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2025 NAMM Show: Jamstik has introduced the MFC1 MIDI Floor Controller, a hands-free control platform that is compatible with any standard MIDI software or device, including keyboards, MIDI guitars, and more.

The official intro video:

The MFC1 functions as both a standalone MIDI device and a MIDI host. By powering and passing through MIDI data for USB-based MIDI controllers, the MFC1 allows musicians to create streamlined setups without the need for a computer. You can daisy-chain your MIDI controllers directly into the MFC1 to reduce cable clutter and simplify your rig.

“The MFC1 is designed to empower musicians with freedom, versatility, and control in any setting,” said Jonathan Keller, Senior Engineer and creator of the MFC1. “With its customizable features, seamless Jamstik integration, and universal MIDI compatibility, the MFC1 meets the demands of both live and studio environments, giving musicians a powerful tool they can rely on.”

With the MFC1, musicians can map footswitch buttons, knobs, and a pedal input to perform a wide range of tasks, from DAW transport controls and preset scrolling to MIDI CC message mapping and beyond. The included Jamstik Creator software allows users to select factory profiles for popular DAWs, synths, and hardware, or craft custom profiles using premade actions and deep configuration options.

Features:

• Customizable Control Layout: Map footswitch buttons, knobs, and pedal inputs for DAW control, preset navigation, MIDI CC mapping, and more.
• Integrated Jamstik Creator Software: Choose from factory profiles or build custom setups for seamless compatibility with MIDI devices, tailored through the Jamstik Creator app.
• Unique MIDI Hosting Capability: Powers and passes through MIDI data for USB-based MIDI controllers without a computer, simplifying setups by allowing devices to be daisy-chained directly into the MFC1.
• Efficient DAW and Synth Integration: Control sound control and macros for Jamstik Creator, any third-party synth plugin like Arturia’s Analog Lab, Xfer Serum, Spectrasonics Omnisphere, as well as any hardware synth or effects pedal that accepts MIDI CC input.
• Enhanced Integration for Jamstik MIDI Guitars: Designed with Jamstik MIDI Guitar users in mind, the MFC1 includes special profiles and dedicated menus for toggling pitch bend, switching MIDI modes, and adjusting Jamstik-specific settings for a more seamless experience.

The hits keep on coming from Behringer as the latest in its series of budget clones of classic guitar effects pedals brings us the Envelope Filter.

Behringer’s long awaited B-Tron III Envelope filter has arrived for just $69. The Auto-Wah Envelope Filter features 3 Filter Types, 2 Direction Modes and Versatile Input Range.

The budget clones of classic guitar effects pedal, an homage to the Mu-Tron III had been teased some time ago. Designed by Mike Beigel, launched in 1972, Mu-Tron III is one of the world’s legendary effects. And it was not just for electric guitar, you can use it on electronic keyboards.

Behringer copped some heat for the no-show; critics had labelled them a vaporware company, accusing them announcing products but not bringing them to market. Behringer bit back in December last year, defending itself on social media and arguing that “no other company delivers as many innovative and affordable products as we do”.

Those products, it said, you could check out at NAMM 2025, where the brand returned after a 10 years absence. Anyway, as things turned out, all good things come to those who wait.

Behringer’s recreation assumes much of the same Mu-Tron III  functionality – and there’s more than a passing resemblance with that (metal) enclosure design. It features an all-analogue optical circuit.

But there have been some concessions to modernisation. This is a true bypass design. The power has been updated. The original required two 9V batteries; this only needs one. Though better still, just feed it 9V from a quality pedalboard power supply

As the three in the designation suggests, the B-Tron III has three different filter modes – Low Pass, Band Pass and High Pass, selectable via a three-way rotary dial. There are plenty of wahs, sorry, ways to add some auto-wah vocalisation to your playing.

Funk players are a core demographic. But this is the kind of effect that would reward any open-minded experimentalist. Just remember it’s a dynamic effect – it responds to how you are playing.

The Drive switch allows you to set it up to wah or to “wow”. The Rate switch can be set up to emphasise low vocal sounds or to tease out some more high-end overtones. Adjust the Peak dial for the intensity of the effect.

The Gain dial is a sensitivity control and is used to set it up for your instrument, be it bass, electric guitar, keyboards or a Clavinet.

Here’s the official Behringer B-Tron III intro video:

The B-TRON III Envelope Filter is officially here, and price is just £/$69. You can check out more pics and details at Behringer site.

Jamcorder automatically records everything you play on piano – so you’ll never lose a spontaneous jam again

Billed as “the world’s first automatic piano recorder”, Jamcorder constantly records MIDI from your piano to be played back on its mobile app.

Imagine this: you’re sat in front of your digital piano noodling away, and a bolt of inspiration strikes. Caught up in the creative flow, you embark on a fifteen-minute jam that sounds like some of the best material you’ve ever improvised. As you finish jamming, you suddenly realize you’ve no idea how to recreate what you just played – and you didn’t hit record.

Jamcorder is a nifty little device that makes sure this will never happen again. Designed by pianist and software engineer Chip Weinberger, this small blue box sticks to the side of your piano and automatically records everything you play via MIDI, storing up to 25,000 hours worth of jams on its 16GB microSD card that can be wirelessly synced to your phone via Bluetooth or exported to your DAW.

Jamcorder’s mobile app lets you listen back to your impromptu performances and spot where you might have played a bum note on its keyboard visualizer. You’re even able to bookmark noteworthy improvisations using a handy shortcut on your piano; just hit the highest five black keys twice and Jamcorder will bookmark that recording in the app. It stops recording automatically after a few seconds of silence, so you won’t end up with countless hours of empty MIDI files stored on the device.

The USB-powered gadget can hook up to your digital piano or keyboard via 5-pin DIN MIDI or USB, and it’s equipped with Bluetooth MIDI, so you can use it to connect your piano to your DAW wirelessly. There’s also a MIDI out port, so you can connect Jamcorder and a computer or tablet to your piano at the same time.

Here’s the official intro video:

While it seems to be aimed at players that like to improvise, Jamcorder could also be a useful way of tracking and reviewing practice sessions for pianists trying to improve their skills. And while Jamcorder is primarily aimed at piano players, it’ll work with any MIDI-equipped instrument and records all MIDI messages on all 16 channels, so it’ll come in handy for recording synth jams too.

JamCorder is priced at $99. Find out more on Jamcorder website.