Behringer FBC1010 Foot Controller

Very poorly laid out front panel. The manual is useless. Understanding the thinking behind its' layout is an exercise in futility.Who designed this thing? A simple interface that tells the user what is going on would be preferrabel to the blinking mickey mouse christmas tree lights.
Also, previous firmware versions are meant to be even worse. The pedal boasts features of units twice the price, but this has been done at the expense of convenience and user friendliness. To use it, you have to be very well educated in MIDI..ive only used MIDI for 10 years...other pedals are more or less 'plug n' play', forget it with this thing.

n/a

Looks sturdy enough.

Couldnt find the right help on the web site, and the tech support team although well meaning, just wrote to me, and quoted sections of the useless manual.
Ive looked around on the net, and visited the forums, opinion is well divided about this device..you either love it, or absolutely hate it!

If you are a budget, first check all the user groups and decide if you think its worht the inevitable hassle.Unless you are very well versed in MIDI, expect to have several days of fury trying to get it to work. Id you have low cost units , you might stand a better chance of getting them to work.

Here is the problem: The guide interchanges the words switch and pedals for setting it up. And listen: it's not an "ISSUE" it's a fucking PROBLEM.Quit saying issues when you have an actual problem.Took a couple of months to get it right. Went to the yahoo group for some help.You may need to plug it into itself like the calibration instructions tell you. I THINK that's how I got mine to work.Has the newest upgrade chip.

Using it with a Rocktron Voodu Valve.I only use the switches to access the first ten presets, then assign the footcontrollers for whatever parameter I want to control in real time. It works awesome.

Looks pretty sturdy. I take care of my stuff, so I'd use it without a backup. Take a point off cuz the footpedals are plastic.Thick,though.

Every question I've had on my Behringer stuff has been handled in a quick,professional manner.Also, I'm very proud to own 4 Behringer products.(mixer,compressor,X-V amp, and this.)I've had no probs with any of them.Anyone who says owning Behringer stuff is "uncool" would probably pay 3 grand for a used Fender Jaguar.Idiots.

Keep in mind that ANY company can have a bad batch of products.This footcontroller is just killer.It actually does help me make music.Been playing 25 years. Playing Charvels and a Gibson Flying V.Compared it to almost all footcontrollers. This beat them all, hands down. The value is awesome.

the unit is not easy to program, and you need to understand the way it is setup and the options you have. It took me a lot of research and study of the manual to fully understand it, and to grab the concepts of it's design. Now that I DO understand, the flexibility is great and programming is do-able , even standing up ..

Not applicable

Very reliable, well built.

I never dealth with their c.s. However the support/info on the Behringer site is outstanding.

I have used this controller to midicontrol many different effect units, software programs, etc. The versatility and flexibility is outstanding. I use it now with my bassrig, se-70 and sx-700, can assign one exp pedal to each unit and have a lot of control over my gear.

After extensive research and advice for programming this thing, please get in touch with Yahoo user groups, where you might be able to glean some info on the unit. Another resource is www.ripwerx.com where there is an editing program to download (free) for your PC, Mac or Linux computer.(the unit is so poor that editing via a computer and connecting it up via an external midi interface is the only real viable option..particularly if you want to access its full capabilities.

Apparently if you have an early version (Pre.v.2.3) you are wasting your time and the thing is basically junk.
You have to buy a software upgrade.HOW SHODDY IS THAT?? DO SOME R&D BEHRINGER YOU IDIOTS.
You find the software version in yours by:

A) Opening up the back of your unit (about 10 different screws of various sizes...dont mix them up)..this will allow to...

B)Invalidate the manufacturers warranty and..

C) See the sticker on the rear of the chip inside, thus telling you which version you have.

By the way, mines version 2.4 and its still a pile of crap.

The problem is that although its a very capable unit it has a non-existent interface, so no info is relayed back to the poor hapless user (you and me)in any coherent manner.
Oh, and it helps if you have a very good grasp of Midi procedures and protocols.If you dont, there are again various tutorials for download..Dont be naive enough to think that you can 'just play about with it'.You cant. You MIGHT get it to change a couple of patches (if you have a very basic device such as a pod etc), but forget anything else.

