FootSmart

Device Presets Considered Harmful







Introduction

This page title is a snowclone, based on an ancient Computer Science paper named something like "Goto considered Harmful". Like that original paper, which was somewhat controversial at the time, I am proposing a radically different approach to pedal presets.

Current State

Pedals almost always allow presets, and usually hundreds of them. You fiddle and tweak and when you are happy with your sound, you save it as a preset on the pedal. Later, when you want to use that same sound, you go to preset 49 and it is there.

Current State Drawbacks

Future State

I am proposing that a preset be stored externally, such as in a FootSmart configuration file. Selecting a preset is done by sending the MIDI CC messages stored in the configuration file to the pedal. MIDI PC messages are not used, as presets are not stored on the device, and PC is the method for selecting them. A preset can logically cover several devices, describing the setup required to get the tone, not just one pedal's settings. This has the advantages:

Future State Challenges

There are several challenges that will have to be overcome: