Thanks for the patient explanations and your work, very much appreciated. At 4:25 in the video in your explanatory words you swapped the meanings of < Momentary> and . Two questions, if I may: 1) do the buttons also perform all the usual multiple tasks like Double Tap and Hold, in any mode ? 2) if used with a RC-500 (as in my case), do the lights on the fs-1 change along with the status of the 500 (like red for record and blue for empty)? Thank you and keep up the good work, I learned a hell of a lot from your videos
Hey. Oops. Yeah. My bad. So to answer you questions, 1) they are pumping out cc#’s but at the moment, it’s single commands. I hope there is an update to this and this would be awesome to see double tap and holds. 2)the lights are programmed on the FS-1-WL to show you that have been pressed. Nothing more for now. Just different colours for your convenience. BUT firmware updates and it could unlock more! 🤷🏻♂️
@@JohnPaulMusicUK ,,,,, Didn´t mean to offend you; it just confused me a bit since I am rather new to looping, switches, Midi and all this technical stuff. Old Fender-Les Paul geezer here, scratching his bald head in slight derangement ;-) Thank you very much for your prompt & precise answers, dear JP, that is very useful and important information for me. So now I ordered a Midibaby3 for my RC-500 / HX Stomp needs instead. Since I focus on the Looperside of the RC-500 and don´t use its and functions at all, I will for MIDI & CTL1/2 purposes be better off with that pedal. Hopefully ... I´ll try to create below and adjacent to the RC a second row of three identically programmed switches , one separate dedicated row for each track. I am trying to get rid of having to use the (slighty annoying detour via) TRK SELECT Button for easy single track access per foot, I want these three basic functions to be directly avaliable at all times without tapdancing. , , would then hopefully happen with a "one foot for two vertically arranged buttons simultaneously" move. Maybe I can even get the LEDs of the Midibaby to follow, that would really be the icing on the cake. I know that the RC-600 can do all this (and much more) easily, but for now I want and need a a more compact and also battery powered solution. If this doesn´t work, I will surely find other ways to use it with the RC-500 or my Stomp. So thank you again, and quiet & cozy christmas for you
oh no! thats a shame. which one do you have? I know that the Aerophone PRO works with it (its on the website as a feature with a Pic of the FS1WL!!). If the Wind Synth can accept MIDI via bluetooth then I dont really know why that wouldnt work?
that big gap with the cc numbers is a real problem for me( i need cc # 32) what the hell was boss thinking? sould have got the other controller I SAW ON THE SONICWARE TH-cam VID!!!!
thanks for the video. - you said its more than enough cc numbers to chose from - sadly .. there are numbers missing that I need to control my Line6 Helix LT - do you know if its possible to add these or if they can be done in a firmware update maybe ? thanks
@@EddieMullarkey sadly I didn’t find a work around , I’m just using it for some other available cc numbers now … very frustrating .. might be worth messaging boss , they did actually respond to me and say it might be possible to do it in a future firmware update .. I guess the more requests the better :)
Thanks@@guybennett5266 , I'll get in touch with Boss. I might return the Fs1 WL and buy an alternative. Airturn Digit and or Airturn BT 500S seems to have Midi control, I hope they don't suffer from the same limitations!
I haven’t use date pocket GT but `boss have an exact step by step document in this! Have a look (iOS or android device needed) static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/Pocket-GT_BTS_SP_eng05_W.pdf
Just received one of these and I cannot get it to update firmware. I followed the instructions to the letter (using a Mac Studio) and the UpdSMF process appeared to run, and reached 100% and said completed, but the lights on the FS-1-WL did not behave as expected, and after restarting and checking the version in the app, it has not changed. Any suggestions? UPDATE: I just tried on a Windows machine, and it worked like a charm. That's a first for me, having something that a Mac struggles with and Window has no issue. Either way, I'll leave this comment unless anyone else encounters issues.
@@JohnPaulMusicUK What’s good about that though, is that despite a full but unfinished writing of the firmware, it still successfully booted up under the old version. Many products get “bricked” (ruined) under such circumstances, and the fact this didn’t shows it’s been made under a dual-bank firmware design, which is very reassuring.
If you’re brand new with no other gadgets and want it as a page turner/video controller, switch it to HID and the “FS-1-WL editor” app’s settings will change to a keyboard instead of CC codes.