Upon contacting Eventide and Mesa, scouring user groups and forums i discovered that..THE BEHRINGER FCB1010 IS NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO SET UP. Most users only realise a fraction of its potential...if they can get it to work.
This to me says that it is inherently badly designed.
ive used my Eventide DSP 7500 processor, which is acknowledged as one of the very best, most comprehensive pieces of gear in the world PERIOD,and I learnt more in one afternonn and reached far greater levels of complexity thani have in weeks of owning this appaling piece of designed rubbish.Ditto my triaxis.
By the way, ive had 14 years of working with midi and have a Mac based studio running Logic with various outboard devices..so dont talk to me about MIDI !

NA

I would think very reliable because most people cant use it.

Behringer have a very limited support service for this device.Try the user groups and forums.

you know what i think.
Get one second hand off ebay cheap.If you can get it to work, great.You have a wonderful, versalitle midi foot controller.If not, get it back on Ebay, give someone else a chance, and get yourself something perhaps not as 'all singing and dancing', but something that will get u up and running and PLAYING (remember that?) in about 5 minutes.

Ive used many controllers down the years but i have to say that this unit has been an absolute nightmare to get up and running from the start! Ive literally wasted an entire day just trying to get it to work and transmit with my other gear (Eventide DSP7500 an Mesa Boogie Triaxis)..result...NOTHING. Emails to all companies concerned....reset everything to factory defaults etc etc..NOTHING.Returned pedal to store but no faults with it..Its just a bastard to programme.The guy in the shop coul;dnt get it to work, and as for the support from Behringer...They HAVE tried but their support iterature is less than useless.
The manulas are utter rubbish and written by an uttter cretin.it assumes you ahev a Bsc in electronic schematics, a photographic memory, and three hands.

N/A But my Boggie and Eventide sound great when cranked with my CS 60 Strat!!

Built very well with a nice reassuring feel from the pedals/Shame I'll never gig it, because its soooooo frustrating to get to communicate.(might work with Behringers own gear but crap with anybody elses)..Oh...and im not gonna bin my stuff to use thier other crap....(resentful?..Me?)

Reply after a couple of days.Sent varous links (their site is totally rubbish for support i found with NO relevant info), but the support guy was helpful.Unfortunately the resulting attachments and links werre of no real use.Shall i just call it off and go back to stomp boxes??
remeber when you could plug and play???
Who cares about my 64bit sigma-delt conversions and christ knows what when the bitch cant change channels??

Ive been a pro guitarist for 14 years, with loads of tours, recordings and magazine work.my styles are mainly Fusion, Jazz and Rock, Funk.
I wouldnt use any of behringers other gear because i dont like it.This thing is well built but just too fiddly and awkward to set up.After i graduate from University with my electronics degree i MIGHT be able to get it to change channels on my amp..
Other fott controllers (IM thinkgin Digitech, Roland here) are up and running in 5 minutes. I havent got time to waste on an accessory that is more counter intuitive than an eventide processor...have i got to get a tech???....or a life?

THE FIRST MODEL I PURCHASED WAS A 2.2.1 FIRMWARE MODEL & I NEVER COULD GET TO GRIPS WITH IT. ALL I COULD EVER DO WAS CONTROL THE VOLUME & CHANGE PATCHES. UNFORTUNATELY THE UNSCRUPULIOUS FUCKWITS IN THE SO CALLED "MUSIC SHOP" WHICH SOLD ME IT NEGLECTED TO TELL ME IT HAD BEEN RETURNED AFTER THE TWAT WHO OWNED IT HAD OPENED IT & FUCKED IT UP.....THEY THEN TOLD ME I WAS ONLY ENTITLED TO 75% REFUND(AFTER A FEW REPORTS TO BEHRINGER & THE TRADING STANDARDS AGENGY I GOT MY MONEY BACK FROM THESE FUCKERS)I THEN BOUGHT A NEW ONE IN BELFAST & HEY PRESTO WORKED 1ST TIME I WAS THEN ABLE TO GET THE FREE UPDATE FROM BEHRINGER. THE MANUAL DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT MOST OF US ARE NOT MIDI TECHNICIONS (HOPE I SPELT THAT RIGHT). BUT ONCE YOU GET TO UNDERSTAND THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF PEDAL CALIBRATON & PATCH PROGRAMMING, ITS A BREEZE

