The Morningstar MC6 is a fully programmable MIDI foot controller from Morningstar Engineering, built to run MIDI-equipped pedals, modelers and rack gear from the floor. It has six soft-touch footswitches arranged across 30 banks, so a player can store 180 distinct switch setups, and each switch on the MkII is capable of sending up to 16 different MIDI messages1. Morningstar describes its controllers as compatible with any device that accepts MIDI1.
The unit sits in a compact, low-profile anodized aluminum enclosure measuring 145 x 95 x 45 mm, with a 24 x 2 character LCD showing what each switch does in the current bank1. Pedal of the Day called it "one of the finest MIDI controllers we've come across"2.
Switches, display and programming
Each of the six switches can be programmed to send any type of MIDI message, including PC, CC, Note, SysEx, MIDI Clock, MMC and more1. Programming is action-based: a switch can fire a message when pressed, and a separate "Release" action type sends a message when the switch is let go. Morningstar demonstrates this by holding a switch down to punch an effect in and reverting it on release, which lets a player momentarily punch in and out during a song4.
The Toggle function sends two different MIDI messages from one switch, alternating on each press4. In Morningstar's Line 6 HX Stomp demo, all six switches were set to toggle mode, alternating between sending values 127 (toggle position 1) and 0 (toggle position 2)5.
| Programming feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Press action | Sends a message when the switch is pressed4 |
| Release action type | Sends a message when the switch is released4 |
| Toggle ON | Sends 2 different MIDI messages with one switch, alternating each press4 |
| Toggle mode values | Alternates between 127 (position 1) and 0 (position 2)5 |
| Messages per switch | Up to 16 on the MkII1 |
The 24 x 2 character LCD is wider than the display on the original MC6, which Morningstar listed among the MkII's changes at its announcement3. The display shows the bank and switch labels so a player can see what each footswitch will do before pressing it.
Power and connections
The MkII runs on 9-12V DC center negative and requires at least 120mA1. It also lists USB power, and its USB Type B port is class compliant: it receives bus power and sends and receives MIDI1.
The center-negative, 120mA minimum requirement means the MC6 MkII needs a proper isolated or adequately rated supply, not a low-current daisy chain output.
MIDI connections include one 5-pin MIDI In, one 5-pin MIDI Out/Thru, and two 1/4 inch Omniports1. Each Omniport can be set as a MIDI output (and thru), an aux switch input or an expression pedal input, labeled EXP 1 and EXP 21. Morningstar's troubleshooting guide notes that the Omniport MIDI TRS setting must match the controlled device, a common cause of MIDI problems6. For extra switches, the American Loopers Aux Switch for Morningstar MC3 MC6 MC6 PRO or MC8 adds three programmable click-less buttons through the side jack7.
The Select Expression Message setting controls expression behavior in two parts: which expression input a message applies to, and which messages from the expression preset are active8. A typical hookup runs the MC6's MIDI Out to the MIDI In of the controlled device, such as a Source Audio Nemesis, via a 5-pin MIDI cable9.
The original MC6 and the MC6 MkII
The original MC6 shipped years before the MkII and received firmware updates along the way. Version 2.1 arrived first, and v2.2 followed, adding the ability for the MC6 to be controlled by an external MIDI controller: it reads CC and PC messages and calls functions such as Bank Up/Down or preset recall10. An earlier "EXT TUNER" MIDI type added tuner support for the Axe-Fx, sending a CC message when a preset activates and another when it deactivates11. Early "EDGE" firmware releases were tested but not confirmed bug-free, with new features undocumented in the manual11.
The MkII was announced in April 2018 with firmware redesigned from the ground up, a wider 24x2 LCD and the same USD229 price3. Pre-orders opened 5th April at 8AM Central Time, with units slated to start shipping from 21st April 201812. Morningstar also offered USD20 off when the MC6 was purchased together with the ML5 loop switcher, or when buying two ML5s12.
The MkII's redesigned firmware means it cannot work with the editor for the original MC6; it uses its own web editor3.
Pedal of the Day reviewed the original MC6 alongside the ML5 in April 2018, when the MkII was up for preorder2:
"Fairly easy to use and full of possibility, we have continued to use it around the office ever since"2
Pedal of the Day, on the MC62
One compatibility caveat for owners of older units: Oscillator Devices' legacy firmware update page lists the Morningstar MC6 MkII among devices tested that will NOT work for the legacy update13.
Morningstar's line has since grown to include the compact MC3 and the MC6 PRO, which adds features such as a USB Host port for direct USB-MIDI communication with devices like the Valeton GP-5 over USB-C14.
Videos
Morningstar Engineering
Morningstar Engineering
Morningstar Engineering
Questions
Can the MC6 control a Line 6 HX Stomp?
Yes. Morningstar's own demo shows the MC6 used with the HX Stomp to perform Block Bypass, Preset Recall and Parameter Control. In the example setup, switches A through F were programmed to send MIDI numbers 11 through 16, each set to toggle mode so a press alternates between sending values 127 and 0.
How many MIDI messages can each MC6 switch send?
On the MC6 MkII, each switch is capable of sending up to 16 different MIDI messages. Message types include PC, CC, Note, SysEx, MIDI Clock, MMC and more. The Toggle function also lets one switch alternate between two different MIDI messages on each press.
Does the MC6 MkII work with the original MC6 editor?
No. Morningstar states that the MkII firmware was redesigned from the ground up and cannot work with the editor for the original MC6. The MkII has its own web editor, which launched alongside the firmware v3.8.1 update in January 2021.
Can I plug an expression pedal into the MC6?
Yes, on the MC6 MkII. Its two 1/4 inch Omniports can each be set as a MIDI output (and thru), an aux switch input or an expression pedal input. The Select Expression Message setting lets you choose which expression input a message applies to and which messages from the expression preset are active.
Can the MC6 be powered over USB?
The MC6 MkII lists USB power alongside its 9-12V DC center negative power requirement, which calls for at least 120mA. Its USB Type B port is class compliant, receives bus power, and sends and receives MIDI.
Does the MC6 send MIDI clock?
Yes. Morningstar lists MIDI Clock among the message types the MC6 MkII can send, alongside PC, CC, Note, SysEx, MMC and more. A 2025 Morningstar guide covers three MIDI Clock workflows for its foot controllers, including one song per bank and direct BPM access.
Sources (14)
- MC6 - Morningstar Engineering, Morningstar Engineering
- Morningstar FX ML5 MIDI Controlled Loop Switcher, Pedal of the Day, 2018-04-16
- MC6 MKII Production Update, Morningstar Engineering, 2018-04-01
- Elektron Analog Drive & Morningstar MC6 Midi Controller, Morningstar (www.morningstar.io), 2018-10-13
- Line 6 HX Stomp + Morningstar MC6 Midi Controller, www.morningstar.io, 2018-11-12
- Troubleshooting your MIDI issues, Morningstar, 2021-10-04
- Aux Switch for Morningstar MC6, American Loopers
- Select Expression Message: MC6 Tips & Tricks, www.morningstar.io, 2018-09-19
- Source Audio Nemesis & MC6 Midi Controller, Morningstar, 2018-07-29
- MC6 Firmware v2.2 Release, Morningstar Engineering, 2016-06-30
- Tuner Support For AxeFX Added (Beta), Morningstar Engineering, 2016-05-24
- MC6 MKII Pre-order, Morningstar Engineering, 2018-04-03
- Legacy Firmware Updates, Oscillator Devices, 2026-03-12
- Valeton GP‑5 USB MIDI Control, Morningstar, 2025-08-14