Hi JP, love your videos, have watched many over the years. I just bought the FS-1-WL and it looks cool. It works for turning pages and it works for TH-cam (which is quite cool when following tutorials). But the main reason I got it was to control Ableton. I'm a theremin player, so, like a guitar player, my hands are otherwise occupied when it comes to triggering backing tracks or hitting the record button. But - no joy yet! Ableton signals that it's receiving MIDI input but won't seem to allow me to keymap. I set it up to do MIDI mapping, select, for example, a transport control, tap the button on the BOSS, but... no luck. Have played with MIDI devices in Ableton, but the FS-1-WL isn't an available option. Using a Mac, Ableton Live 12. I tried setting it up to use HID instread of MIDI, but my Mac gets annoyed and thinks it's a Roland wireless keyboard. Any thoughts? Cheers, and thanks for the great videos!
Hey 👋 saw your other comment. Hope they replace it with feet attached! 🤣 Anyways.. you need to make sure that you have paired the FS1WL via the Mac’s Audio/Midi Studio setup first. So it’s not through normal Bluetooth it’s connected as a Bluetooth pedal device via midi. Then Ableton ‘should’ see it for midi learn… hopefully. 🤞🏻
Thanks! I paired it up in the Mac MIDI setup - works when wired 👍🏼 Hey, regarding the missing feet, perhaps it’s more “grounded” without “feet” - at least it’s can’t walk away 😂😂😂 New one arrives tomorrow, so I’ll do the set up etc. from the top. Thanks for the video and your help!
@Factotum6814 Glad a new one is arriving (wonder if it’s eking to your house with its new feet? 🤣) Great that it works wired but should be there wireless too. Strange.
Very interesting explanations, but… can you let it receive Midi cc# order from a midi sequencer to change pages on a Ipad in bluetooth? That mean it should have a midi input…. And it looks missing. 😢
Yeah it’s a midi out device so are you looking for something that would turn the page automatically via midi when you get to a certain point? Obviously the FS-1-WL can be a page turner, that’s not an issue.
I’m interested in this type of product but what bothers me is what happens when they (inevitably) drop support for the app over time, and it fails to work on (e.g.) the latest mobile devices. They never seem to support configuration over sysex, which would make them future proof. Is that the case with this product? It wouldn’t be a good investment if the app stops working in a couple of year’s time.
@ I’ve just opted for a Doremidi 2-channel expression pedal interface (I didn’t need the Bluetooth aspect of the Boss). This Doremidi thing still has the same problem (no sysex config) but (unlike mobile) the PC-based app will continue to run pretty much forever, so it’s less of a worry for me.
Is there a possible setting to ensure the lights stay on while in use? For such a great little little device, it would be a huge disappointment if not 😕
Does this work to press Favourite +/ Favourite - in Roland Juno DS? Or to assign a Favourite Split Sound to each of the 3 buttons? Or to control Fsvourited in the Roland AX Edge?
Hey, very nice review! It seems like a yes, but I wonder if it can operate things like Waza Air without the phone with a turned on app all the time? My usecase: I want to buy this stuff, add an expression pedal to it, and then just turn on Waza Air and just operate it with this footswitch without using the phone as a middle man (except for initial setup). I have Positive Grid Spark and their wireless footswitch, and it works only when both amp and footswitch are connected to the app, which is VERY annoying and makes it all borderline useless.
Hey folks, does anyone here know if this would work as a sustain pedal? I use a korg nano key 2 that doesn't have a footswitch input so if this could act as a sustain pedal it would be super handy for my portable music editing/film composing setup. Thanks!
@@JohnPaulMusicUK thanks so much for your reply, unfortunately I don’t think that the nano key will accept any external midi messages but I’m wondering if yourself or anyone who has the FS-1-WL has been able to successfully add it as a second midi input device in pro tools and then set one of the buttons to cc64 so that when pressed the pedal sends a sustain pedal message to Pro Tools and effectively acts as a portable wireless sustain pedal? Is this even possible or am I nuts? Ha ha. I currently have a mobile set up that I use for music editing and having a portable sustain pedal that can interface with my nano key 2 would be immensely useful (and for others too in my position I assume). It’s a niche requirement so I haven’t really found anything on the market specifically tailored for this use. I’ll buy one and try it and report back but if anyone here has done this already please let me know. Thanks in advance!
@@simonscgc3749 Good news, the FS-WL-1 can totally act as a keyboard sustain pedal over midi bluetooth. Just ran it in Pro Tools and it works really well. You just have to set one of the pedals to transmit CC64 and you're off to the races. Film Composers and Music Editors with mobile rigs will love this thing! I literally couldn't find anything else on the market that would work for this purpose. If they added a rechargeable internal USB battery I would buy that model too. What a god send this pedal turned out to be!
