Adding an expression pedal to an effect gives you real-time, dynamic control over something that would normally be static. Fading in a long delay tail on the final note of a solo, swelling a giant reverb behind held chords and cutting it off suddenly at a dramatic stop, speeding up and slowing down the speed of a chorus effect to highlight notes or phrases, filter sweeps, pitch shifting — it’s a new addition to your musical vocabulary.

Connecting an expression pedal to an effect pedal that has an expression input is not too difficult, but it does require some owner’s manual reading and careful instruction following. Most effect pedals will want you to calibrate the expression pedal or else the effect pedal may not recognize the expression pedal. This is normally a straightforward process, but it’s slightly different for each pedal.

Expression pedal inputs typically use either TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) or TS (tip-sleeve) jacks, with TRS being most common. The pedal’s manual should have that information. The other consideration is the polarity of the pedal and jack. This is relevant if you want to use an expression pedal that wasn’t designed specifically for the effect unit. Often, for pedals of the same brand, the polarity will stay the same. More importantly, some expression pedals have a polarity switch to reverse polarity, so in those cases, you’re covered.

Effect pedals that have a wide range of sounds and options, particularly pedals with deep menus, will give you more choices for parameter control. In some cases, a single expression pedal can provide simultaneous control over multiple parameters: for example, delay level and feedback, or a wah effect and reverb level, gain control on a distortion effect and depth on a stuttering, square-wave tremolo. The combinations can get amazingly creative, depending on what your effect pedal will accommodate.

Here’s a list of a few expression pedals to check out. It’s a fairly wide variety to give you an idea of the options available.

Moog EP-3
This is a great, bread-and-butter expression pedal. It’s consistent, tough enough for daily stage use, and time-tested. It has the basic features you need: TRS with cable included, polarity switch, and a level control for setting the pedal’s range. The EP-3 is also an excellent feature-to-dollar value.

Dunlop DVP4 Volume (X) Mini Pedal
The DVP4 is a dual-function passive volume or expression pedal in a mini footprint. As an expression pedal, the Tuner Out/Aux input is TRS and the pedal’s minimum level is set via an internal trimpot. The mini size is a pedalboard space-saver while still feeling good underfoot. If you need a volume pedal and expression pedal, it’s hard to beat this compact, two-for-one option.

Boss EV-30 Dual Expression Pedal
The EV-30 allows you to control 2 separate effects units, separately or together, with one single pedal. It has two, TRS-outputs each with their own minimum volume control. The pedal is made from aluminum and the footprint is Boss’ smaller design, like the FV volume series. If you have more than one effect pedal that needs expression control, the EV-30 is perfect because it not only saves valuable pedalboard real estate by combining two pedals into one, but it gives you the option of controlling both effects simultaneously, with one foot.

Electro Harmonix Expression Pedal
This pedal is made from an extremely rugged polymer that makes it very lightweight and durable, even though it’s a standard full-size expression pedal. Not only does it have Range and Polarity controls, but the Reverse button reverses the direction of the sweep in relation to the effect. So, heel-down becomes the maximum setting and toe-down becomes the minimum. The EHX is offered as a single output or dual output pedal.

Mission Engineering Inc SP-H9
Mission makes heavy-duty volume and expression pedals, many of them designed to plug-and-play with specific effects and modelers. The SP-H9 offers seamless integration with the Eventide H9 and the same iconic look, which makes it an instant, no-fuss solution to expressive H9 control.

Ernie Ball Expression Series Tremolo Pedal
The Ernie Ball Expression Series pedals are built in the form-factor of an expression pedal but the effects are built-in. All of the controls are on the front face of the pedal. This particular version is the Tremolo Pedal which offers real-time control over the Depth and/or Rate of the tremolo. As a bonus, there’s Reverb that can be added to the effect, also controlled by the treadle. There are five different Waveshapes available including Sine, Square, and Harmonic. Setting the foot-control to Rate in Harmonic mode ventures very close to classic, Uni-Vibe and Leslie sounds.

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