The Disaster Area DMC-7 is a MIDI pedal controller, a floor unit that sends MIDI commands to control effects pedals and other MIDI-equipped gear from a pedalboard. It was released in 2013 by Disaster Area Designs alongside the DMC 4-B, and the two were described as the big brothers of the company's smaller DMC-3 and DMC-6 controllers1.
The DMC-7 sat at the top of that series. As Delicious Audio put it when the controller was announced: "The DMC-7, the flagship of the series, stands out with its extra built in tuner"1. That tuner is the feature that sets it apart from the rest of the DMC line, letting a player keep tuning on the board without a separate tuner pedal.
What it does
As a MIDI controller, the DMC-7's job is to let a guitarist change presets, switch effects and control timing on MIDI-capable pedals without reaching down to tweak each unit. It belongs to the broader family of MIDI pedals and controllers used to tie a board together.
Two features marked the DMC-7 out within its series:
- Built-in tuner: the DMC-7's signature addition, giving the controller a tuning display alongside its MIDI control duties1
- Dedicated tap footswitch: the DMC section is configured with an additional dedicated tap footswitch, giving quick access to tap tempo for time-based effects1
Where it sits in the DMC series
The DMC-7 arrived in June 2013 as part of a two-model release, together with the DMC 4-B. Both were positioned above the existing DMC-3 and DMC-6, which had been the company's smaller controllers1.
| Model | Position in series | Notable difference |
|---|---|---|
| DMC-3, DMC-6 | Smaller models | The earlier, more compact controllers in the line1 |
| DMC 4-B | Released alongside the DMC-7 | Shared the 2013 release as its sibling model1 |
| DMC-7 | Flagship of the series | Adds a built-in tuner and a dedicated tap footswitch1 |
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Questions
What is the Disaster Area DMC-7?
The DMC-7 is a MIDI pedal controller made by Disaster Area Designs. When it was released in 2013 it was the flagship of the DMC series, sitting above the DMC-3 and DMC-6 as a larger option for players who wanted to control MIDI-equipped pedals from their board. Its distinguishing feature is a built-in tuner, which the other models in the series do not have.
How does the DMC-7 differ from the DMC-3 and DMC-6?
The DMC-7 was described as a big brother of the DMC-3 and DMC-6, a larger controller in the same series. Its two headline extras are the built-in tuner and an additional dedicated tap footswitch in the DMC section, neither of which the smaller models carried.
Sources (1)
- Disaster Area Midi Pedal Controllers DMC 4-B And DMC 7, Delicious Audio, 2013-06-12
