Boss's new FS-1-WL Wireless 3-Switch Controller gives you unprecedented freedom of action via Bluetooth and Wired MIDI Connectivity

Nov 10, 202208:00 by

Stefan Karlsson

BossExpressionLoop-SwitcherUtility+-

Key Points

Boss’s FS-1-WL is a customizable wireless foot controller for software applications and MIDI hardware. It controls BOSS and Roland gear, digital music score apps, YouTube videos and DAWs via Bluetooth, or MIDI hardware through a BOSS TRS MIDI cable. Supported devices include Waza Air, Waza Air Bass, Pocket GT, Katana Air and GX-100.

MIDI mode sends PC/CC messages; HID mode sends keyboard commands, with three onboard setups. USB provides class-compliant MIDI input. The editor for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android assigns footswitch functions. Three switches, two external-foot switch jacks and an expression-pedal jack are included.

It runs on two AAA batteries or PSA-series adaptor, measures 207×77×32mm and weighs 285g. RRP: €129 / £109.

So there’s actually a lot more to Boss’s new FS-1-WL than you might be aware of at first glance. It’s obviously some sort of Bluetooth and MIDI enabled Foot-based controller which gives you 3-button control over a variety of devices and functions.

Boss’s Waza Air and Waza Air Bass 3D Headsets are a shoe-in here, as is the Pocket GT Effects Processor, Katana Air Amp, and GX-100 Multi-FX Processor - all either with Bluetooth onboard, or Bluetooth capable via Boss’s Bluetooth Audio MIDI Dual Adaptor.

Boss describe the pedal as a ’Customizable Bluetooth foot controller for software applications and MIDI hardware’. - Meaning not just pedal applications, but controlling DAW expressions and the like, or being Commanded via keyboard input courtesy of the HID Mode integration.

You can control digital music score apps, YouTube videos, DAWs, and supported BOSS and Roland gear wirelessly over Bluetooth. Or you can connect a MIDI cable to operate multi-effects processors like the GT-1000, various pedals, and other hardware beside that which I’ve already mentioned. You can greatly expand your setup with external footswitches and an expression pedal. And you can use the dedicated editor / library to assign keyboard commands and MIDI messages to control nearly any software application or MIDI device.

I feel that over time Boss will bring Bluetooth into play on most of its Katana Amps, and most of its larger workstation pedals - it’s kind of a wave of the future, and just makes lot of sense.

You have a dedicated editor at your disposal across MacOS, Windows, iOS and Android - so you can bring this controller to bear on all manner of hardware and systems way beyond the Roland / Boss family. Pretty much most musical hardware with Bluetooth onboard should be able to be controlled via this new FS-1-WL Footswitch.

I’ve not devised any particular scenario for myself yet, but they will surely come. Will be very interesting to see what the various consumer groups make of this, and how readily they find uses for it.

Boss's new FS-1-WL Wireless 3-Switch Controller gives you unprecedented freedom of action via Bluetooth and Wired MIDI Connectivity

Demos

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