Roland Foot Switch Is Advancing Multiple Patches

If your Roland foot switch is advancing more than one patch at a time in MainStage, the pedal may be connected to the wrong pedal input or sending the wrong MIDI message.

This issue is most common with Roland keyboards that have multiple pedal inputs, such as Damper, FC1, FC2, or assignable pedal inputs.

Table of Contents

Why This Happens

Recommended Roland Pedal Setup

Set the Keyboard Pedal Assignments

Assign the Pedals in MainStage Layout Mode

Map Sustain to 64 Sustain

Map the Switch Pedal to Next Patch

If It Still Advances Multiple Patches

Why This Happens

Some Roland keyboards handle pedal inputs differently depending on whether the pedal is connected to the Damper input, an FC input, or another assignable input.

If the foot switch is sending the wrong command, or if MainStage is receiving the same command in more than one place, the pedal may advance multiple patches instead of advancing only once.

For this setup, use the Roland pedal inputs intentionally:

  • Connect the patch-change foot switch to the Damper input.
  • Connect the sustain pedal to FC1.

Then adjust the keyboard’s internal pedal settings so the sustain pedal and patch-change pedal send the correct MIDI messages.

Set the Keyboard Pedal Assignments

In your Roland keyboard’s internal settings, assign the pedals as follows:

  • FC1 should be assigned to CC66 Sostenuto.
  • The patch-change pedal should be available for MainStage to use as the Next Patch control.

The exact menu steps vary by Roland model, so consult your keyboard manual if needed.

Assign the Pedals in MainStage Layout Mode

After the physical pedals and Roland settings are correct, assign the pedals in MainStage.

  1. Open your MainStage concert.
  2. Click Layout mode.
  3. Select the on-screen sustain pedal.
  4. Click Assign so it turns red.
  5. Press the physical sustain pedal.
  6. Confirm that the on-screen sustain pedal responds.
  7. Click Assign again to turn assignment mode off.
  8. Repeat the same process for the on-screen switch or Next Patch control using the patch-change foot switch.

When assigning buttons or foot switches, press the control three times at a steady pace. Do not press too quickly. This helps MainStage correctly learn the MIDI message being sent.

When assigning a knob, fader, or expression pedal, move it through its full range of motion so MainStage can learn the full control range.

Map Sustain to 64 Sustain

After assigning the sustain pedal, confirm that it is mapped to sustain.

  1. Go to Edit mode.
  2. Select the top-level Concert Level folder in the Patch List.
  3. Select the on-screen sustain pedal.
  4. In the Screen Control Inspector, select the mapping tab.
  5. Choose:

Send to All > Your Keyboard Controller > 64 (Sustain)

This ensures the sustain pedal controls sustain inside MainStage.

Map the Switch Pedal to Next Patch

The patch-change pedal should be mapped to MainStage’s Next Patch action.

  1. Go to Edit mode.
  2. Select the top-level Concert Level folder.
  3. Select the on-screen switch or Next control.
  4. In the Screen Control Inspector, select the mapping tab.
  5. Map the control to:

Actions > Next Patch

Test the pedal after mapping. It should advance one patch per press.

If It Still Advances Multiple Patches

If the pedal still advances multiple patches, check the following:

  • The foot switch is plugged into the recommended pedal input.
  • The sustain pedal and switch pedal are not assigned to the same screen control.
  • The same pedal is not mapped to multiple actions.
  • The keyboard’s internal pedal assignment is not sending an unexpected command.
  • MainStage does not have duplicate or rogue assignments in Assignments & Mappings.

Open Assignments & Mappings and look for duplicate assignments or items marked Unassigned. Delete or block anything unnecessary.

Still Having Trouble?

Contact our Support Team if your Roland foot switch still advances multiple patches after checking the pedal inputs, keyboard settings, and MainStage mappings.

When contacting support, please include:

  • The name of the show
  • Your Roland keyboard model
  • The foot switch model
  • Which pedal input the foot switch is plugged into
  • Which pedal input the sustain pedal is plugged into
  • A screenshot of the MainStage Assignments & Mappings page
  • A screenshot or photo of your Roland pedal assignment settings, if available

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