The American Loopers 2CH MIDI On or Off Switcher is a foot controller that turns a MIDI signal on or off with one stomp. With two switches on board, you can handle two MIDI signals individually: stomp to kill a MIDI feed going to a device, stomp again to let it through. American Loopers describes it as having no transformers and no electronics, 100% analog, and the unit is passive1.
Footswitches and LED
Each of the two switches handles one MIDI signal on its own, with its own MIDI IN and MIDI OUT. A single LED per channel shows the state at a glance: when the LED is on, the MIDI signal is going through; when the LED is off, the MIDI signal is killed1.
- Two footswitches: each handles one MIDI signal individually1
- Independent channels: the switches are not wired in series, they are individual and separate from each other, each with its own MIDI IN and MIDI OUT1
- LED indicator: on means the MIDI signal is passing, off means it is killed1
Circuit and power
Because the switching is passive and analog, the 9V 2.1mm Boss type connector is only needed for the LEDs. The unit itself is 100% passive1. That also means it sits happily on a pedalboard power supply without adding meaningful draw, since the connection lights the indicators rather than running any circuitry.
The switcher will not kill or pass through phantom power1. It is a MIDI signal switch, not a phantom power blocker.
Related American Loopers MIDI gear
American Loopers builds a range of MIDI routing and switching boxes, including the MIDI Pedal Switch, the single-channel version of this on/off idea, the A/B Midi Switcher, and several junction box and patch bay units such as the MIDI Pass Though Junction Box - Patch Bay and the 2 Way MIDI Pass Though Junction Box. For the wider field, see the MIDI Pedals type page.
Questions
Are the two switches wired in series?
No. American Loopers states the two switches are not wired in series; they are individual and separate from each other, each with its own MIDI IN and MIDI OUT. That means one channel can be killed while the other keeps passing its MIDI signal, and each is handled independently on its own stomp.
Does it block phantom power?
The switcher will not kill or pass through phantom power, according to the maker. Phantom power on a connected line is neither stopped nor forwarded by the unit, so it is not a tool for managing phantom power on a MIDI or DIN connection.
Is the MIDI On or Off Switcher analog or digital?
It is 100% analog. American Loopers describes it as having no transformers and no electronics, and the unit is passive. The only power it uses is a 9V connection for the LEDs, so the switching itself works even without power.
Where is the American Loopers MIDI switcher made?
American Loopers builds the 2CH MIDI On or Off Switcher in the USA. The maker lists it as standard American Loopers, made in USA, alongside a one year warranty.
Sources (2)
- 2CH MIDI On or Off Switcher, American Loopers (www.americanloopers.com)
- MIDI Pedal Switch, American Loopers (www.americanloopers.com)
