Roland FS-5U Foot Switch -Multicolor

I got this to use with a boss rc300. This review is based on my specific requirements, and may not be relevant to those with other equipment. It’s unapologetically long and detailed in the hope it will help others with the same needs.I got this to use as external controllers for the rc300 loopstation.The rc300 requires external switches with momentary non latching compatibility, or always closed options...mostly.The rc300 has the capacity to assign specific and customisable tasks to external foot switches and expression pedals, and these can be specified and saved to each individual memory preset. In other words, for one song, I might want my foot switch to turn my mic input on or off. For the next song in my set, I may want the same foot switch to act as an undo/redo switch. Crucially, you can also set whether the foot switch acts in a toggle or momentary capacity, which is where the latching/nonlatching issues arise.The result of so much customisability at the loopstation end of things is that a foot switch has to do an awful lot of work. Unless I missed something, I know of no other unit that provides all the features of the fs6 in one place, and I looked. Pushing £60, though, this is not cheap for what is ultimately just a foot switch. However, I came to the conclusion that I had to go for it over all the competition for the following reasons.One of the biggest deciding factors was that I couldn’t find another non-latching always closed unit with LEDs. This may sound like a minor point, but given the complexity of my live rig, I need to be able to see at a glance if my settings are on or off. Sounds simple, but getting it wrong could be disastrous in a live siltation. If you only need a toggle for an amp channel, or your rig only has a couple of stompers on it, another option may be fine. For me it’s a deal breaker. The trade-off for having LEDs is that the fs6 is larger than some other options. Obviously, this means pedal board space, which for me is always a consideration. However, this brings me to the first of my two grumbles- It’s battery only. Yep, no 9volt input. I have tested a work around by hooking up a battery adaptor (widely available for a few pounds) to my pedal board power supply, and it works fine, but it means I would have to leave the battery cover off. For now I’m using a Duracell battery, and it’s lasted a good 20 hours and still going strong, but do remember that it will drain power when the connector jack is in. My only other slight grumble is the battery panel is a bit fiddly.Going back to the dimensions of the unit-it’s not that big (think the width of two standard boss stompboxes), and I’m not sure how it could be a lot smaller- it’s important to remember that the fs6 is actually two independent foot switches in one housing. Each side can be set to be latching or non-latching- it really couldn’t be more versatile.The other thing you need to be aware of is what connecting cables you will need. You can either use two jack to jack mono’s, or one jack to jack stereo. Getting the set-up right with this required a bit of manual reference, but I got there…For the rc300 the stereo option is a no-brainer- for me it means my second external pedal jack can run another expression pedal, or if I wanted, another fs6. For other uses, you could set the fs6 to control two separate units- say a clean/dirty switch on two amps.Again, the point is that you have a lot of options and your personal set-up will determine what you need.So, am I glad I bought it?Yes. It is a lot of money, but after spending some time with it, I’m happy that that extra outlay has given me the ability to make the most of the rc300’s external controller features. I use my loopstation as the heart of my live setup and I want to wring every last drop of performance out of it- more casual users may get by on less feature-heavy kit. On balance, and putting asside the grumbles about power, I’m very happy with it, and feel that I made the right choice.

Very solid and totally configurable, which is useful as the kit I am using it with - a 20 year old drum machine and a looper pedal, aren't clear as to whether they wanted latch or transient switches. Unlike some, this can do both, independently, so it'll be in the useful bits box if I decide to upgrade kit it will still be compatible.It is battery powered - as far as I can tell that is only really to operate the lights and the battery will last for ages. However, to a kid a slow drain, you need to switch it off by removing the 1/4" cable. It's a bit annoying, as I'd prefer to be able to switch off my pedal setup with a single plug.

Got this for boss katana 50 to switch by foot between the four presets. Works perfectly. Also will work well with boss looper RC1 and RC3 so you don’t have to use a double tap to stop loops etc. I wanted the switch pedal to be as hassle free as possible so mains powered is best for me. A bit expensive but apparently they last many years.

Decided to go for the Boss FS-5U based on Boss' history of quality and reliability. The footswitch is well made and sturdy as it should be as you are going to be activating it with your foot. For my application, I am using the FS-5U as a tap tempo for my Boss DD-20. The FS-5U has a fairly small foot print and it's size can be compared against the rest of the effects pedals on my board. The switching action is very quiet.All I had to do is make up patch cable of correct length.I would highly recommend the FS-5U as an unlatch footswitch. You can't go wrong with Boss products, I've owned and used them for years.

I have not used this a great deal since received, though able to say it works fine with the equiupment I have used it with so far.Whether the price represent value for money, only time will tell. It provides a simple control solution whilst playing, though such functionality is available by manual push buttons, which is not as convenient. I suppose what I really mean is that it seems expensive compared to the the equipment it is used with.