Digital Music Corp Ground Control

Once I got through the manual and worked with the G.C., it was
a piece of cake to set up and use. A few calls to the fine folks
at Digital Music helped to clarify some questions I had.

It does not generate sound, so, no opinion.

Was very reliable for five years of heavy use, controlling a ten space rack with two preamps and rack mount effects, etc. Combined with the G.C.X. Loop Switcher, it was a powerful system that provided instant switching. After those five years, the switches started to fail. See below for Customer Support.

When the switches started to fail after thousands of stomps over five years of heavy use, I called Digital Music about it. The offered
to replace all the switches, and update my software, all at NO COST to me! On top of all that, the G.C. was past Warranty! So, I shipped it to them, and I got it back in perfect working order. The G.C. has worked perfectly since then, controlling a small rack with a Marshall JMP-1, Rocktron Replifex and Sabine Rack Tuner. I can't say enough good things about the great folks at Digital Music!

This has been a wonderful piece of gear. It took a bit of study to learn how to use it, but, once I did, it was easy to use. Combined with the G.C.X Loop Switcher, it turns it into a very powerful system. I would recommend it highly.

Manual is pretty good and absolutely mandatory as far as I'm concerned. I'm giving it an 8 because even though I've had it for a while I still need to break out the manual for reference if I haven't configured it in a while.

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I've had this unit for years and It's always worked pretty well. The only problems I've had have been a blown out power supply and flakey buttons. The button situation kinda pissed me off because sometimes the pedal just would not respond. I ended up taking the whole pedal apart and cleaning all of the pieces. I haven't had any problems since and this was already after I had the thing for a few years so it was obviously due. I've always said that the only thing they needed to do with this pedal to make it a really kick ass pedal is to put those old fashioned "stomp box" type switches on there.

N/A - never needed 'em

I've been playing aggressive surf/punk/metal guitar for about 25 years now. I like to keep my setup pretty simple but I really like the flexibility of being able to change up my sound from clean to ultra-gain and everything in between all at my foot's command. In order to achieve this, the Ground Control works quite well with my Mesa Triaxis. I realy like the continuous controller capability of the Ground Control and the Triaxis. The Ernie Ball Jr. works perfectly for this. If it were stolen or lost, I'd look for something else. I see that they've finally started using the "stomp box" switches but I don't like the new layout. I've been eyeing the Swiss-made Stagepro but that's really pricey. Overall, it's been a good piece of equipment.

It's very easy to use once you spend a few minutes reading the manual. If you try to figure it out without reading the manual, it can be a little confusing.

I'm using this to control the GCX Switcher, a Marshall JMP-1, TC Electronic G-major, and a Lexicon MPX G2 and it works fine. No sound quality though because it doesn't make any noise.

It seems reliable so far. When I got it, one of the switches wouldn't work, but I opened it up and tightened up some of the screws that hold the circuit board and it worked fine after.

I called customer support the first night that I got it because I didn't have a manual with it. The guy that I talked to didn't know anything about this model, just the newer "Pro" model so he wasn't a lot of help in that area. He did fax me a copy of the manual for free, and he was able to answer all of my questions about the GCX.

Overall, I like it. I'm looking at either getting the Rocktron All Access or the Pro version of this in the future. If it were stolen, I would get it again. This works for what I need, and is a lot cheaper than the other two I mentioned.

took a few minutes to configure all my equipment, but once I got all the Midi channels assigned (pre-amp, effect, gtr-synth, synth efx, & keys) I was impressed with the ease of switching!

??? - makes me sound good...does that count?

I've had it two years now, had a case built w/ 2" foam all around to protect it, & have never had the slightest glitch

When 1 piece of equipment failed to switch, they stayed on the phone with me until they were conviced it was not there problem, then helped me reprogram the efx processor...They didn't have to but they did. Impressed me!

Worth every penny!! This was a find...I used to use two midi footswitches & set was always re-arranging programs to switch together, this was amazing! I can elilminate a seperate midi chain, & don't have to re-arraange all my gear, I was never a big midi programmer anyway, so I really enjoy this....my biggest complain was that none of my equipment has the 7pin midi cable that would allow me to use the phantom power option, I wish there was someway to add that to my rack....If you know of any way to do that...I'd love to know...I hate the wall-wart.