THE SOUND QUALITY ISSUE IS NOT APPLICABLE HERE, BUT I WILL MENTION ONE VERY IMPORTANT FACT...YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS UNIT IS A DEDICATED MIDI CONTROLLER... NOT A STANDARD MIDI BOARD AS IN THE ART X15 OR THE NOBELS MF1/2, SO IT WONT AFFECT YOUR SOUND UNLESS U TELL IT TOO.... THIS BOARD NEEDS TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO. SO U MUST ALSO PROGRAMME EACH PATCH ON THE BOARD (ESPECIALLY YOUR PEDALS!) WITH THE APPROPRIATE MIDI CONTROLLER NUMBER INSTEAD OF JUST ON YOUR FX UNIT. ONCE U GET YOUR HEAD ROUND THIS CONCEPT THE SKY'S THE LIMIT!...IF I CAN DO I ANYONE CAN

BUILT LIKE A BRICK SHIT HOUSE...BUT NOT WATERPROOF ...BUT THEN WHAT ELECTRICAL UNIT IS?.........WHOOPS. I HAVE 2 OF THESE NOW JUST IN CASE ...STABLE DOOR, HORSE BOLTING ETC ETC............

VERY GOOD INDEED, THEY SENT ME THE UPGRADE CHIP STRAIGHT AWAY AND THE TECH DIRECTOR MAILED ME WITH SOME DOCS I FOUND REALLY USEFUL FOR PROGRAMMING!

MAIN RIG.....
IM USING IT WITH A KORG DRT1->POD XT LIVE ->BOSS GX700->BEHINGER DEQ2496-> MARSHALL 9200 POWER AMP->(ALL CONTROLLED BY MIDI)...CUSTOM BUILT JCM 2004 SLANTED LEAD CAB & 1960B BASE CAB

SMALLER RIG....
KORG DRT2->BOSS GX700->PEAVEY RACK 31 BAND STEREO EQ->MARSHALL EL34 20/20 POWER AMP.........MARSHALL 1922 2X12 & MARSHALL 1936 2X12

FOR PUB GIGS I JUST USE A BEHRINGER V-AMPIRE & THE FCB 1010 AND D.I. IT....

GUITARS..........TOO MANY TO MENTION BUT THE MAIN ONES ARE
GODIN LGX-T, CUSTOM BUILT FENDER PLEXI STRAT(WITH ROSE WOOD NECK), PRS 10 TOP & 1973 LES PAUL GOLD TOP.

I LOVE THIS UNIT TO BITS. I DO WISH IT WENT ABOVE PATCH 100 BUT WHO IS EVER GOING TO USE MORE THAN 100 PATCHES IN 1 SHOW? .ONCE YOU GET YOUR HEAD ROUND THE MORE TECHNICAL ISSUES, YOU'LL WONDER HOW U EVER DID WITHOUT IT...AS I DID & I'M NO MIDI WIZARD!..MORE OF A HOMER SIMPSON!!. THIS UNIT WORKS WITH ANY MIDI UNIT, NOT JUST FX UNITS. PROGRAMMING SOMETIMES DOES TAKE A WHILE, BUT I USE MINE FOR 3 DIFFERENT AMP SET-UPS AND IT WORKS GREAT. THERE ARE ALSO GREAT SOFTWARE EDITORS ON YAHOO GROUPS SOMEWHERE (SEE OTHE REVIEWS) WHICH IS GREAT AS YOU CAN NOW PROGRAM ALL YOUR PATCHES ON THE PC & THEN TRANSFER THEM TO THE FCB 1010.

