Molten Voltage MASTER CONTROL is a pedalboard MIDI controller and clock, made by Molten Voltage in two versions, the MV-58 and the MV-58B. It sends out standard MIDI Program Changes to turn effects on and off and recall presets, and it also stores the tempo for each of its 128 programs, so time-based effects stay in step with the song as you change presets123. Molten Voltage describes it as able to turn effects on and off, select presets, and synchronize over 50 effects from makers including Strymon, Eventide, MOOG, BOSS and EHX1.
The MASTER CONTROL MV-58 is listed as DISCONTINUED on Molten Voltage's product page1.
What it does
MASTER CONTROL sits at the front of a MIDI pedalboard and acts as its brain: you step on its buttons, and it sends the Program Changes that switch effects and recall presets on connected gear. Alongside the preset switching, it keeps MIDI Clock, storing a tempo for each of the 128 programs so delays, reverbs and tremolos follow the arrangement rather than a single global speed2. Molten Voltage's own Starship Kaom pedalboard is built around this idea, with MASTER CONTROL among the devices it features2.
Controls
The MV-58B manual lays out the front-panel controls as follows45:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| UP Button | Pressing and releasing increases the Program number by one; on the MV-58B, pressing and holding quickly increases the Program Bank numbers45 |
| DOWN Button (MV-58B) | Pressing and releasing decreases the Program Bank by one; pressing and holding quickly decreases the Program Bank numbers4 |
| SELECT Knob | Turning causes the program number to increase or decrease; a newly selected program flashes on the Display until engaged with the START Button4 |
| TAP Button (MV-58B) | Holding it down for 2 seconds makes MASTER CONTROL and all connected Molten Voltage devices save their current settings4 |
MV-58 and MV-58B
The MASTER CONTROL came in two versions, the MV-58 and the MV-58B, both covered by Molten Voltage's own manuals365. The MV-58B, announced in May 2013, added four Side Controllers: Molten Voltage described them as controls "that can be placed strategically around your PedalBoard for easy access without sticking out your toe to change programs"7. The MV-58B is covered on its own page at Molten Voltage MASTER CONTROL MV-58B, and the original at Molten Voltage Master Control MV-58.
Working with other Molten Voltage gear
MASTER CONTROL is designed to work with the rest of Molten Voltage's MIDI range. The save function reaches every connected Molten Voltage device at once when you hold TAP for 2 seconds4, and the company's manual for the OSMOSIS MIDI mapper and filter lists MASTER CONTROL as a related device4. Other pages in the range include MIDI Delaytion for analog delay control and CTL-SYNC and CV-SYNC for clocking pedals that lack MIDI sockets.
Videos
Step Audio
Step Audio
Sources (7)
- MASTER CONTROL .:. MIDI PedalBoard Clock and Brain .:. by Molten Voltage .:. Footswitch Controller to Recall Presets, Molten Voltage
- Molten Voltage™ presents Starship Kaom .:. the Modern MIDI PedalBoard, Molten Voltage
- OSMOSIS_-_MIDI_Mapper_and_Filter_by_Molten_Voltage_-_Owners_Manual.pdf, Molten Voltage, 2015
- Master_Control_MV-58B_-_PedalBoard_MIDI_Controller_and _Clock_-_Owners_Manual_by_Molten_Voltage.pdf, Molten Voltage (moltenvoltage.com), 2015
- Master_Control_MV-58_-_PedalBoard_MIDI_Controller_and _Clock_-_Owners_Manual_by_Molten_Voltage.pdf, Molten Voltage, 2015
- PedalSync®, Molten Voltage, 2014
- MIDI PedalBoard Devices: MIDI PedalBoards are finally a reality, Molten Voltage (blog.moltenvoltage.com), 2013-05-07
