Roland FS-5U Momentary Footswitch

The FS-5U is Roland's momentary unlatch footswitch: the contact closes while your foot is down and opens the moment you lift it. That is the behaviour a recorder wants for punch-in and punch-out, a video switcher wants for a momentary take, and a keyboard wants for a sustain or a tap that should not stay engaged.

It connects on a 1/4-inch phone jack and works with an ordinary guitar cable, so nothing proprietary has to be kept in the kit bag, and it needs no batteries or power supply. The silver housing distinguishes it from the latching black FS-5L, which holds its state and carries a status LED. At 240 g in a 96 x 90 x 43 mm shell it stays where it is put on a stage floor or under a desk.