My main issue with MIDI pedal sets is that many of the functions that can be triggered by either a normal f/s plugged into a ‘control’ input (hopefully you got one and don’t have to disable your sustain input to do this!) or a multi-switch pedal like the Korg EC5 or Roland FC7 cannot be addressed by MIDI.

I don’t know if Yamaha allow MIDI control of EVERYTHING, but I know for a fact that many of the footswitch options on Korg’s and Roland’s do NOT have a MIDI command for the same functions.

Sadly, Korg has dropped support for the EC5 with the PA5x, promising to allow any USB controller to do what the EC5 used to do, but it’s one of those things still missing AFTER TWO YEARS from the OS.

Roland also discontinued the FC7 (well before they introduced the BK9, which actually HAS an FC7 input on it!) so they are pretty hard to find in good condition.

That leaves, as you suggest, a pair of switches for Perf Up/Perf Down. The problem here is, take an SX920 for instance… it only has two pedal inputs. You MUST have a sustain pedal, you PROBABLY want an expression pedal. That leaves precisely NONE for a Perf up/down pair! Pay $5000+ for a Genos2, that’s still only got three control inputs. Sustain, expression, I guess you can only step through a chain of registrations in one direction!

Why every midline arranger on upwards doesn’t have a multi switch connector beats me. And why they are even being dropped from arrangers that USED to have them is even more puzzling.

My FC7 does selection of Var 1-4, Perf Up/Down and Leslie fast/slow. I have no idea how I’d manage without it! But that’s at least 80% of all button pushing during playing a song. My hands often never leave the keyboard…