Yamaha FC7 Volume Expression Pedal for Keyboards

My used Hammond XK-1 didn't come with a volume pedal. Or a Leslie foot switch for that matter. I can recommend getting a Yamaha FC-4 foot switch for Leslie and another one for piano sustain pedal. Those are nice, and that's what made me consider another Yamaha product for this expression pedal, which I have missed. There was of course a lot of differing opinion, Hammond v Yamaha v Korg etc. That's how these things go. I was a little puzzled by some reports of the pedal range being fast or slow or touchy. I need not have worried about that, and since I could see only one other Hammond mentioned in these reviews I thought I had better write something. It works great. I just replaced my main board battery which died accidentally, due to longer than normal inactive storage. It wasn't low, it was 100% dead and no volts. All presets got reset to factory values, and the whole instrument went back to default-everything. When I plugged in the FC-7 it worked perfectly, immediately. Right outta the box. Case closed. If you are controlling your Hammond XK-1 by the panel volume knob, you really need one of these. Instructions on how to interface it: Open box, plug it into the little hole back there. If that fails somehow, your default foot controller settings may have gotten changed. There is more info below, specific to checking that on the XK-1. If the FC-7 doesn't work perfectly on the first try. The FC-7 is heavy duty, rubberized, of substantial construction and then some, and has a nice spring detent at the full volume position so you don't hit a hard stop when you are maxxed out. Yeah, you can adjust the instrument gain settings so detent is actually about 90% of full volume, and then you have an extra 10% boost whenever you push it beyond the spring detent. But I just prefer simple. Cord storage is under the toe end, wrap it around the small reel and 1/4 inch plug-holder down under there. I haven't tried the Hammond original equipment pedal because I didn't know if it was worth the premium price, but this one is more like it. Now I know how much I missed the foot pedal. The FC-7 is a nice piece of equipment, and a suitable addition to the outfit. Happy I bought it. ===== The remainder of this is info specific to the Hammond XK-1. It may help if you can't understand the manual... it is very difficult for me, as it was written with Japanese sentence construction. Of course the English is very good, it's just that I find I can read the words and it takes me a while to decipher what it really said. If your pedal is jumpy or too fast, you may need to restore your default settings, listed here: Menu Button, #4, up, up. (The up key is numeral 8) Source = Pedal (Normal) (This is the default setting. Spin the Value knob if you need to change it.) (There is a Monitor Value displayed next. Mine runs smoothly from 0 to 127, when operating the pedal with defaults. Check yours here.) Right, right, right, right. (The right key is the numeral 2) LEVEL shows minus 35, the default value. (Spin the Value knob if you need to change it.) LF LIMIT shows minus 20, the default value. HF LIMIT shows minus 30, the default value. Gain shows 110%, the default value. Push the Exit button, then Play button. For the Yamaha FC-4 Leslie foot switch, that is a tip/sleeve plug. (I call it a mono 1/4" phone plug.) The default foot switch settings work for me. But note that there is a second set of settings provided for a different plug, and the unused settings must be disabled. (The default is, both types are enabled!) Menu Button, #4, up, up, up. MODE, TIP: LESLIE S/F= ALT (This is the default for alternating operation. Push for fast, push again for slow.) Next, go cursor-right one more step. MODE, RING: Twirl the Value knob to say OFF. Push the Exit button, then Play button. If you somehow have a foot switch that is a Tip/Ring/Sleeve type (I call it a stereo 1/4" phone plug) then I believe you need to reverse both values. That is, MODE, TIP should be switched off and the MODE, RING should say LESLIE S/F = ALT. I don't have a weird plug to check that with, but the idea is to choose one and disable the other. So you definitely don't want both plug mode types to be enabled at once. You can still get it to work by pulling out the plug very slightly and playing with it, but that doesn't seem like such a great operating idea.

A must have if you need to add foot expression to your rig. Just plug and play easy to use. Hard construction, feels solid and good value for the money. It worked perfect for my KRONOS 2. Very recommended.

The Yamaha FC7 is a very nice expression pedal that will replace my Moog EP3.. The FC7 is very well designed and built, very sturdy with a good weight...It stays in place and feels very solid underfoot. The 30 degree throw angle offers very smooth and accurate transitions. I find it very easy to make smooth and precise changes to both volume and synth parameters without over or undershooting what I am aiming for. I play standing and the option to adjust the throw limits for that position make it very comfortable in that position. Why is it replacing the Moog EP3? The Moog is a very nice pedal as well...solid build, smooth operation, stays put, removable (replaceable) cable. Where it loses out the FC7 for me is its tread size, overall height and throw angle. With the tread in the horizontal position the FC7 height is 2" where the Moog is 3.5", so your foot is much higher off the floor than the foot bearing your weight. The Moog tread measures 8" x 3" where the FC7 tread is 9.5" x 3.75" which my size 12 feet vastly prefer. Finally, the throw angle of the Moog is quite a bit less than the 30 degrees of the FC7. I find it much easier to make smooth transitions and accurate adjustments with the FC7. If you value fast action over precise adjustment and have smaller feet the Moog may be perfect for you. I do have a few nit-picks with the FC7 - First, the cable is permanently attached to the pedal. I would really prefer a jack and a separate cable both for repairability and reliability. Second, there is no polarity switch, something almost every other pedal on the market, including the Moog, has. Why? I have no idea other than stubbornness on the part of Yamaha. In order for the FC7 to work properly with my Arturia Keylab 61 MKII I had to construct a short dongle that swapped the ring and tip leads thus reversing polarity. Easy enough, but not as easy as flipping a polarity switch. It is likely easy to open up the pedal and re-solder the cable switching the tip and ring leads, but then it is permanently in that configuration and won't work with keyboards requiring a standard tip/ring config. I choose to retain both options by using (or not) the dongle. So in the end, I consider the FC7 superior to the EP3 for my purposes. It is also (usually) slightly less expensive.

The construction of this pedal lives up to its reputation. It's heavy, and built like a tank. The movement is very smooth, and I expect it will work perfectly forever. My only complaints are that it's wiring is incompatible with Kurzweil and some other brands, requiring a special polarity reverser. For something this well-made, it's surprising they didn't include a polarity switch. Also, with certain patches I can't get to full silence, so I suspect the MIDI output never actually reaches zero. Still, it's a cut above any other pedal I've tried.

Durable product, well-made, looks great, works easily, thank you!

Good weight and feel for Organ and strong parts

The Yamaha FC7 expression pedal offers excellent value for money, delivering professional-grade control without a hefty price tag. Its smooth and responsive action makes it ideal for precise volume control, modulation, and other effect adjustments, giving you dynamic control over your sound. Built with a sturdy design and rubber grip base, it stays firmly in place even during intense performances. The adjustable range allows you to tailor the pedal’s response perfectly to your playing style, ensuring seamless control over your tone and volume. By providing intuitive, hands-free volume control, the FC7 helps you shape your sound in real time, enhancing your overall audio quality. Compatible with a wide range of keyboards, guitars, and other gear, it’s a versatile, reliable pedal that musicians can count on for consistent performance. For the price, the Yamaha FC7 is a fantastic investment that balances durability, functionality, and sound quality, making it a must-have for any serious player.

Very high quality