The Microdesignum MIDI Forte 14F2D Plus is a foot-operated MIDI controller with 14 foot buttons, a numeric LED display and a character LED display, built for players who run a MIDI pedalboard or rack and want to change presets and parameters without touching their hands to anything1. It belongs to Microdesignum's MIDI Forte series, which the maker describes as its line of luxury MIDI controllers1.
The "Plus" in the name marks one practical difference over the standard MIDI Forte 14F2D: an Eth (EtherCon) connector that carries MIDI In, MIDI Out and power over a single cable1. That means one rugged cable between the board and the rack instead of separate MIDI and power runs.
Microdesignum lists the MIDI Forte 14F2D Plus as temporarily unavailable as of late October 2026. The same status appears on the maker's pages for the 14F2D, the 14F2D-1P Plus, the 14F2D-2P Plus and the 16F2D-2P Plus12345.
The controls: 14 foot buttons, 12 registers × 32 banks
The playing surface is 14 foot buttons, and the memory is organized as 12 registers across 32 banks1. Each register has two layers, one red and one green, so a single button can do two different things depending on which layer is active1. A 16-character blue backlit LCD display lets you set a name for each layer, which is what shows up on the character display when you are playing1.
Each layer can be set with up to 8 MIDI commands, either Program Change or Control Change, and each command can sit on a different MIDI channel1. In practice that lets one button press switch a preset on one device while turning a parameter on or off on another, across a multi-unit rig.
| Control surface | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| 14 foot buttons | Preset and command triggering, all foot operated1 |
| 12 registers × 32 banks | Preset storage1 |
| 2 layers per register (red and green) | Two commands per button1 |
| 16-character blue backlit LCD | Layer naming1 |
| Numeric LED display | Bank and register indication1 |
| 2 expression pedal inputs | Continuous control of MIDI parameters1 |
What the Plus adds over the MIDI Forte 14F2D
The standard MIDI Forte 14F2D is the same controller without the Eth port: 14 foot buttons, the same two displays, 12 registers × 32 banks, two expression pedal inputs, and the same 8-commands-per-layer MIDI assignment, but no ethernet-style connector2. The Plus versions add the Eth (EtherCon) connector, which routes MIDI In, MIDI Out and power over one cable134.
Microdesignum sells the MIDI Forte line in three basic models, 10F2D, 14F2D and 16F2D, each available as the controller alone or as a set with one or two expression pedals mounted on the same board6.
| Version | Foot buttons | Registers × banks | Expression pedals | Eth port | Price (maker's list) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIDI Forte 14F2D | 14 | 12 × 32 | 0 included, 2 inputs | No | 12 000,00 Kč1 |
| MIDI Forte 14F2D Plus | 14 | 12 × 32 | 0 included, 2 inputs | Yes | 13 000,00 Kč1 |
| MIDI Forte 14F2D-1P Plus | 14 | 12 × 32 | 1 on the board, 2 inputs | Yes | 14 000,00 Kč1 |
| MIDI Forte 14F2D-2P Plus | 14 | 12 × 32 | 2 on the board, 2 inputs | Yes | 15 000,00 Kč1 |
The 1P and 2P Plus sets put the controller on a board together with one or two expression pedals34. The 2P Plus also includes an aluminum connector box for mounting in a rack4. At the top of the range, the MIDI Forte 16F2D-2P Plus has 16 foot buttons and 14 registers × 32 banks, with two expression pedals on the board5.
Where it sits in a MIDI rig
The MIDI Forte controllers are designed to be the foot control end of a MIDI pedalboard or rack system. Microdesignum also builds MIDI modules that retrofit MIDI control into effects pedals, such as the MIDI module for EHX POG2 and the MIDI module for EHX Cathedral, which a controller like this can command. For a smaller board, the maker's range also includes the MIDI Piccolo 2F1D and the MIDI Grande controllers.
Questions
Does the MIDI Forte 14F2D Plus have an Eth port?
Yes. The Plus versions of the MIDI Forte carry an Eth (EtherCon) connector that routes MIDI In, MIDI Out and power over a single cable. The non-Plus MIDI Forte 14F2D does not have an Eth port, which is the main hardware difference between the two.
What does the Plus add over the MIDI Forte 14F2D?
The Plus adds an Eth (EtherCon) connector that carries MIDI In, MIDI Out and power over one cable, instead of separate MIDI connections. The core controller is otherwise the same: 14 foot buttons, 12 registers by 32 banks, and two expression pedal inputs.
How many expression pedals can connect to the MIDI Forte 14F2D Plus?
The controller has two inputs for expression pedals. It can be bought as the controller alone, or as a set with one or two expression pedals mounted on the same board, which Microdesignum sells as the 14F2D-1P Plus and 14F2D-2P Plus versions.
What MIDI messages can the MIDI Forte 14F2D Plus send?
Each layer can be set with up to 8 MIDI commands, either Program Change or Control Change, and each command can be on a different MIDI channel. The controller has MIDI In and MIDI Out connections.
Is the MIDI Forte 14F2D Plus still made?
As of late October 2026, Microdesignum lists the MIDI Forte 14F2D Plus as temporarily unavailable. The same status applies to the other MIDI Forte versions on the maker's site, including the 14F2D, the 1P and 2P Plus sets, and the 16F2D-2P Plus.
Sources (6)
- Nožní MIDI ovladač MIDI Forte 14F2D Plus, Microdesignum (www.microdesignum.cz)
- Nožní MIDI ovladač MIDI Forte 14F2D, Microdesignum (www.microdesignum.cz)
- Nožní MIDI ovladač MIDI Forte 14F2D-1P Plus s expression pedálem, Microdesignum (www.microdesignum.cz)
- Nožní MIDI ovladač MIDI Forte 14F2D-2P Plus se 2 expression pedály, Microdesignum (www.microdesignum.cz)
- Nožní MIDI ovladač MIDI Forte 16F2D-2P Plus se 2 expression pedály, Microdesignum (www.microdesignum.cz)
- MIDI Forte, Microdesignum