Boss erase my comments but I’ll keep posting These devices are advertised as "Fully customizable", and it is not true, they are Locked for CC#'s 32-63 and 95-127. Your support answer was: Unfortunately, the FS-1-WL can not transit CC#'s 32-63 and 95-127,
the explanation of momentary and latch are backwards. Video has not been colour corrected to show the colours he is speaking about.
Yeah they are. Oops. 😬
Thanks for the patient explanations and your work, very much appreciated.
At 4:25 in the video in your explanatory words you swapped the meanings of < Momentary> and .
Two questions, if I may:
1) do the buttons also perform all the usual multiple tasks like Double Tap and Hold, in any mode ?
2) if used with a RC-500 (as in my case), do the lights on the fs-1 change along with the status of the 500 (like red for record and blue for empty)?
Thank you and keep up the good work, I learned a hell of a lot from your videos
Hey. Oops. Yeah. My bad.
So to answer you questions,
1) they are pumping out cc#’s but at the moment, it’s single commands. I hope there is an update to this and this would be awesome to see double tap and holds.
2)the lights are programmed on the FS-1-WL to show you that have been pressed. Nothing more for now. Just different colours for your convenience.
BUT firmware updates and it could unlock more! 🤷🏻♂️
@@JohnPaulMusicUK ,,,,,
Didn´t mean to offend you; it just confused me a bit since I am rather new to looping, switches, Midi and all this technical stuff. Old Fender-Les Paul geezer here, scratching his bald head in slight derangement ;-)
Thank you very much for your prompt & precise answers, dear JP, that is very useful and important information for me.
So now I ordered a Midibaby3 for my RC-500 / HX Stomp needs instead. Since I focus on the Looperside of the RC-500 and don´t use its and functions at all, I will for MIDI & CTL1/2 purposes be better off with that pedal. Hopefully ...
I´ll try to create below and adjacent to the RC a second row of three identically programmed switches , one separate dedicated row for each track. I am trying to get rid of having to use the (slighty annoying detour via) TRK SELECT Button for easy single track access per foot, I want these three basic functions to be directly avaliable at all times without tapdancing.
, , would then hopefully happen with a "one foot for two vertically arranged buttons simultaneously" move.
Maybe I can even get the LEDs of the Midibaby to follow, that would really be the icing on the cake.
I know that the RC-600 can do all this (and much more) easily, but for now I want and need a a more compact and also battery powered solution.
If this doesn´t work, I will surely find other ways to use it with the RC-500 or my Stomp.
So thank you again, and quiet & cozy christmas for you
Can´t make it change patches on my Roland wind synth, so it´s not amazing !! No worries I can send it back 😕
oh no! thats a shame. which one do you have? I know that the Aerophone PRO works with it (its on the website as a feature with a Pic of the FS1WL!!).
If the Wind Synth can accept MIDI via bluetooth then I dont really know why that wouldnt work?
@@JohnPaulMusicUK Sometimes there’s a setting on devices to filter out incoming program change commands. Maybe that’s it…
that big gap with the cc numbers is a real problem for me( i need cc # 32) what the hell was boss thinking? sould have got the other controller I SAW ON THE SONICWARE TH-cam VID!!!!
thanks for the video. - you said its more than enough cc numbers to chose from - sadly .. there are numbers missing that I need to control my Line6 Helix LT - do you know if its possible to add these or if they can be done in a firmware update maybe ? thanks
I have a similar problem with my TC helicon perform ve, the boss fs1 wl is missing cc#32 to cc# 63. Is there any work around for this???
@@EddieMullarkey sadly I didn’t find a work around , I’m just using it for some other available cc numbers now … very frustrating .. might be worth messaging boss , they did actually respond to me and say it might be possible to do it in a future firmware update .. I guess the more requests the better :)
Thanks@@guybennett5266 , I'll get in touch with Boss. I might return the Fs1 WL and buy an alternative. Airturn Digit and or Airturn BT 500S seems to have Midi control, I hope they don't suffer from the same limitations!
Great video. Do you know how or have you tried to put 3 different sound presets (clean - crunch - lead) from the Pocket GT to the 3 keys?
I haven’t use date pocket GT but `boss have an exact step by step document in this!
