The Microdesignum MIDI Grande 12F1D is a universal MIDI foot controller, the largest model in Microdesignum's MIDI Grande range. It puts 12 footswitches and 10 registers on the floor so a player can switch presets and parameters on MIDI-equipped guitar effects and amplifiers without reaching for a knob. RockBoard's PedalPedia listing classifies it as a switcher with an analog circuit type12.
Like the rest of the range, it is built around a simple idea: one press of a footswitch can fire a whole set of programmed MIDI messages at once. The manual describes the controller as working in three modes: regular mode, global settings, and a layer of register settings2.
How it works
The MIDI Grande is a programmable MIDI sender. By receiving one MIDI command, it is possible to send up to 8 MIDI messages that are programmed by the user and stored in the unit2. Each of the eight commands (CMD 1 to CMD 8) has a globally assigned channel and type, set to PC, CC or Sync, and the manual notes that these cannot be changed per command2.
The command settings give a player a lot of routing flexibility:
| Setting | Options | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| CMD 1 Channel | 1 to 16 | Channel number for command 12 |
| CMD 2 to CMD 8 Type | --- / PC / CC / SYN | The MIDI message type each command sends2 |
| CMD A Type | --- / CC | Expression pedal A MIDI command2 |
| External Control Channel | E C-- (off) or E C 1 to E C 16 | Channel for remote control of banks and registers2 |
The external control channel is worth a note. Set to E C--, it is disabled; set to E C 1 through E C 16, another MIDI device can switch the Grande's banks and registers remotely, so the controller can itself be controlled2.
The manual also describes a second role: the Grande can act as a MIDI-controlled MIDI controller or as a bank of MIDI messages, so it fits both as the master controller on a pedalboard and as a slave unit driven by something else2.
Power and setup
RockBoard's listing gives the 12F1D's power as 9V DC, center negative, with a 400mA current draw1. Microdesignum's own product page puts it slightly differently: the power source should range between 9 and 15V AC or DC with at least 400mA of power take-off3.
The 12F1D can be phantom supplied only by MIDI cable3, so with a compatible phantom-powering MIDI setup no separate wall supply is needed on the board itself.
The MIDI Grande range
The 12F1D sits at the top of a range that scales by width and register count. All models share the same 80 x 47 (35) mm depth and height, so they line up side by side on a pedalboard3.
| Model | Footswitches | Registers | Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5F1D | 5 | 3 | 204 mm3 |
| 6F1D | 6 | 4 | 254 mm3 |
| 8F1D | 8 | 6 | 324 mm3 |
| 10F1D | 10 | 8 | 404 mm3 |
| 12F1D | 12 | 10 | 474 mm3 |
The manual uses the 6F1D model, which has 4 registers, as its example when explaining register setup2, and the smaller 6F1D also supports supply by MIDI cable3.
There is also the MIDI Grande 8F1D Plus, a variant of the 8F1D. Microdesignum describes it as a MIDI controller with eight footswitches and a numeric LED display, with 6 registers x 32 banks, two inputs for expression pedals, and an EtherCon connector in addition to the standard fittings5. It is controlled by foot, like the rest of the range5.
Manuals and further reading
The English manual for the MIDI Grande is published on Microdesignum's website, covering the three operating modes, the command settings and the register layer2. A Japanese translation of the manual by Masaaki Tanaka is also available as a 1 MB PDF download from the same site2.
For players exploring MIDI control more broadly, the MIDI pedals type page covers what these controllers do across the category.
Videos
Microdesignum s.r.o.
Questions
What power does the MIDI Grande 12F1D need?
RockBoard's listing for the 12F1D gives 9V DC, center negative, with a 400mA current draw. Microdesignum's own product page states the power source should range between 9 and 15V AC or DC with at least 400mA of power take-off. The 12F1D can also be phantom supplied only by MIDI cable, so a separate power connection is not always required.
How big is the MIDI Grande 12F1D?
Microdesignum lists the 12F1D's dimensions as 474 x 80 x 47 (35) mm. It is the largest model in the MIDI Grande range: the 10F1D is 404 mm wide, the 8F1D is 324 mm, the 6F1D is 254 mm, and the 5F1D is 204 mm, all with the same 80 x 47 (35) mm depth and height.
Can the MIDI Grande send on channels 1 to 16?
Yes. Each of the controller's eight MIDI commands has a globally assigned channel that can be set from 1 to 16, and each command's type can be set to PC, CC or Sync. An external control channel can also be set from E C 1 to E C 16 so banks and registers can be controlled remotely over MIDI.
Where can I find the MIDI Grande manual?
The English manual is published on Microdesignum's website on the MIDI Grande product pages. A Japanese translation of the manual by Masaaki Tanaka is also available as a 1 MB PDF download from the same site.
What other models are in the MIDI Grande range?
The range includes the 5F1D with 3 registers, the 6F1D with 4, the 8F1D with 6, the 10F1D with 8, and the 12F1D with 10. There is also the 8F1D Plus, a variant of the 8F1D with a numeric LED display, two expression pedal inputs and an EtherCon connector.
Sources (5)
- MIDI Grande 12F1D by Microdesignum, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Manual for MIDI Grande footswitch controller, Microdesignum
- MIDI Grande, Microdesignum
- MIDI Grande 6F1D by Microdesignum, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Nožní MIDI ovladač MIDI Grande 8F1D s Eth konektorem, Microdesignum
