Product Review of the Behringer FCB1010 MIDI Foot Controller
The Features:
The Behringer FCB1010 MIDI Foot Controller features 10 banks of presets, 2 expression pedals with freely assignable MIDI channel, controller number, and range. The Behringer FCB1010 gives you simultaneous transmission of five MIDI program change commands and two MIDI control commands per preset , MIDI note-on commands for trigger and tap-tempo applications. The Behringer FCB1010 MIDI Foot Controller includes 2 programmable, relay-controlled switch jacks, a MIDI merge function allows for the merging of controller and input data.
As cool as the Behringer FCB1010 looks, it’s NOT an effects unit. It’s a CONTROLLER so don’t be confused. There will be plenty of time for that, AFTER you get the Behringer FCB1010.
The Behringer FCB1010 is disigned for use of just about any MIDI unit but my only use for the Behringer FCB1010 was for my guitar rig so my review will only focus on how the Behringer FCB1010 relates to MY particular use.
I had been planning on buying the Behringer FCB1010 to accompany my Behringer GMX212 Amp. I loved it’s looks and it certainly appeared to be a highly functional and hi-tech unit (and I LOVE everything hi-tech). I read some horror stories from users who had the Behringer FCB1010. I learned that Behringer had recently upgraded the firmware chip and the units that have come out since then don’t have the bugs that the older version of the unit did. * If you happen to pick up a used Behringer FCB1010, contact Behringer for an upgraded chip.
Before purchasing the Behringer FCB1010 I emailed Behringer Tech Support. I told them that I was considering purchasing the Behringer FCB1010, what I intended to use it with, and what I hoped I could achieve with the unit. Behringer promptly responded to my email with several attachments including some tutorials and some custom made for me instructions on the Behringer FCB1010’s uses with my Behringer GMX212 Amp. My contact with Behringer’s support section was the final straw. I got in my car and headed out to buy me a new Behringer FCB1010 MIDI Foot Controller.
I picked up the Behringer FCB1010 at a local music store and rushed home to plug it into my Behringer GMX212 Amp. The Behringer FCB1010 included a power cord (not power adaptor). The Behringer FCB1010 did NOT include a MIDI cable so I purchased one at the same time. I had a gig the next night so I was looking forward to using it then. I read the manual back to back and the tutorials that Behringer sent me. My amp has an “auto wha” effect in it and I was looking forward to being able to use one of the expression pedals to control the wha but with the Behringer FCB1010 I can only turn it on or off.
The manual wasn’t very helpful at all in learning how to program the Behringer FCB1010. I’m not a very technologically challenged guy and even I found it difficult to understand. A few times, i recall just having to walk away and cool off to keep myself from throwing the Behringer FCB1010 out the window. Needless to say, I wasn’t going to be debuting the Behringer FCB1010 at my gig the next night. Upon reading the reviews on the Behringer FCB1010, I learned that there was a Yahoo group dedicated to the various uses of t he Behringer FCB1010.
I searched “Behringer FCB1010” in Yahoo groups and found it. I immediately joined begging for assistance. The group was very helpful and a file on how to use it with MY particular amp was provided on the group. I took a deep breath and began once again my attempt to program the Behringer FCB1010 to use with my Behringer GMX212 Amp.
I’m happy to say that 2 weeks and 2 days after my purchase of the Behringer FCB1010, I was able to make it a functional addition to my live guitar rig. Let’s go over some pros and cons.
Pros:
Bright LED lights enable easy reading on stage. The Behringer FCB1010 looks great. You’ll feel like you’ve hit the big time. The Behringer FCB1010 is made of solid steel construction. The pedals are indeed plastic but unless you’re stomping on them, the Behringer FCB1010 should last you a lifetime.
Cons:
The Behringer FCB1010 is a miserable thing to program. The manual is VERY difficult to understand. If you’re not familiar with the use of MIDI (that was my problem), don’t be scared off but don’t plan on using it live for a couple of weeks. You’ll have a hell of a time programing the Behringer FCB1010 . The expression pedals don’t have a decent feel. I don’t feel comfortable at all using them so I seldom do.
In closing, the Behringer FCB1010 is a great deal. I challenge you to find a MIDI controller as functional as the Behringer FCB1010 for the street price of $149.95 US. The Behringer FCB1010 isn’t very user friendly as far as programming is concerned but with a LOT of patience you CAN learn to program it. This reviewer believes that in spite of the fact that the Behringer FCB1010 is difficult to program, it will make a perfect addition to your live rig.
