The Black Mountain Freewheel Roller Expression Pedal is a mini expression pedal built around a foot-controlled roller rather than a rocking treadle. Pedal of the Day reviewed it on its release in June 2026, describing it as "a mini expression pedal that's small, portable, half the size of a traditional expression pedal"1. Instead of rocking forward and back, the player rolls the wheel, which the reviewer said "lets you unlock next-level creativity, with the wheel enabling swift movement with superb precision"1.
What it does
The Freewheel sends expression control signals to pedals, rack units or other devices that accept an expression input. Its distinguishing feature is the pair of outputs: "This pedal has two independent 1/4″ expression outputs, so you can control two devices at the same time"1. That means one roller can sweep, for example, two expression-ready pedals in the same move.
The two outputs are not the same, and the difference matters when matching the pedal to your gear1:
| Output | Impedance | Connector | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side A | 25K | TRS | Fixed1 |
| Side B | 10K | TRS or TS | Toggle switch to match different devices1 |
Side B's TRS/TS toggle is there to match devices expecting different plug wiring, which covers much of the expression-pedal compatibility territory players usually run into. Pedal of the Day's reviewer concluded that the pedal "pairs with just about any pedal with expression capabilities"1.
The roller design
The Freewheel's roller mechanism is shared with Black Mountain's Roto-Echo Delay, which uses the same foot-controlled roller approach1. The pedal's enclosure is built to endure hundreds of pounds of pressure, allowing players to confidently put their full body weight on the wheel1.
The roller design carries over from the Roto-Echo Delay, and the reviewer behind the Freewheel's coverage described the connection in personal terms: "I loved the roller aspect of the [Roto-Echo Delay] I checked out last fall, and was hoping the crew at [Black Mountain]" would bring it to an expression pedal1.
Build and durability
Two points stand out for a player considering a roller over a conventional treadle:
- The pedal carries two 1 million-cycle potentiometers, "ensuring long-lasting performance"1.
- "The enclosure is built to endure hundreds of pounds of pressure, allowing players to confidently put their full body weight on the wheel"1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Brett Kingman
Sources (1)
- Black Mountain Freewheel® Roller Expression Pedal, Pedal of the Day, 2026-06-04