Have a look (iOS or android device needed)
static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/Pocket-GT_BTS_SP_eng05_W.pdf
Any luck? @kolschb
Just received one of these and I cannot get it to update firmware. I followed the instructions to the letter (using a Mac Studio) and the UpdSMF process appeared to run, and reached 100% and said completed, but the lights on the FS-1-WL did not behave as expected, and after restarting and checking the version in the app, it has not changed. Any suggestions?
UPDATE: I just tried on a Windows machine, and it worked like a charm. That's a first for me, having something that a Mac struggles with and Window has no issue. Either way, I'll leave this comment unless anyone else encounters issues.
Hey 👋
That’s strange and certainly I’m in the same boat when it comes to that being a first.
I was using a MacBook Pro (M1Pro 14) and had no issues.
@@JohnPaulMusicUK What’s good about that though, is that despite a full but unfinished writing of the firmware, it still successfully booted up under the old version.
Many products get “bricked” (ruined) under such circumstances, and the fact this didn’t shows it’s been made under a dual-bank firmware design, which is very reassuring.
If you’re brand new with no other gadgets and want it as a page turner/video controller, switch it to HID and the “FS-1-WL editor” app’s settings will change to a keyboard instead of CC codes.
Great tip 👌
Great video, how do you connect the Boss FS-1WL to Boss Waza Air Headphones?
Just press the instrument button instead of the Smartphone / PC button and it will pair. 👍🏼
can set double press and long press?
Good question. Unfortunately not but you can with this: th-cam.com/video/6Z5gdcNuHak/w-d-xo.htmlsi=qYSH-1rWYmS6o1zu
@@JohnPaulMusicUK I have an mc6 mk2, but wanted some smaller for casual trips, Thanks John!
Does it works with loopy pro by wireless and simultaneously with gigcaster by TRS?
Yes and yes. Just need to know the CC numbers you’ve set them to. 👍
Hi JP, love your videos, have watched many over the years. I just bought the FS-1-WL and it looks cool. It works for turning pages and it works for TH-cam (which is quite cool when following tutorials). But the main reason I got it was to control Ableton. I'm a theremin player, so, like a guitar player, my hands are otherwise occupied when it comes to triggering backing tracks or hitting the record button. But - no joy yet! Ableton signals that it's receiving MIDI input but won't seem to allow me to keymap. I set it up to do MIDI mapping, select, for example, a transport control, tap the button on the BOSS, but... no luck. Have played with MIDI devices in Ableton, but the FS-1-WL isn't an available option.
Using a Mac, Ableton Live 12. I tried setting it up to use HID instread of MIDI, but my Mac gets annoyed and thinks it's a Roland wireless keyboard.
Any thoughts? Cheers, and thanks for the great videos!
Hey 👋 saw your other comment. Hope they replace it with feet attached! 🤣
Anyways.. you need to make sure that you have paired the FS1WL via the Mac’s Audio/Midi Studio setup first. So it’s not through normal Bluetooth it’s connected as a Bluetooth pedal device via midi.
Then Ableton ‘should’ see it for midi learn… hopefully. 🤞🏻
Thanks! I paired it up in the Mac MIDI setup - works when wired 👍🏼
Hey, regarding the missing feet, perhaps it’s more “grounded” without “feet” - at least it’s can’t walk away 😂😂😂 New one arrives tomorrow, so I’ll do the set up etc. from the top. Thanks for the video and your help!
@Factotum6814 Glad a new one is arriving (wonder if it’s eking to your house with its new feet? 🤣)
Great that it works wired but should be there wireless too. Strange.
Very interesting explanations, but… can you let it receive Midi cc# order from a midi sequencer to change pages on a Ipad in bluetooth?
That mean it should have a midi input…. And it looks missing. 😢
Yeah it’s a midi out device so are you looking for something that would turn the page automatically via midi when you get to a certain point? Obviously the FS-1-WL can be a page turner, that’s not an issue.
Yes, i try to turn the pages of my iPad tablet automatically with an external midi sequencer, not easy to realise.
I’m interested in this type of product but what bothers me is what happens when they (inevitably) drop support for the app over time, and it fails to work on (e.g.) the latest mobile devices.
They never seem to support configuration over sysex, which would make them future proof.
Is that the case with this product? It wouldn’t be a good investment if the app stops working in a couple of year’s time.
Interesting cause they have literally just sent an update out about it yesterday. Version 1.1 firmware.. so they are still supporting it. 👍🏻
@ I’ve just opted for a Doremidi 2-channel expression pedal interface (I didn’t need the Bluetooth aspect of the Boss).
