How to Control Your Keyboard’s Output with Volume and Expression Pedals

Date:2020/2/10 22:18:45 Hits:

Boss FV-500L
One question I often hear is, “should I use a volume pedal or an expression pedal to control my keyboard’s output level?” Let’s start by defining each of the pedals. For this article, I’m calling a pedal with a 1/4″ audio input and output jack (or jacks if stereo) a volume pedal, and I’m calling a pedal with a 1/4″ TRS jack (or a cable ending in a 1/4″ TRS plug) an expression pedal. Some pedals have both volume and expression capability. (Pedals featuring both volume jacks and an expression jack include the BOSS FV-500L, the Korg XVP20, and the Behringer FC600.)

Behringer FC600
A volume pedal is usually a passive device that goes between your keyboard and your mixer (or amp) — think of it as a foot-controlled volume knob. It typically goes from unity (no attenuation) down to silence, lowering the keyboard’s output level. Sometimes there’s a minimum knob that sets the quietest level when the pedal’s in the heel-down position. This is great when you want to use the pedal to balance the keyboard with the band or add subtle swells and fades, without going down to silence.

Roland EV-5
Since keyboards have line-level, low-impedance outputs, it’s best to get a low-impedance (low-Z) volume pedal (examples include the BOSS FV-500L and FV-30L). But, if you already have a hi-Z pedal (for guitars), give it a try. You may notice that the volume drops with a more dramatic curve.

Korg EXP-2
Expression pedals don’t go in the keyboard’s audio path. They plug into a dedicated jack usually labeled expression, foot controller, or volume. The jack supplies a DC voltage to the pedal, which uses a potentiometer to attenuate the voltage from unity to zero volts. This control signal then does whatever it’s assigned to do inside the keyboard. On some keyboards, it may only control the keyboard’s total volume. On other keyboards, an expression pedal might be assigned to do many things at once, each with its own level, curve, and polarity. (Expression pedal examples include the M-Audio EX-P, the Roland EV-5, the Korg EXP-2, the Behringer FCV100, and the Yamaha FC7.)

Yamaha FC7
Most expression pedals work on most keyboards, but there are a few exceptions. Yamaha uses a different way to wire their expression pedal, making it incompatible with most non-Yamaha keyboards. At least one pedal (M-Audio’s EX-P) can switch between the two “polarities.”

So, which should you use, volume or expression? The simple answer is, if you want to control volume without having to do any programming, go with a mono or stereo volume pedal. If your keyboard has a dedicated expression jack, go with an expression pedal. The more complex answer is, if you want to control multiple functions when you sweep the pedal and are willing to edit the keyboard in order to set it up, go with an expression pedal.

Now go express yourself!

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