Expression Pedals

Elevate your performance with expression pedals that add dynamic control and nuance to your sound, allowing for limitless creativity in every note.

Expression Pedals: What to Know

Expression pedals translate foot movement into continuous MIDI or CV control, letting you shape parameters in real time without taking your hands off your instrument. Keyboard players use them for volume swells and filter sweeps. Guitarists running multi-effects rigs assign them to wah, delay feedback, or reverb mix. Modular synthesizer users patch them into VCAs and filter cutoffs for hands-free performance dynamics. Unlike momentary footswitches, expression pedals send a range of values across their travel, giving you smooth, gradual control over any parameter your gear supports.

What to Look For

Check the output type first. TRS expression pedals send analog voltage and work with most keyboard workstations, guitar processors, and Eurorack modules. Some pedals offer switchable polarity to match different manufacturers' wiring standards, Moog, Korg, and Roland all use different TRS pinouts. MIDI expression pedals send continuous controller messages over 5-pin DIN or USB, useful for controlling software or hardware that doesn't have TRS expression inputs. Build quality matters for gigging. Metal chassis and potentiometers rated for 100,000+ cycles will outlast plastic housings. Tension adjustment lets you dial in the resistance you want, loose for fast sweeps, tight for precise control. If you're integrating with modular gear, confirm the pedal outputs 0-5V or 0-10V depending on your system.

Top Brands

M-Audio makes affordable TRS expression pedals with switchable polarity, covering the most common keyboard and effects unit standards without requiring adapters.

Shop Expression Pedals at Blackout Audio

Expression pedals turn static patches into evolving performances. Pair one with a synthesizer for filter sweeps during a breakdown, or assign it to delay feedback on a guitar rig for controlled chaos. They're the difference between preset sounds and sounds that respond to your playing. Browse our selection online and reach out if you need help matching a pedal to your specific gear. Free shipping on orders over $199 across Canada.