This Doremidi thing still has the same problem (no sysex config) but (unlike mobile) the PC-based app will continue to run pretty much forever, so it’s less of a worry for me.
Great footswtich ...
Can it operate GT1 man android app, where the Boss GT 1 patches can be / edited seleted via keyboard shortcuts ?
For that you would put it in HIB mode and it becomes keystrokes. Then just change what key you want it to be.
Very versatile little pedal. 👍🏼
@@JohnPaulMusicUK Thank you so much..👍
My band plays to backing tracks on my phone, and I have set up my FS-1-WL to work with the media player.
That’s cool. Such a great diverse little pedal. 👍🏻
@@JohnPaulMusicUK The app does not work on my Galaxy A70
Is there a possible setting to ensure the lights stay on while in use? For such a great little little device, it would be a huge disappointment if not 😕
As in and on and off.
I’ll check. 👍🏻
@@JohnPaulMusicUK Were you able to find out if the lights can stay on? Thank you.
Has anyone used this to stop/start a Roland drum machine?
Personally, no but hopefully someone has.
Can you have 2 guitarists controll different ampsims in DAW?
Would be great for live use
Does this work to press Favourite +/ Favourite - in Roland Juno DS?
Or to assign a Favourite Split Sound to each of the 3 buttons? Or to control Fsvourited in the Roland AX Edge?
Should do. If the Juno DS or AC Edge has the option to control the +/- for the favourite via midi or external commands then yes! 👍🏻
Can you daisy chain 2 of FS-1-WL?
How is it's usability with app's? for example positive grid bias's amp sims
Incredibly simple. Cause you can dictate the CC or PC numbers, you just get it how you want it and then pair it up. 👍🏼
Hey, very nice review! It seems like a yes, but I wonder if it can operate things like Waza Air without the phone with a turned on app all the time? My usecase: I want to buy this stuff, add an expression pedal to it, and then just turn on Waza Air and just operate it with this footswitch without using the phone as a middle man (except for initial setup). I have Positive Grid Spark and their wireless footswitch, and it works only when both amp and footswitch are connected to the app, which is VERY annoying and makes it all borderline useless.
Does it work with Loopy pro
Yes 👍🏻
Hey folks, does anyone here know if this would work as a sustain pedal? I use a korg nano key 2 that doesn't have a footswitch input so if this could act as a sustain pedal it would be super handy for my portable music editing/film composing setup. Thanks!
I don’t see why not as long as the Korg nano key 2 will accept a midi cc as a sustain. 👍🏻
@@JohnPaulMusicUK thanks so much for your reply, unfortunately I don’t think that the nano key will accept any external midi messages but I’m wondering if yourself or anyone who has the FS-1-WL has been able to successfully add it as a second midi input device in pro tools and then set one of the buttons to cc64 so that when pressed the pedal sends a sustain pedal message to Pro Tools and effectively acts as a portable wireless sustain pedal? Is this even possible or am I nuts? Ha ha.
I currently have a mobile set up that I use for music editing and having a portable sustain pedal that can interface with my nano key 2 would be immensely useful (and for others too in my position I assume). It’s a niche requirement so I haven’t really found anything on the market specifically tailored for this use. I’ll buy one and try it and report back but if anyone here has done this already please let me know. Thanks in advance!
@@simonscgc3749 Good news, the FS-WL-1 can totally act as a keyboard sustain pedal over midi bluetooth. Just ran it in Pro Tools and it works really well. You just have to set one of the pedals to transmit CC64 and you're off to the races. Film Composers and Music Editors with mobile rigs will love this thing! I literally couldn't find anything else on the market that would work for this purpose. If they added a rechargeable internal USB battery I would buy that model too. What a god send this pedal turned out to be!
BOSS RUSSELL
Boss erase my comments but I’ll keep posting These devices are advertised as "Fully customizable", and it is not true, they are Locked for CC#'s 32-63 and 95-127.
Your support answer was: Unfortunately, the FS-1-WL can not transit CC#'s 32-63 and 95-127,
Yep
Has anyone tested Loopy Pro functionality with this? If it works, that'd revolutionize my setup 😮
Certainly. Turn on FS in MIDI mode for mobile, connect it as BLE MIDI device in Loopy Pro, and then MIDI learn the controls you want in Loopy Pro.
What Joe said 👍🏻☝️
Ya ditto. You have latch and momentary definitions reversed
Oops.