So Easy that after you are finished you won't believe that MIDI could be so simple

Um it is a controller has no sound or quality thereof

I got it used and have had no worries with it thus far and evidently

They were very helpful I required a manual for this pedal(personal pet peave) I then asked if they could describe how to program it to operate my switcher and they did without question very good Customer Support.

This has little to do with the product but my system has a pair of marshalls a fender amp and several front end effects as well as a rack unit this handles all switching functions.

Very easy to use. Programming is a snap if you've ever played with any MIDI controller before. Editing is simple. The owners manual is outstanding and very comprehensive. Covers some things that it doesn't really have to in order to give you and understanding of what this piece is capable of.

I use it to control a Tech 21 SanAmp Preamp, a Marshall JMP1 Preamp, and a Rocktron intellifex and Intellipitch. Used continuos controllers with it and they worked properly for me. It is awfully easy to hit the bank switch and get out of sorts in the dark though.

This unit is out twice a week at shows and at practices. It is well taken care of and is transported in the same case as my Marshall MonoBloc 100/100. And you know that better not get dropped...

At 2 Months, a switch went bad. It was the "OK" switch, so it can't even be reprogrammed now or use the patch that was a function of that switch also. I was told those switches never go bad by the company. Censensus among owners says different, can't say I wasn't warned prior to the purchase, but Midi Mates were 5 months back ordered.. At 4 months, the display segment became erratic in function and it started locking up and give some sort of RAM error on power up. I was scared to death every show waiting for the big one. My Rocktron MidiMate is heads above as far as quality, I fear not when I'm using the MidiMate.

Extremely helpful and quick Email back from the president. Hadn't sent it in yet while waiting for my Rocktron MidiMate. We'll see about service real soon. I think they'll do well as they seemed to care and offered 24hr repair turnaround plus ship time and offered overnight shipping for me. Too nice, Marshall should take lessons from these guys.

Metal. Queensyche, Maiden, Savatage, Slayer ETC. When it works, it does the job. Been playing 22 years. BC Rich and Jackson USA Customs, Marshall MonoBloc 100/100, Tech 21 SanAmp, Rocktron Time Delay systems.

If it were stolen, I'd try to find them to give them the power supply.

I love the big switchs and their soft touch. I hate that it doesn't work well. Favorite feature is the big blue 16 digit alphanumeric readout, that rules. I miss the readout now with the MidiMate. I compare it to the Rocktron Midi Mate. Chose it because the Rocktron was backordered 5 months.

This is the version 2 model. All you have to do is read the manual. It works just as the manual says it will. Very good manual, extremely great midi pedal.

I'm using mine to control a mega midi guitar rack which I use live. Rack includes Chandler power conditioner, Samsom wireless, Rolls loop/switcher, DMC System mix plus, Rocktron 311 compressor, Alesis quadraverb, Peavey noise gate, Korg tuner, BBE 411, ADA Microcab II simulator, ADA mp-2 pre amp, Egnater ie4 pre amp, All midied together and powered by Mosvalve MV 962 power amps, Peavey 50/50 EL-84 power amps, and Marshall 1936 cabs. I use one expression pedal as a volume boost. It plugs right in to the Ground Control. I play Strat plus's with EMG S's in the bridge, and SV's in the other positions.

Very well built, soft touch pedal. It's semi compact comapared to a lot of other pedals, and it's very low profile has cured the back aches I get from stepping so high to reach footswitches.
I'm not afraid to go out with just the one pedal although I do have an ADA for a backup. In my line of work, you stuff just performs, Period, So I have an extra EVERYTHING!!!

Never dealt directly with the company, But I dealt with the dealer which was Mesa Boogie Hollywood. They basically sold this pedal over the phone to me. They are THE BEST!! They were acting on behalf of the manufacturer in every detail.

