MIDI connectivity and more have now been added to UA’s pedal range.

Almost five years after the launch of Universal Audio’s stompbox range, I’m pretty sure no‑one was expecting this: a free firmware and software 2.0 upgrade that they describe as “the biggest update to our pedals yet.”

Overview

The headline feature, regarded by many as a major omission from the original spec, is the addition of MIDI capability: MIDI control can now take place via the onboard USB‑C connector, which was previously used only for registration and firmware updates. But even if MIDI isn’t something you’ve been longing for, there’s also a Bluetooth connection to the app that works more reliably; and even better, for some at least, there’s also now the option of a wired USB connection to mobile devices. (There’s still no desktop version of the UAFX Control app, though; I won’t be alone in feeling that would be a more convenient solution for studio users.)

All the double‑footswitch UA effects and amp pedals can now be upgraded to firmware v2 (already at 2.02 at the time of writing) to support class‑compliant USB MIDI control via any ‘host‑capable interface’ (the compact, single‑footswitch units, are not included in this upgrade). This means almost any suitable pedal parameter can now be switched or controlled in real time via MIDI CC messages, and pedals with tempo‑dependent features can now be sync’ed to an external MIDI Clock. Pedals with onboard preset capability also have instant recall access to 128 assigned preset slots via MIDI Program Change messages.

Everything MIDI‑related that I tested worked as expected... Even switching virtual cabs whilst playing worked fine.

Whilst this MIDI implementation is officially described by UA as currently in “open beta” testing, everything MIDI‑related that I tested worked as expected. Real‑time control of live audio parameters — gain, volume, tone controls etc — was rendered smoothly and without any glitching noises. Even switching virtual cabs whilst playing worked fine. In fact, I couldn’t generate any audible anomalies even with deliberate discontinuities in the data. We might have waited a long time for this, but it does seem to have been done well.

In addition to updating the firmware via the UAFX Connect desktop app, access to the newly added facilities requires an update to the UAFX Control mobile app. Even without using MIDI, the amp emulation pedals (Dream ’65, Ruby ’63, Lion ’68 etc) have enhanced footswitch‑preset modes, allowing onboard switching between four user presets, with two alternating on each footswitch, so as to enhance live performance capability. Pedals like Max or Del‑Verb, which don’t have presets, can also now recall saved sounds using MIDI CC snapshots from capable MIDI foot controllers.

Who Wants MIDI Anyway?

One of the main reasons for wanting MIDI control of guitar pedals is to gain the ability to switch multiple units simultaneously. Even with just two drive pedals on a pedalboard, switching from one to the other requires two footswitch presses (unless you can get them very close and are reliably good with your feet!). Patching your pedals into an audio loop switcher allows you to set up ‘pedal A on’ and ‘pedal B off’ patches that decide which audio sources reach the output, triggered from a single footswitch, but what if you want to increase the delay mix and turn down the reverb at the same time? Then you need the deeper reach that MIDI offers, to change multiple parameters simultaneously using a single MIDI Program Change or CC message. You can go further with MIDI too, getting into real‑time parameter control using a connected expression pedal or other MIDI controller, tweaking gain, volume, or an effects mix on the fly while playing.

Something to bear in mind when setting up anything more than a very simple MIDI‑controlled rig is that, unlike traditional DIN‑plug based MIDI, USB MIDI has no ‘thru’ facility. So to address more than a single pedal you’ll need both a USB hub and a Host interface that supports multiple devices, plus a USB‑C cable for each pedal. ‘Host’ is basic USB terminology: there are two statuses of object in the USB protocol, Host and Device. A Host initiates and manages the USB connection (recognises what’s connected to it, provides power if needed, and sets up destinations for data), while a Device (or sometimes Client) responds to the host’s requests. Despite drawing no power from the USB connection, in the context of connection over MIDI the UAFX pedals are all Devices.

It’s tempting to think that a ‘host‑capable’ MIDI interface must also be able to generate MIDI data, but some host‑capable devices can generate MIDI, while others can’t: the latter group simply take data from something else and format it for USB distribution. This does, of course, mean that any existing five‑pin‑DIN‑based MIDI controller should still be able to be used with a UAFX pedal, provided it’s connected via a compatible ‘host‑capable MIDI interface’. But if you don’t already have a MIDI controller or switch system, you might as well start with one that already has USB MIDI host capability on board.

When using UAFX pedals in a studio with a computer, your DAW is both your MIDI Host and source of MIDI data. Run a USB cable from the computer or hub to the pedal, enable MIDI and choose a channel in the UAFX Control app for the pedal you’re using, select the pedal as the MIDI output destination in the DAW, and you’re almost good to go: the app page defaults to Program Change settings, so you have to select the Control Change page to see the list of available parameters and controller numbers.

Unless you’re prepared to disconnect and re‑plug, sending MIDI to another pedal requires another connection to the hub. But what if you want to use the UAFX Control app at the same time, using that new wired USB connection? Then you’ll have to unplug the pedal from the computer/controller and connect to a phone or tablet instead. (That’s another reason I’d like to have UAFX Control available as a desktop app.) If you’re using MIDI and you need to use the control app, then, it only really makes sense to connect via Bluetooth. So it’s just as well that a ground‑up redesign of the code has made that work a whole lot better! At least on the app you can switch between connected pedals relatively quickly now. Yes, there are USB‑to‑Bluetooth MIDI converters too, but they’re not officially supported and I didn’t explore that option.

Upgrade Experience

UA are to be congratulated for making all this extra functionality available free of charge and, in finally adding the industry‑standard control interfacing necessary for contemporary guitar rig flexibility, they’ve successfully addressed the number‑one user request very well.

That said, there were parts of the update process that didn’t quite work as I’d expected. I had a couple of pedals come up with a ‘Register’ requirement, despite having been registered prior to the update. After trying all the ‘reboot in this order’ options, the only thing that worked in the end was to fully reset the pedal — which erases all your user presets! (Thankfully, you can restore these from your latest backup, as long as you’ve remembered to save one.) Having reset the pedal, I could re‑register it, get back the ‘bonus cabs’ I previously had, and get the app to work, so it was all fine in the end. Happily, UA tell me they’re aware of this apparently very rare issue, and are actively working on bug fixes as part of the open beta process.

As someone who uses UAFX amp pedals almost exclusively in a studio context, I have no real need for MIDI patch changes or real‑time control. So the best thing about the new facilities for me is the ability to directly access the Alt parameters — the secondary modes many of the controls have. Accessing these via a MIDI CC means you needn’t change the pots from their current physical position. Yes, the primary parameter is memorised and restored as soon as you exit Alt mode, but it’s easy to leave the pot where you put it in Alt mode and no longer have the controls fully representative of what you’re hearing, which is the whole point of running almost exclusively in Live mode, as I do. Similarly, MIDI control permits easy access to parameters that are accessible only in the app. All in all, even if you’re only using a single UAFX pedal and don’t need any of the ‘big‑rig integration’, this is still a very welcome update for UAFX users.