The PACER is a command center for your DAW, MIDI devices

Nektar Technology has just released PACER, a versatile footswitch controller that can be used with DAWs, MIDI equipment, and even amps.

PACER boasts ten programmable footswitches plus an additional, dedicated one to select presets. With these literally at your feet, you can control your entire set-up on the fly: from switching amp channels to recording on your DAW to activating your plug-ins. And with connectivity for expression pedals, PACER lets you tweak the values on your device, too.

You can store up to 24 presets on PACER, each of which can send up to 16 MIDI commands or relay switches. It effectively lets you reconfigure your entire set-up with one stomp. Each control within the presets is programmable: Assign up to six steps or actions per footswitch, then choose whether you’d like to engage those six simultaneously or sequentially.

“Originally, PACER was intended to be a DAW controller providing musicians with hands-free control of their computer music set-up,” said Nektar’s chief, Niels Larsen. “Then enthusiasm got the better of us and we couldn’t help adding a host of useful additional control functionality. Now you can also control MIDI preamps or effects as well as switching channels and reverb on non-MIDI amps with the onboard relays.”

PACER lists for $230, and ships later on this month. For more information, check out nektartech.com.