I play everything from Dwight Yoakam, to Megadeth,
Charlie Danials to Metalica, Patsy cline to Cheryl Crow.
I need a fast, versatile, user friendly midi pedal. This is IT!!
I'm a 20 year pro who's been a Hired gun, Studio cat, concert showman,
Club musician, ETC. I constantly switch rack gear but this set up has endured the longest. I was usinf a Peavey PFC-10 controller before I went with this one.
It was very well built, but you had to almost stand on the damm switches to get them to change. It was a Freekin' Tank.
I would buy this pedal again and again, hands down if it were stolen.
I love the large readout/display. I love the fact that it has a chip inside for programming it which ever way you wany. It learns what ever pedal you plug into it as an expression pedal through a "learn Pedal" funtion. It's too easy.

Every once in awhile I run across a piece of gear anf think, "this is it!!" This is one of those pieces for sure.

Not extremely hard to use after reading the manual five or six times through. Of course I'm new to this sort of thing, so I read it many times over to see what I can get out of it. Once you figure out how to create and save presets, which you can do on the first day of owning it, you're home free.

As said before, this doesn't make sounds, it controls the GCX that is patched to everything that makes sounds. But I don't hear any clicking when I change presets.

It's built to last, although I am a little scared I might slam my foot down on one of the pedals and break it in half, so I'm getting used to using the "light touch" method.

I'm using this to control a GCX that I'm playing a Fender P-Bass through to an Ampeg head, and Eden cab, and I love what this allows me to do with my effects (a ODB-3 distortion, BF-2 Flanger, MXR Phase 90, Dan-Echo, and my Korg DT-1 Pro rack tuner) while keeping me from doing the effects foot dance. And would recommend this to anyone who was looking to use effects, but didn't want to constantly be staring at the floor turing stuff on and off.

If you take about 10 minutes to read the manual...it's not to bad. I must say that if you don't read it and just "jump" into it..you have get a little confused.

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This unit was sold to me at Guitar Center as the ULITMATE footcontroller for my Mesa Boogie Triaxis and Roctron Chameleon...
I WOULD HATE TO HAVE PURCHASED THE BOTTOM END ONE. There must be a flaw in the circuitry. It works like CRAP. It controls on unit in a certain mode...then it decides to switch units.
IT HAS FROZEN UP MY TRI-AXIS SEVERAL TIMES.....this is not cool, at all. Don't even think about adding an "expression" pedal.

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Expensive, nicely packaged TURD.

I thought it was dead simple, hardly even read the manual, but I have a lot of experience with this type of thing. I have many students that have come to me asking how it works. I guess it's a little intimidating if you're not used to MIDI and this type of gear.

Not really an issue, although as a side note, the GCX which is the eight loop 1U rack companion to this is dead quiet, and works very well with pedals to put them in to a rack or to channel switch an amp or whatever you wish to do.

Yes it's reliable in the sense that it won't break. HOWEVER, I have done many gigs with it and sometimes the continuous control messages just plain don't work. I don't know why. They just don't. You cycle the power and everything works again. It's seems to get into strange states that it can't recover from. I don't think that the software is very robust yet, and I have a recent upgrade.

I get mixed responses. They were great at sending out my software upgrade and sending me things I ordered, but when I spoke to some of them about some other problems I have (see below) I was totally blown off like "what do expect us to do about it." I USED to use this thing 5 nights a week and I've steered a lot of people towards it at first, but now away after being blown off over a couple of what I consider to be very important things that have been overlooked and aren't going to be changed as far as I'm told.

Overall, great piece if you don't want to do anything but change patches. If you want to really control your outboard MIDI effects units, here's the problems. First, like I said before sometimes when you use a CC pedal, it just quits working. Also, if you set up one of the instant access switches to be a continous controller (CC) message, the LED lights by default. I want to look down and see what's on in the rack, and I have all these lights on when things are actually off. To turn on the delay in my Replifex (for example) I step on the pedal and the LED goes off, but the delay comes on. I've asked, there is no way around this. How hard could it be to make this an option? And why is there a "Learn Pedal" function that doesn't learn anything? It tell s you if it can read your pedal, but doesn't "learn" anything. You can only use Ernie Ball volume pedals as continuous controllers because the board can't read any of the boss or Roland pedals. Why not? I finally gave up and bought an All Access by Rocktron because it always works and is way more programmable. I'm afraid the Ground Control just can't keep up if you really want to use it for everything it's supposed to be able to do.