You Can Do All of That With Only One Foot? The Evolving EXP Pedal

I’ve successfully made my return, it’s Saku here!
Effects pedals these days are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and despite their compact size, they now allow parameters to be changed in real time using an EXP pedal. In the past, EXP pedals were often seen as something mainly for multi-effects units, but recently the EXP pedals themselves have become more advanced, with many models doing much more than simply sending a signal.
This time, I’ll be introducing some of these uniquely expressive EXP pedals!

JIM DUNLOP / DVP4 Volume X Mini Pedal

First up is this one by Jim Dunlop. It’s an incredibly small EXP pedal.
I can already hear you saying, “You can’t really tell from this photo!”—so I compared it with another pedal.

How about that? It’s almost the same size as a BOSS compact pedal!

With something this small, you might worry about how it feels underfoot. But don’t underestimate it. Personally, if you step on it as if you’re wrapping your foot around it, it’s easy to put your weight on it and it feels quite stable.
It fits perfectly into minimalist boards, as well as boards that have grown too large and are short on space.
Of course, it can be used not only as an EXP pedal but also as a volume pedal.
This is the ever-reliable JIM DUNLOP, a company that has continued to produce legendary wah pedals, starting with the Cry Baby.

BOSS / EV-1-WL Wireless MIDI Expression Pedal

Next up is a BOSS product with outstanding reliability.
The EV-30 is probably the most well-known, but this time we’re looking at this one.
This was the first EXP pedal I ever bought, and in a sense, it’s the trickiest one among those introduced here.
That’s because, despite being an EXP pedal, it cannot communicate via TRS!
“What!?”—that reaction is understandable. The reason is that its primary purpose is designed for MIDI. As far as I know, this is currently the only EXP pedal that can perform MIDI control on its own.

Its versatility has already been thoroughly covered in a review by my past self, but to briefly introduce it:

• It can connect via three methods: MIDI, Bluetooth, and USB
• It has a toe switch
• You can connect a TRS switch and convert it to a MIDI signal ← insanely powerful
• The rubberized surface and larger size provide an excellent feel underfoot

You’re curious now, aren’t you? Go on—head to the product page!

HOTONE / TUNER PRESS

This is my top recommendation!!!
If you’re thinking of buying an EXP pedal or if you’re thinking of buying a tuner!
Buy this one! No objections accepted!!!

Personally, I think this pedal deserves to dominate the EXP pedal category. Depending on the application, there are a few points that might stand out, but they’re trivial. I’ve also left a passionate review of this one!

Now then, this TUNER PRESS is an incredible four-in-one unit! Not two roles, not three—four roles!!!
“No way!”—that’s exactly what I thought too. But once I tried it, to my surprise, it really does fulfill all four roles perfectly.

Function 1: It’s an EXP pedal. Well, of course it is! Don’t say, “That’s obvious—are you insulting me?” It’s still an important role.

Function 2:It’s a volume pedal. Up to this point, this is something the previously introduced DVP4 and many other pedals can also do.

Now then, on to Function 3!It's an “ultra-high-precision tuner”. I assumed it would be accurate only as a bonus feature, but to my surprise, it boasts an incredible ±0.01 cent accuracy! Even the well-known Polytune is ±0.02 cents, so I think you can see just how impressive this is…
The response is also extremely fast. Once you set the mode, simply rocking the pedal back to the heel position automatically engages the tuner. The display is easy to read, and you can mute the signal and activate the tuner at the same time, making it incredibly convenient. It’s so useful you’ll wonder why something like this didn’t exist before. It honestly makes no sense.

And here comes Function 4!It’s a “high-quality buffer”. When it comes to tuners, buffers kind of go hand in hand, right? HOTONE clearly understands this, so they’ve properly included a buffer without cutting corners.
Of course, I used it with the buffer on, and it’s quite easy to listen for its effect. Turn it off and the sound can even feel lacking by comparison. It has a character almost like an always-on overdrive pedal used as a preamp. I was using a Strat, and it added a sparkling quality to the tone, pushing it forward in the mix.
For some people, it might feel a bit too strong because it works so well, so if you don’t like it, just turn it off. No worries—you still have three functions left.

There are still so many points I would love to praise, so I’ll go through them quickly:

• The feel when stepping on the footswitch is easy to recognize
• The always-on display looks cool
• LED indicators make it easy to understand the current mode
• The volume curve is just right, allowing for intuitive control
• The size feels just right
• High-impedance / low-impedance switching is possible
• Two tuner modes are available—chromatic and strobe—allowing flexible use
• It simply looks cool

It really goes above and beyond in addressing every little need. How far do you have to go in thinking from the user’s perspective to create a product like this? It’s thoughtful to the extreme. As expected from HOTONE, the company that created the AMPERO!

Now then, I’ve introduced three models so far.

When lined up, the size comparison looks like this. Surprisingly, the TUNER PRESS is quite compact.
That said, in terms of the feel underfoot, the DVP4 was better. It’s hard to put into words, but the sense of torque was just right.

For example, if you’re using it with a single multi-effects unit, go with the DVP4. If you want a tuner and volume pedal in a space-saving setup, choose the TUNER PRESS. If you want to control not only effects but also keyboards or computer-based sound sources, the EV-1 WL is the way to go. Using them selectively like this might be the best approach.

It may not always be best to make everything overly multifunctional, but there’s certainly no downside to having multiple functions. Rather than being bound by the past, it would be nice for us to step up as well, in line with what’s to come.

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