Why I Prefer Fully MIDI-Controlled Pedalboards (No Hybrids)
A MIDI-controlled pedalboard can be made entirely of MIDI-capable pedals, or it can be a hybrid setup with some pedals controlled manually. You can also use a MIDI switcher to toggle non-MIDI pedals in and out of the chain.
All of these approaches work — but here’s my personal philosophy:
If I’m building a MIDI-capable pedalboard, I want every pedal on that board to be controllable via MIDI. Having a MIDI switcher for the non-MIDI pedals qualifies.
The Problem With Hybrid Pedalboard Setups
Hybrid setups create mental overhead. You have to remember which pedals respond to presets and which don’t. This alone is enough to make you want to ensure the entire rig is MIDI-capable. If you switch to a new preset but an analog pedal is still on, you end up tap-dancing to correct the signal chain. That defeats the whole point of MIDI control: one action = complete rig change.
Please note that in this article I’m focusing on more complex MIDI-controlled pedalboards. I’m still a big fan of simple, non-MIDI pedalboards where everything is front and center. What I refer to in this story is that if I’m building a MIDI-rig, I want that rig to be fully MIDI-controlled – No hybrids.
Exceptions and Caveats
There are cases where some pedals can essentially be “always on,” like compressors, some boosts, and buffers. If you never need to toggle them mid-song, it’s fine to keep them outside the MIDI chain of command. And realistically, compressors and boosts are the least likely pedals to include MIDI control anyway. There simply isn’t very many options for MIDI-controlled compressors out there. We have the Strymon Compadre with boost, the Chase Bliss Clean and the Jackson Audio Bloom V2 – which also happens to include an awesome boost. Worth mentioning is Shur Koji Comp. Even though it doesn’t actually have MIDI control, it does include a way to perform remote-switching compatible with a number of MIDI controllers that have hardware bypass switching like the Morningstar MC8 Pro and MC6 Pro.
However, if you switch gain levels or tone settings often, you may still want those pedals to have parameter controls via MIDI or the ability to save presets to be recalled using PC messages.
This same logic applies when using MIDI loop switchers like the Morningstar ML5 / ML5R or RJM PBC-6X. The loop switchers alone don’t control parameters, but they let you bring analog pedals in and out of the signal path using MIDI. For me, that’s the minimum functionality I want on a MIDI-based board. As a plus, the RJM PBC-6X is not only a loop switcher, but an entire MIDI control system where the Morningstar ML5 / ML5R, you need to connect to an actual controller.
The Importance of “Stomp Mode”
Even when using presets, I always want a stomp mode — a way to turn any pedal on or off instantly, without scrolling through menus. I jam and improvise a lot, not follow strict setlists, so I need hands-on, real-time control.
Sometimes that means using a dedicated secondary MIDI controller for stomp mode, or something like the Disaster Area DPC.Micro, which provides a switch for each loop. Other times, I’ll create a “Home” or “Stomp” bank on the main MIDI controller so each switch corresponds to a single pedal for instant bypass state control.
Final Thoughts on MIDI-Controlled Pedalboards
If you’re planning a new MIDI board, think through usability, not just connectivity. Ask yourself:
- Will mixing MIDI and non-MIDI pedals cause switching confusion?
- Can every pedal I need to toggle be turned on/off via MIDI or a loop switcher?
- If I place pedals under a riser, will quick adjustments still be possible?
Too often, players take their new MIDI board to practice or a gig — only to realize the workflow is too complicated. A good MIDI system should make your rig more playable, not more frustrating.
If you want to keep learning about this subject, the next step is to learn more about MIDI controllers. Read my article about the Morningstar MC6 Pro:
Morningstar MC6 Pro MIDI Controller Review
If you’re rethinking your pedalboard layout, you might also like my guide on arranging pedal order for best signal flow:
