BEHRINGER FCB1010 - 6 cool mods: phantom power, pedal errors, CTRL button, reliable buttons, UnO...

Behringer FCB1010 MIDI foot controller is an "entry-level quality" product, but now unique in the market, it's "inspired" by my beloved ROLAND FC-200 (high quality), unfortunately no more manufactured, and the successor FC-300 doesn't meet my requirements in ergonomics and layout.
I did these mods to make FCB1010 fit my needs for my 2nd "light" equipment... (for the 1st I continue with FC200)
1:37 - MODs OVERVIEW
5:05 - LET'S OPEN THE FCB1010 and overview inside
6:10 1 - UnO FIRMWARE by Ossandust
The only mod not of mine, to get more interesting features to add flexibility to controller, just replacing the EPROM inside: www.ossandust.be
I suggest also to download the FREE windows editor to program your FCB 1010, compatible with both original and UnO firmware: host.mtnsys.com...
7:54 2 - ONE CABLE FOR MIDI + POWER SUPPLY (low voltage)
No high voltage mains on the floor, no search for a mains socket, just the MIDI cable, with some enhancement... :-)
Behringer could have saved money avoiding the 110/220V section in the board and adding more quality in the rest... :-/
12:23 3 - EXPRESSION PEDALS ERROR correction
Badly engineered, they don't modify the parameter in all the run of the pedal (regardless of the adjustments in the menu) I could modify the board, but I have found an even easier solution for you, if you experience the the same problem.
Just have some shopping in a supermarket before, and ask a white plastic shopping bag... :D
16:09 4 - RELIABLE SWITCHING, replacement of all switches below the buttons
They are of low quality, unreliable in the long term and with same switching problem when pressed with feet slanted. With less then 2$, and a lot of patience you will get a reliable switching.
18:44 5 - PROTECTION SHAFT to separate last button from 1st pedal
PGdown button and the 1st pedal are too close and while pressing PGdown it's easy to inadvertently touch the 1st pedal. This shaft will solve the problem.
You could say "use for volume the other pedal instead !", but I want for it the closer one to buttons area.
22:55 6 - ADD A CTRL BUTTON MOMENTARY/TOGGLE BUTTON
I wanted in FCB1010 a CTRL button like the ROLAND FC200... too much useful.
I was able to do it even reproducing the momentary action (push-ON release-OFF) with the help of an additional ARDUINO board with my C++ like program inside.
I don't know if there are already other solutions for it, but I had fun doing it by myself. :D
For advanced technicians !
If a toggle action is just enough for you, you can get the same result just working with the windows editor and UnO firmware, no need of hardware modifications.
NOTE: I tipically use Program Change mode for all buttons, not stomp mode neither partially. When I need to change 1 effect maintaining the same program, I prefer to use control change and program my rack to react as desired.
I do this using double pression of number buttons (ALT option) or through a variable action of my new CTRL button (for each program I can choose the function I want), or, again, through the second Epression pedal. 3 ways for each program are enough for me.
Good or bad this is how I prefer to drive my rack.
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Please be aware that all these modifications will VOID THE WARRANTY (maybe with the only exception of the protection shaft), so mod responsibly ! :)
Enjoy!
/ bobaxx