Once I'd got to grips with some basic midi terms (I'd never used midi before) it was actually surprisingly simple to set this up to work with my gear. Editing patches can be done via PC, but to be honest, tapping in the settings manually is no great hardship, and helps me remember where I've set everything! The manual is okay, but it assumes a degree of knowledge which I didn't have at the time. SOme very patient people at the yahoo group sorted me out with the basics, and it wasn't long before I was answering other peoples questions. I'm running the 2.4.1 firmware, which is fine for my needs. 2.5 fixed a couple of bugs, but none which affected me in the first place. I'm scoring it an 8 because it's about as simple as midi can be once you know what you're meant to be doing!

I originally bought this to control a Behringer V-amp. That was great because virtually every parameter of hte V-amp was controllable, so I had presets designed to alter gain, eq, reverb, delay, fx.... not to mention actually switching patches. Now I run a Vox Tonelab, which is less flexible on the fly although sounds 10 times better. The FCB is now running patch change and fx toggle functions, as well as volume level. It's a fantastic combination, which as set up currently gives me 8 Tonelab patches (FCB presets 1,2,3,4, 6,7,8,9) plus "distortion" on/off on 5, delay on/off on 10, modulation on/off via one expression pedal, and volume control via the other. Multiply that by 10 banks and you'll see it's massively flexible!

The only actual sound I get from this is a slight humming from the mains transformer, but as this doesn't appear in the speakers I've not bothered to get it fixed.

I've gigged with it, outdoors, supported on a wobbly plank over rain-sodden grass next to a canal. No problems. It's built like a tank. The only precauctions are to fix some velcro tapes over the power lead and midi cables (I use angled cables so that I can fix the velcro from under the FCB1010, over the cable, and then down on the top of hte unit to stop them coming out accidentally).

I've never bothered Behringer (Although when I had the V-amp I contacted them with some questions and got good, quick answers, so I've no reason to think they're not great).

Like I said, there's an excellent yahoo community dedicated to this unit, where you can find answers to all your FCB and general midi questions.

I play in covers bands. Whilst this doesn't generate or affect my sound in any way, it makes it a whole lot easier to get to my sounds, and it's a lot simpler than setting up a bunch of pedals like I used to. Tonelab on the table, FCB on the floor, join them together and run a line to the PA. Consistent, quality sounds and performance from the gear. It's all I need, with the added benefit that I can add more gear to my setup and still control it from the FCB1010.

Editing patches is easy once you get the hang of it. I am no programmer of any nature, so it took a while before it sank in. The manual is not very elaborate, explaining next to nothing. I needed a yahoo group to understand what I had on the floor. I have firmware 2.4. So I had a rough start, but now I am happy.

I use this unit to control a TC G-major.

The unit itself is built like a tank. No need for any back-up.

A few things that would improve reliability are:
IEC powerconnector should be a Neutrik Powercon.
MIDI chassisparts should be all metal Neutriks.
I am contemplating replacing these with to priority to the IEC connector that failed me 4 times during a gig.
Maybe keyboard players have no problems with it, but I stand up front where (drunk) ignorant people tread on your stuff like it's their own turf and stumble all over your mic stand.

No customer support needed, no upgrade needed.

I play top 100 and my own material. I love bands like Rush, Marillion and The Fixx. This is a great addition to my gear.
I have been playing since 1977. I use the FCB-1010 with a TC G-major, ENGL 570 tube preamp and ENGL Z9 footswitch, my guitar is a Fender American 1991 Pewter grey Stratocaster.
If it is stolen or lost, I hope Behringer has an upgrade model ready, because there are some features on my wishlist.
I love the price and what it can do, the two exp pedals are great.
I hate nothing about it, just would like to add and change a few things.
My favorite feature is sending CC messages, not Program Change.
I compared it with every other MIDI floorboard around, but you can't have the features of an FCB-1010 for any less or somethimes even not twice its price in another unit.
I wish the LEDs could display the status when using it to send CC messages. More expensive units like the Skrydstrup SC1 will do this and they cost around EUR 1000. When programming, several leds can stay on at the same time, so it looks like just a firmware thing to me. For power I rather have a powercon connector instead of the IEC that is not roadworthy. Also I would like a different working of the relays: dedication to a few switches and a few extra switches.
It helps a great deal controlling the TC G-major. Any better alternative would be at least twice as expensive. I would love to have the Skrydstrup, but that doesn't even feature the two expression pedals. If Behringer ever grants my wishes and price it like 300 euros I will not look at anything else.

