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Our favorite MIDI controllers for all levels and budgets, with models from Gig Rig, Fender, Boss, Electro-Harmonix and more Switch Brake Canter
1. The quick list 2. Best overall 3. Best for beginners 4. Best budget 5. Best compact 6. Best pro option 7. Best flexibility 8. More options... 9. Buying advice 10. How we test
In need of an extra limb to keep up with your set’s section transitions? The best MIDI controller could be your solution. Activate multiple pedals simultaneously, reconfigure effects on the fly, and tweak parameters effortlessly. At the push of a footswitch, make fine-tuned tonal shifts to multiple pedals, enhancing your on-stage functionality and fluidity. With MIDI footswitching, focus on playing your instrument while maintaining control over your sound and keeping your audience immersed in your music.
Our team here at Guitar World comprises many gigging guitarists, so we've seen and used MIDI controllers firsthand in our own live rigs. In this round-up, we'll showcase what we believe are the best MIDI controllers available and suggest the type of guitarist they cater to. So whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned touring veteran you'll find something to suit your use case here, recommended by a fellow guitar player.
MIDI can be quite a complex topic so if you're new to it, make sure to have a look at our buying advice section where our guitar gurus have answered loads of common questions. If you just want to see the very best guitar MIDI controllers available today, then keep scrolling...
If you want the very best of the best, the Gig Rig G3 Switching System is the top choice for us. Providing easy hands-on programming it features 99 programming slots each with 28 presets, delivering excellent choice for those in multiple bands.
If you're getting into MIDI switching for the first time, the Fender Switchboard Effects Operator is a user-friendly option that's great for beginners. An LCD display makes it easy to coordinate your loops, and we think it looks great too.
Unfortunately, there isn't really a true budget MIDI Controller for guitar, as it's quite a specialist bit of kit. The EHX Super Switcher is among the cheapest on this list, however, and provides you with enormous functionality for your money.
If you need a compact MIDI controller for your pedalboard, the Boss ES-5 is our top choice. Having similar functionality to the ES-8 but in a far smaller enclosure, it's a small but versatile MIDI switcher than will suit those with busy 'boards.
If you're playing bigger stages and touring, you'll need more options. The RJM Mastermind PBC/10 allows you to organize setlists, store 1,000 songs, and transmit 20 MIDI messages across 16 devices, a truly comprehensive feature set.
With a user-friendly interface and both parallel and serial switching, the Boss ES-8 is a popular choice for guitarists. We love Boss' free ES-8 software which delivers easy programming, and the flexible arrangement options make it a great choice.
In mid-2023, the Gig Rig controllers entered a new era with the introduction of the G3. This professional-grade MIDI solution side-steps computer-based programming. Providing a more hands-on relationship than the PBC/10, set-up time feels minimal as you plug in and play with full routing features available from its interface. The LCD display simplifies navigation, ensuring efficient programming with a kinesthetic touch.
This fully-featured pedalboard brain accommodates up to 12 effect loop slots, recallable in 99 memory banks, each containing up to 28 presets. The G3 multiplies pedalboard arrangement by recalling endless presets and MIDI-enabled pedal parameter changes.
Power Changeover Switch The G3 provides app-based and web-based programming via Bluetooth, facilitating convenient on-the-fly editing of the switcher's routing for tweaks on the road and between live sets.