile and reliable MIDI foot controller for Visibox.
Setup Summary: Assign each of the buttons to output an individual MIDI note. Open Visibox’s MIDI Map window and press “learn” next to the action you want to trigger. Press the corresponding button on the SoftStep. Repeat for all actions you want to control.
Morningstar MC6 Pro, MC6, and MC8
Pros:
Highly Customizable: The Morningstar MC6 is highly customizable and can be programmed to trigger all Visibox’s MIDI functions.
Programming Software: Morningstar has free editor software that runs in Chrome (Mac/Windows/Linux).
Compact and Heavy Duty: They’ll fit on your pedalboard. They’re designed to be roadworthy.
USB Connectivity: All of the Morningstar pedals have USB that can also power the pedals. So just connect one cable and you’re good to go.
User Forum: Morningstar has an active user forum where you can get help with programming and troubleshooting.
Cons:
Price: The Morningstar pedals are priced for professionals.
Learning Curve: While their software is pretty, it’s got hundreds of options which makes it a bit daunting at first.
Price: USD $349.00 (MC6 Pro), USD $299.00 (MC8), USD $229.00 (MC6)
Morningstar does one thing and they do it well. Their pedals are designed for guitarists who want to control their entire pedalboard with a single MIDI controller. The MC6 Pro is the most powerful of the bunch. It has 6 footswitches and 3 color LCD screens. The MC6 has 6 footswitches. And the MC8 has 8 footswitches. HOWEVER, all of these pedals have “Omniport” jacks on the back which give you the ability to add 2 more switches per jack. The MC6es have 2, allowing for 4 more switches. The MC8 has 4, allowing for 8 more switches to be connected, giving you a total of 16 configurable footswitches. Search for “Morningstar aux switch” to find 3rd parties making expansion boxes. The Morningstar pedals are certainly more expensive than some of the other options, but they’re built like a tank and they’ll last you for the rest of your life.
Setup Summary: Assign all of the buttons to output MIDI notes. Open Visibox’s MIDI Map window and press “learn” next to the action you want to trigger. Press the corresponding button on the Morningstar pedal. Repeat for all actions you want to control.
Pros:
Programming Software: Blackstar has free editor software for Mac and Windows. It’s the easiest and most straight-forward on this list.
Easy To Program: Of all the pedals on this list, the Live Logic is probably the easiest MIDI pedal to program.
Single-row Design: You’re less likely to accidentally hit the wrong footswitch.
Cons:
Not As Flexible: The Live Logic is designed to control Blackstar amps. It’s not as flexible as some of the other pedals on this list.
Button LEDs Are Not Controllable: The Live Logic has LEDs next to each button, but they can’t be controlled via MIDI. And they only seem to indicate the last button you pushed… which isn’t especially helpful.
Price: USD $179.99
Blackstar, an amp company, makes a MIDI pedal shaped like most amp footswitches – shallow and wide, with a single row of footswitches. This makes it less likely that you’ll accidentally hit the wrong footswitch. Blackstar’s simple software makes it the easiest pedal on this list to configure. The Live Logic is not as flexible as some of the other pedals on this list, but it’s a good option if you’re looking for a simple and easy-to-use MIDI pedal.
Setup Summary: Assign all of the buttons to output MIDI notes. Open Visibox’s MIDI Map window and press “learn” next to the action you want to trigger. Press the corresponding button on the Live Logic. Repeat for all actions you want to control.
Pros:
Simple and Customizable: The Nektar Pacer is highly customizable and can be programmed to trigger all of Visibox’s MIDI functionality.
USB Connectivity: The Pacer has USB connectivity, so you can connect it directly to your computer without the need for a separate MIDI interface. This will also power the device, so you won’t need a separate power cable.
Lots of Footswitches: The Pacer has 11 footswitches!
Cons:
No Programming Software: Nektar doesn’t have a software editor for the Pacer. Programming is done through the rotary encoder and the display on the pedal.
Learning Curve: It may take some time to set up the Pacer for your needs.
Bulky: While you’re less likely to hit the wrong footswitch, the Pacer is a bit bulky and takes up more space on stage.
Price: USD $229.99
Nektar makes high-quality MIDI controllers. They are known for their DAW controllers, but the Pacer is a great MIDI foot controller – once you’ve got it all set up. Nektar doesn’t provide configuration software, so you’ll be stuck setting it up using the rotary controller. It does have USB connectivity and power though, so you won’t need extra cables. The Pacer is a bit bulky and takes up more space on stage, but it’s a good option if you’ve got the space for it.
Setup Summary: Assign all of the buttons to output MIDI notes. Open Visibox’s MIDI Map window and press “learn” next to the action you want to trigger. Press the corresponding button on the Pacer. Repeat for all actions you want to control.
Pros:
Sturdy Build: The Behringer FCB1010 is built like a tank and can withstand the rigors of live performance.
Versatile: It has 10 footswitches and 2 expression pedals, giving you plenty of control options.
Affordable: It’s one of the more affordable MIDI foot controllers on the market – especially if you find it on the used market.
Cons:
No USB Connectivity: The FCB1010 does not have USB connectivity, so you’ll need a separate MIDI interface.
Large Size: It’s a bit bulky and may take up more space on stage.
No Programming Software: You’ll need to program it through the footswitches.
Price: USD $149.99
The Behringer FCB1010 is the grandaddy of production MIDI pedals. It has been in production since the early 2000’s. It is modeled after Roland controllers from the 1980s. So it has certainly withstood the test of time. It’s big and clunky and has 10 footswitches, 2 preset-select footswitches, and 2 expression pedals that can be programmed to trigger various functions in Visibox. The biggest downside is the FCB1010 doesn’t have USB. The second is its size. However, the FCB1010 is straight-forward to program and can be customized to suit your needs.
Setup Summary: Assign all of the buttons to output MIDI notes. Open Visibox’s MIDI Map window and press “learn” next to the action you want to trigger. Press the corresponding button on the FCB1010. Repeat for all actions you want to control.
But What About [Insert MIDI Pedal Here]?
Many other MIDI pedals on the market can be used to control Visibox. If you have a MIDI pedal that you like, you can probably use it to control Visibox. Just make sure it can send MIDI notes or CC messages. If you’re not sure, check the pedal’s manual or contact the manufacturer. If you’re having trouble setting up your MIDI pedal with Visibox, feel free to reach out to us for help.
And if you find another MIDI pedal that you think should be on this list, let us know! We’re always looking for new gear to test and recommend.
Conclusion
MIDI pedals have been around since the 1980s and they’re still a great way to control software like Visibox. They’re easy to use, reliable, and flexible. Whether you’re a guitarist, keyboardist, or DJ, you can find a MIDI pedal that fits your needs. We hope this guide has helped you find the right MIDI pedal for controlling Visibox. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to us. We’re here to help you create amazing audiovisual performances with Visibox.