Brando offers USB Triple Foot Switch on the cheap
By Donald Melanson 
posted January 6th 2010 6:23PM
posted January 6th 2010 6:23PM
As you may be aware, USB foot pedals aren't an entirely new development, but they've largely been the domain of specialty manufactures who offer them alongside high-end keyboards and other pricey ergonomic devices. None other than Brando seems set to change that, however, as it's now offering a similar device for the low, low price of $45. Nothing fancy here, as you might expect, just three foot pedals that can control any key or key combination -- you can even use a pair (or more) of them together if you like. Hit up the link below to get your order in, and click back a page once you're there to check out the slightly cheaper two-pedal version.
This + Garage Band will finally add some purpose to my incessant floor/desk drumming.
@yulebellow You'll be glad to know then that the software for it is only Windows compatible
@richb93
I don't know about GarageBand, but Mainstage (Logic Studio) would probably recognize it as a generic USB controller that you could map pedals to, without the drivers.
What kind of real world uses does this have? I'm not trying to sound like an idiot but I honestly want to know.
@dedparrot
Instant boss button. Because always having Outlook open would look false. Now you can rotate between Outlook, the company's Intranet and another random app of your choice.
@dedparrot
It is used for transcriptionists. They're more efficient if they keep their hands on the keyboard and use footpedals to fastforward or rewind.
@dedparrot
Lots of uses for games. Reload, mic on/off, rocket jump macro just to name three that pop into mind.
@dedparrot
Could be used as a controller for gaming perhaps? At least the first thing I thought when I saw it was "Wow they're finally putting a proper third pedal for racing games!"
@dedparrot My first thought is control of vst guitar stompboxes, though I think I could make something just as easily or maybe use an midi keyboard for it.
I hope this one comes with electrolytes.
@JP23
What are electrolytes?
I don't know, but they are extremely awesome!
@JP23
It's got what plants crave!
What a useful and world-changing invention!
Could someone please explain the use case for this? Outside of physically handicapped computer users.
@grindboy I've got an Akai EWI USB wind controller. It's sort of a synthesizer controller that plays like a sax/clarinet - 2 hands - and it connects to my laptop, which renders the sound. So these foot switches could be set up to trigger certain features in the hosting software to switch patches or start/stop recording. As a f'rinstance... I played in a pit band for "Fiddler on the Roof" last year and had to switch between oboe/English Horn/cello patches - quickly in a few tunes. This would have helped.
@grindboy combined with a trackpoint, usb pedals make it completely unnecessary to ever remove your fingers from the home row. if you happen to be a multi-tasking keyboard-shortcutting touch typist who spends eight hours a day cranking it out on a computer you can probably save 10% of your time if you have a capable computer... dangit.
so many more tps reports.
Check out that polished software(!) http://usb.brando.com/prod_img/zoom/UPCSF010800_03_L.jpg
This is totally sweet
i could use it as
1. Chrome
2. PsPAD
3. either filezilla or media player.
Then i could quickly switch between tasks with just 1 or 2 taps of my foot
Brilliant! All I need now are three feet.
I can envisage use cases in the meeting room, flipping through powerpoint slides while leaning back in my executive leather armchair.
HELLO, two-handed porn viewing!
(And now, their sales skyrocket...)
Aha! Finally, a use for that 24-port USB hub mentioned recently. With 72 foot pedals, you'd have both hands free for, well, whatever you might want to do with your hands.
Anyone who does live music and/or DJing on their PC will straight away think of a million uses.
I'm sure visual designers and gamers and anyone else who has their hands full/off the mouse a lot won't be far behind.
this will work great as a modifier button for world of warcraft or any other program. My fingers are too long and fat (manly) to press shift or god forbid ctrl and some other button without feeling like they are gonna get stuck that way.
Pedals are WAY too far apart for me to blip the throttle under braking.
This is perfect for playing digital sheet music. No need to stop playing to turn pages anymore.
This is great news for me. In the UK (including postage) I was paying almost 90 bucks for a single programmable pedal, and now I can (I just did) buy the same thing for £14 ($23) delivered (from Hong Kong I think).
My company buy a lot of these things for kiosk displays and point of sale applications.
I use this in World of Warcraft for character movement controls : forward, strafe left and right. Pedals are a little too far apart though. Worse: any pedal release will cancel any pedal press. If you're strafing forward at 45 degrees by pressing forward AND strafe left/right and then release either of the pedals, your character will stop moving until you press a pedal again. If you press the desired pedal a little too soon before releasing another, the same effect will occur. Look to Delcom. More than double the price, but without this glitch.