The Hotone Ampero II Press is an expression pedal with a footswitch built in, made by Hotone. It does two jobs in one housing: the treadle sends continuous control information to an effects unit, and a "Click" footswitch sends a switching signal, each through its own output jack. Because it is passive, it needs no power supply, no battery and no outlet on your pedalboard power brick1.
Hotone designed it as a companion for the company's Ampero II series of multi-effects processors, and Pedal of the Day's 2024 review describes it as working especially well with the Ampero II Stage. But it is not exclusive to Hotone gear: the same review states it is suitable for any effects unit with dual EXP interfaces, across various brands1.
An expression pedal with a footswitch
Most expression pedals do one thing: you rock the treadle and a parameter changes on the connected unit, such as volume, wah position or delay feedback. The Ampero II Press adds a footswitch to the same unit, so a player can control a continuous parameter with their toe and trigger a switchable function without a second piece of hardware on the board. Pedal of the Day's review credits this combination with an advantage over separate units1:
"Compared to conventional expression pedals, Ampero II Press provides the most convenient and user-friendly experience1."
The review highlights several design points behind that claim1:
- A "Click" footswitch and an optimized structure for keen physical feedback, so the switch action is felt clearly underfoot.
- A high quality potentiometer that ensures precise response and long life.
- Independent footswitch and expression output jacks, keeping the two signals separate.
The build follows the same approach as the rest of the Ampero II line. The Ampero II processor itself uses a road-ready, light-weight aluminum casing2, and the Press carries a solid aluminum alloy casing of its own1, which keeps weight down while standing up to stage use.
Outputs and connections
The Press connects to an effects unit through two interfaces: an EXP OUT jack for the expression pedal signal and an FS OUT jack for the footswitch signal1. Because the two are independent, the expression and switching functions can be routed to the same unit or treated separately, depending on what the connected gear accepts.
This is where the "dual EXP interfaces" requirement comes in. A unit needs two expression-style inputs to use both functions at once, which is exactly how Hotone's own floor units are laid out. The Ampero II processor, for example, carries two 1/4" TRS EXP/CTRL jacks among its inputs23, and the Ampero II Stage lists 2x expression In in its connectivity, alongside stereo in/out, FX send/return, a 1/8" aux input, one XLR input, two balanced outputs with ground lift, MIDI in/out/thru and USB-C3.
The Ampero II connection
The Press is best understood alongside the unit it was clearly built for. The Ampero II Stage is a multi-effects unit and amp modeler that follows the second-generation Ampero II floorboard, using the same audio engine, with the differences in build and control functionality3. Compared with the Ampero II floorboard, the Stage makes room for another expansion footswitch, but that comes in exchange for no built-in expression pedal3. That is the gap the Press fills: a Stage owner who wants a treadle and an extra switch underfoot can add both in one passive unit.
Guitar World reported the Stage as crafted with live use in mind when it was unveiled in October 2023, with balanced and unbalanced outputs and an official price not yet revealed at that time4. The Ampero II processor it shares its engine with is a digital unit, built on a triple-core DSP platform with ESS Sabre series AD/DA converters, powered by 9 to 18V DC center negative with an 18V power supply included2. None of that power requirement touches the Press itself, which stays passive.
Players coming from the earlier Hotone Ampero Press or comparing it with the Hotone Wong Press Volume Exp Wah will find the II Press follows the same idea of combining treadle and switching control, now aimed at the Ampero II generation's dual expression inputs1.
What reviewers said
Published coverage of the Press itself is limited to Pedal of the Day's review, which is positive throughout. Beyond the convenience verdict quoted above, the review praises the build quality, the precise and long-lasting potentiometer, and the passive design that removes any power requirement. Its one framing of a limitation is implicit rather than stated: the pedal is aimed at units with dual EXP interfaces, so a player whose effects unit has only a single expression input would not be able to use both the treadle and the footswitch functions at once1.
Videos
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Pedal of the Day and HotoneAudio
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Questions
Does the Hotone Ampero II Press need a power supply?
No. The Ampero II Press is a passive design, so it needs no power supply at all. There is no voltage requirement, no current draw and no adapter in the box, which also means it can sit anywhere on a pedalboard without taking up a power outlet.
Can the Ampero II Press be used with other brands of effects units?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review describes it as suitable for any effects unit with dual EXP interfaces, across various brands. It is not locked to Hotone gear, although the review notes it works especially well paired with the Ampero II Stage multi-effects unit.
What are the EXP OUT and FS OUT jacks for?
The two jacks carry the pedal's two functions separately. EXP OUT sends the expression pedal's position to the effects unit so it can control a parameter such as volume or wah, while FS OUT sends the footswitch signal so the switch can trigger presets, bypass or other assignable functions.
Is the Ampero II Press made for the Ampero II Stage?
It is a natural match for the Ampero II Stage, which is a floorboard multi-effects unit that leaves room for an expansion footswitch instead of a built-in expression pedal. The review notes the pairing especially, but the Press works with any unit that has dual EXP interfaces.
What is the Ampero II Press made of?
The casing is solid aluminum alloy, which keeps the pedal light while standing up to stage use. The expression action comes from a high quality potentiometer that the review credits with precise response and long life.
Sources (4)
- Hotone Ampero II Press Expression Pedal, Pedal of the Day, 2024-05-04
- Ampero II ，Hotone, Hotone Audio
- Hotone Ampero II Stage review, MusicRadar, 2026-09-24
- Hotone launches next-generation Ampero II Stage multi-FX pedal, Guitar World, 2023-10-18