editing is not really difficult, but some parts of the manual were difficult to understand. "playing" with the unit solved the difficulty. i upgraded to EPROM version 2.5.1E a week after buying it. i did the upgrade myself and it was rather easy.

i've only owned it for 1 month, but i would use it w/o backup (like everything else i own HA!)

when i bought it, the EPROM version was 2.4.1. i emailed jim savery at behringer and within 2 days i had the latest EPROM free of charge. i got it free because they were advertising one version when i bought my FCB1010, but the unit had an older one installed.

i play rock. it's a good match in-so-far as i made compromises price-wise and feature-wise. i wanted something with expression pedals and didn't want to spend more than $200. i'm not able to do everything i want with this pedal. i need more CC switches to send messages to the gcx switcher, it only accepts CC messages to turn on/off the loops. there are only 2 CC switches on the fcb1010 and i need one of those to control effects parameters in the g-major. the only solution was to spend several hundred dollars more on separate expression pedals and a foot controller like the Ground Control Pro. i had to make the compromise

i've been playing a long time, so what?!

i have a strat, tech 21 TM 120 with ARMD midi converter, t.c. g-major, digitech gnx2, ibanez smash box, digital music gcx audio switcher and furman power conditioner.

If it were stolen or lost i'd consider saving up to meet my needs for more CC switches. otherwise i'd buy another fcb1010.

i love the fact that i don't have to stomp all over the place to get my sounds. i hate the fact that there are only 2 CC switches. my favorite feature is the combination of 2 expression pedals with 10
footswitches in a single unit.

i compared it to other foot controllers that cost a lot more like the Ground Control Pro which is more versatile but doesn't have expression pedals.

i just wish (you guessed it) it had more CC switches. but it does help me make music without having to tap dance at the same time.

IMPORTANT NOTE: i am one of many for whom the expression pedals only worked on about the last 30% of the full heel to toe range. i had to open up the unit and adjust the mechanism by which the pedals work. this was very tedious as it involved many trys to get it right. the fcb1010 yahoo group provided the info for how to do this.

I heard a lot of people talking about the problems they are having working out how to make the FCB1010 communicate with their other stuff. A lot of people seem to have trouble getting the expression pedals to work properly too. But to be honest, I don't really see how.

I had absolutely no problems working out how to hook this thing up with my Pod. It literally took 30 minutes of reading the manual, trial and error, before I pretty much knew how to do everything. I have some experience with programming, but nothing of this kind. It's fairly logical once you understand the terms involved, and that can be obtained simply by messing around with the device.

I use a Gibson SG, a Pod 2.0 and the FCB1010.
The speaker/amp I use varies. My Amp at home sucks, I usually gig through the in-house PA (ahhhh the Pod, sweet sweet Pod).

I was expecting some kind of slight delay when I change channels, put wah on and off, etc. However, if there is a delay it is extremely minor. Less than half a second, and it's not going to effect anything in the grand scheme of things. If you really need something that changes to the accuracy of greater than half a second, then you probably have the money to buy something that does that.

Although I have noted that the Pod has this delay even when changes channels on it's own (if I play and someone else presses the channel switch).

It's a beast, and it looks as sturdy as a rock. I'd be more worried about my guitar or pod fucking up to be honest.

The manual is a bit cacky in places. But Behringer seem like a friendly company.

I was apprehensive about buying this at first. But I'm extremely happy with it now that I have it. Brilliant piece of kit, wouldn't leave home without it. It's brought my Pod to life, and if I ever get some other gear that can be midi-controlled than I can use it for that too.

The only drawback, perhaps, is that it'd be nice if it had more expression pedals. Although I have no idea why, it'd just be gluttonous really.