The Morningstar MC8 PRO is a MIDI foot controller with 8 footswitches, made by Morningstar Engineering. Morningstar describes it as "the ultimate MIDI foot controller experience", with the 8 switches giving "instant access to your presets, functions and effect parameters"1. It sits at the top of Morningstar's controller range, alongside the smaller MC6, MC3 and MC4 PRO.
What it does for a player
A MIDI foot controller is the brain of a MIDI pedalboard: instead of tapping individual pedals, you press a switch and the controller sends program changes and control changes to your MIDI-equipped pedals, amps and rack gear. The MC8 PRO's 8 switches and 128 banks give room for large rigs, and Morningstar states the switches serve up "instant access to your presets, functions and effect parameters"1.
MIDI ports and wireless connection
The MC8 PRO carries what Morningstar calls "a full suite of MIDI ports", covering the main ways gear accepts MIDI today1:
| Port | Connection |
|---|---|
| 5-pin MIDI In | 1x 5-pin MIDI In1 |
| 5-pin MIDI Out | 1x 5-pin MIDI Out1 |
| TRS MIDI | Type A and type B switchable1 |
| USB | Device and host1 |
| Bluetooth | BLE MIDI, wireless out of the box, pairs with a computer or mobile device1 |
The switchable TRS port is the practical detail here. TRS MIDI devices have shipped in both type A and type B wiring, and a port that handles either saves the adapter hunt when connecting pedals from different makers1.
Morningstar lists a minimum current draw of 500mA at 70 percent screen brightness1. That is well beyond what a typical daisy-chain pedal power output supplies, so plan a dedicated high-current outlet or run it from USB bus power.
Power
The MC8 PRO can run on USB bus power, or from a DC supply at 9 to 12V, center negative1. Because of the current draw noted above, a dedicated supply output rated for the controller, or USB power, is the realistic route.
Expanding the controller
Morningstar's controllers work with third-party aux switches, which add more switches without taking pedalboard space on the unit itself. American Loopers makes several that fit the MC8 PRO23:
The MC8 PRO itself can be expanded through Morningstar's aux switches, and the controller runs on 9-12V DC center negative power with a minimum current draw of 500mA at 70% screen brightness, so any power supply and daisy chain should be checked against that figure before adding more pedals to the same line1. The unit is housed in a blasted aluminum enclosure1.
Morningstar's controller family
The MC8 PRO sits in a family of Morningstar MIDI controllers that also includes the MC6 and MC8. Morningstar's troubleshooting guide notes that on the MC6 and MC8 you can loop the 5-pin MIDI output into the input and send a program change between 0 and 29 to recall banks 1 to 30, verifying the ports work4. Since firmware v3.7, the controllers can also act as a MIDI interface for Strymon Nixie and Strymon devices5.
Videos
Morningstar Engineering
Mark Johnston
Scott Uhl
Questions
Does the Morningstar MC8 PRO have Bluetooth MIDI?
Yes. The MC8 PRO includes BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) MIDI, and Morningstar describes it as wireless out of the box, ready to pair with your computer or mobile device. That means you can send MIDI wirelessly to the controller without a cable, which is useful for connecting to tablets and laptops on a pedalboard.
Can the MC8 PRO be powered over USB?
Yes. Morningstar lists USB bus power as a power option for the MC8 PRO. The controller can also run on 9 to 12V DC center negative, with a minimum current draw of 500mA at 70 percent screen brightness, so a standard low-current pedal power output will not be enough.
How many banks does the MC8 PRO have?
The MC8 PRO has 128 banks, according to Morningstar's product page. Banks hold groups of presets, so the 8 footswitches give you instant access to presets, functions and effect parameters across all of them.
Does the MC8 PRO support both TRS MIDI type A and type B?
Yes. The MC8 PRO's TRS MIDI port is switchable between type A and type B, alongside DIN5 and USB MIDI ports. That matters because TRS MIDI devices from different makers have used different standards, and a switchable port lets you connect to either without adapters.
What size is the Morningstar MC8 PRO?
Morningstar lists the MC8 PRO's dimensions as 260 x 123 x 52 mm. That is the footprint of an 8-switch controller in a blasted aluminium enclosure, so it is worth measuring your pedalboard before adding it.
Sources (5)
- MC8 PRO - Morningstar Engineering, Morningstar Engineering
- American Loopers, American Loopers
- American Loopers (www.americanloopers.com), American Loopers (www.americanloopers.com)
- Troubleshooting your MIDI issues, Morningstar, 2021-10-04
- Using Strymon Nixie with Morningstar, www.morningstar.io, 2020-12-10
